Aspiring teacher Kieran Edwards is returning to his roots with three training placements at Ormiston Academies Trust schools, after attending Ormiston Venture Academy himself.
Kieran discovered his passion for teaching as one of the few careers where you can make a genuine difference every single day. As part of his extensive training, Kieran chose to return to his alma mater, taking part in school placements and is now looking forward to starting a permanent role at Cliff Park Ormiston Academy later this year.
Kieran has trained to teach English, but attributes his decision to become a teacher to “the power of having great teachers who believed in me, and I wanted to be that person for someone else.” His experiences as a student in the local community have given him unique insights as part of his training, making it easier for him to connect with the young people in his classrooms.
He says his career has been a “such a full circle moment”, with Kieran being mentored by the same English teacher during his Initial Teacher Training (ITT) who taught him as a teenager in school. Speaking on coming back to his roots, Kieran said, “Being able to return to the same environment, but now as a role model and teacher, has been incredibly rewarding. It’s shown me just how impactful school staff can be and made me even more committed to giving back.”
Kieran successfully completed his training with Ormiston Teacher Training, the ITT programme led by Ormiston Academies Trust. His decision was influenced by his impactful experiences and teachers at school, but also the programme’s access to national research, expert support, and local community knowledge.
As part of this training, he had the chance to visit local primary school, Edward Worlledge Ormiston Academy, to spend time in their classrooms and understand the full educational journey from Reception to A-Levels. Ormiston’s unique Primary Days offer trainee teachers an unparalleled opportunity to understand the full education career of each of their students, seeing the building blocks of knowledge and experiences that their students bring with them upon starting secondary school. The specific days also offer trainees important time to build relationships with students joining their schools in September.
Applications for Ormiston Teacher Training’s 2025 course are open now, with spaces still available at the Norfolk Campus for aspiring teachers to apply.
Kieran Edwards, Trainee teacher at Ormiston Teacher Training, said:
“I became a teacher because growing up, I never saw anyone in education who looked like me—someone who was gay, on the larger side, and fun. I wanted to be the change I never saw, and represent all different aspiring teachers. If you’re passionate, empathetic, and committed to helping young people succeed—not just academically but personally—then teaching is for you.
“The training at Ormiston has been incredibly supportive and well-structured and I’ve felt prepared every step of the way. On placement, I’ve gained real insight into how a primary school day flows—from phonics in the morning to creative afternoons—and the importance of creating consistent routines for young learners. I even saw a year 3, after spending an hour with him, tapped me on the head, wrote me a card, and said I’ll be a fantastic teacher.”
Kaye Patrick, Director of Initial Teacher Training, Ormiston Academies Trust, said:
“It is truly inspiring to see Kieran return to Ormiston Academies Trust as a teacher, motivated by his own experiences as a student. His dedication and passion for education are evident, and it has been amazing to see how he has continued to grow in confidence and knowledge throughout his training.
“At Ormiston Teacher Training, we’re thrilled to be supporting the next generation of teaching talent as part of our innovative training programme, which brings together national expertise and community-led learning, welcoming aspiring educators from all backgrounds to explore their passion for teaching, inside and outside of the classroom.”
View Kieran’s case study here.