Welcome to the Companion Videos
One of the reasons I'm especially pleased to bring this Australian edition to you is that Australia has played an important role in my own educational journey. Long before writing this book, I spent time working with Australian educators and publishers, gaining first-hand experience of your country's education sector and developing a genuine appreciation for your schools, teachers and communities.
Although the videos you'll find here were filmed in schools across the United Kingdom, the principles of great teaching remain remarkably consistent wherever you are in the world. You'll notice differences in terminology, school structures and classroom routines, but don't let those differences distract you. Their purpose isn't to compare education systems; it's to share practical ideas, experiences and perspectives that teachers everywhere can learn from.
Whether you're preparing to teach in Australia or simply exploring the profession, I hope these videos encourage you, challenge you and give you greater confidence as you begin your own teaching journey.
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Video 1: Choosing the Right Environment
One of the biggest decisions you'll make isn't simply whether to become a teacher; it's deciding where you want to teach.
Throughout my career, I've experienced a wide range of educational settings, each with its own culture, challenges and rewards. Some immediately felt like home. Others made me realise they simply weren't the right environment for me.
As we've explored throughout this book, the best way to discover where you belong is through first-hand experience. Spend time observing lessons, volunteering, and talking to teachers in different settings. Nothing will give you a better understanding of the profession than seeing it from the inside.
Although we often talk about teaching as though it's a single career, teaching in early childhood, primary schools, secondary schools, universities, or adult education requires different skills, personalities and approaches.
Teacher education programmes will equip you with the foundations of effective teaching, including classroom management, lesson planning and professional practice. What they can't tell you is where you'll feel most fulfilled. Only experience can answer that question.
Video 2: Special Schools
Before you watch this video, a quick note: the footage was filmed in a UK Special School, so some aspects of what you see, including the terminology, staffing structures and school organisation, will differ from those in Australia.
What you'll also see, however, is something that transcends education systems.
During one theatre-in-education project, I had the privilege of visiting a Special School while following a group of actors delivering performances about online safety.
The staff were extraordinary.
As the students entered the assembly hall, each with their own individual needs, I found myself standing quietly at the back of the room, deeply moved by what I was witnessing.
What struck me wasn't simply the dedication of the teachers. It was their constant awareness of every student in their care. Every child mattered. Every need was understood. Every interaction reflected patience, compassion and remarkable professionalism.
I came away with an even greater respect for the educators who choose to work in these environments. Special education requires a unique combination of skill, resilience and empathy, and those who dedicate their careers to it make an extraordinary difference to the lives of the children and families they support.
At the end of the performance, one young student became extremely distressed because she didn't want it to end. I watched one of the teachers calmly guide her through that moment with remarkable patience, compassion and kindness.
People often assume the word "special" refers only to the students.
For me, it also describes the teachers.
That visit taught me something important about myself. While I admired those educators enormously, I also realised that, emotionally, I would probably find this environment challenging. Recognising that isn't a weakness; it's part of understanding where your own strengths, temperament and passions lie.
Teaching isn't about finding the most demanding environment or the one others admire most. It's about finding the place where you can make your greatest contribution. For some people, that place is a Special School. For others, it will be somewhere entirely different. The important thing is finding the environment where you can give your very best, both to your students and to yourself.
Video 3: Small and Rural Schools
Some of the most inspiring schools I've visited have also been some of the smallest.
Smaller schools may not always have the budgets or facilities of larger schools, but they often make up for it through innovation, flexibility and an exceptionally strong sense of community.
One small rural school I visited had very little of the technology you might expect to find in a larger school, yet the creativity of the teaching was exceptional. It was a powerful reminder that great teaching has never depended solely on expensive equipment.
Smaller schools can also be quicker to embrace new ideas. With fewer layers of administration, teachers often have greater opportunities to innovate, build close relationships and make a meaningful difference to the lives of their students.
If you're someone who enjoys creativity, strong community connections and the opportunity to know your students well, you may discover that a smaller school is exactly where you belong.
Video 4: Larger District and Charter Schools
Although I personally enjoy the atmosphere of smaller schools, larger schools have tremendous strengths of their own.
With greater resources often comes access to a wider range of extracurricular activities, specialist facilities, larger support teams, and more opportunities for professional development and leadership.
Many teachers thrive in these environments because they enjoy working as part of larger teams and appreciate the chance to specialise as their careers progress.
Neither environment is better.
They're simply different.
The most important thing is finding the school where your personality, teaching style and ambitions are the best fit. When that happens, you'll not only become a better teacher, but you'll enjoy the journey far more.
Can you help?
I hope you're enjoying Becoming a Teacher: The 5 BIG Mistakes and that it's helping you begin your teaching journey with greater confidence.
If you've found the book helpful, I'd be incredibly grateful if you could take just a minute to leave a short review on Amazon.
Your review not only helps other aspiring teachers discover the book, but also helps them decide whether it's the right guide for them as they begin their own journey into the profession.
Thank you for your support. I genuinely appreciate it, and I wish you every success in what I hope will be a long, rewarding and fulfilling teaching career.
Andrew Harold