Lesson 3 of 6 · 5 min · 8-card deck

Working with colleagues and the wider team

Building productive relationships with TAs, mentors and middle leaders.

Teaching is not a solo profession. The teachers who thrive long-term — and whose pupils thrive — are those who build strong, professional relationships with colleagues. The single biggest factor in early-career retention is whether you feel supported by the adults around you.

Engage actively with your mentor (and ECT induction tutor). Be specific about what you need, share work-in-progress without defensiveness, and act on feedback even when it stings. The point of induction is not to perform — it is to get better.

Active recall flashcards

Work through every card. Try to answer in your head before flipping — the act of retrieving is what builds durable memory.

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Practice scenario

A new teacher's TA shares — when properly briefed — that one pupil with autism finds transitions distressing. The teacher adjusts her routine to give 5 minutes' warning before each transition. Behaviour incidents for that pupil drop to nearly zero.

Try this in your classroom

Use mentor meetings actively — bring specific questions and act on advice.
Brief TAs in advance and treat them as professional partners.
Communicate proactively with subject leads and pastoral.
Build collegial relationships beyond your immediate team.