William Richards - Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary)
When William Richards returned to New Zealand several years ago after completing his PhD at Loughborough University in the UK he was able to work as a full-time relieving teacher in Rotorua and he absolutely loved it.
Since then and after a successful career in the engineering sector, William reignited his interest in secondary school education after volunteering in his community. Teacher registration requirements have changed since William's earlier teaching experience, so a formal qualification was needed if he was to successfully return to the classroom.
William heard about the online Graduate Diploma in Teaching Programme through one of the teachers at Pukekohe High School last year.
He says that as he lives in Bombay, the commute into Auckland every day was not an option for him and the flexibility of the online programme was ideal.
William is also one of the successful recipients of a place in the Teacher Education in Schools Programme (TESP), a pilot programme which Waipapa Taumata Rau the University of Auckland has been running since 2022, allowing students to study online and be embedded in a high school three days a week.
Successful students on the programme enjoy fees free and a monthly stipend to support their studies.
William was inspired to enrol in the online programme as he had really enjoyed his time working in the local schools and getting to know the students.
As I loved teaching before, I was sure I would enjoy teaching again. Following Covid-19, I realised that I needed the mental stimulation of other people, and the online programme has certainly helped with this. I have learned an enormous amount about te Ao Māori, adolescent behaviour, and the pedagogy behind teaching physics.
The Teacher Education in Schools Programme offers students the ability to complete a block of teaching practicum in their host school as well as one other school in the local community. Developing pedagogies and knowledge alongside the students and Associate Teachers they have started to build relationships with by being in school every week. In William’s case, many of the students in his host school are already known to him through his volunteering on the breakfast and lunch programmes.
Making a difference with the students’ learning is something I am extremely proud of.
William is currently based at Pukekohe High School and enjoys the short 10-minute commute from home to work. He also enjoyed his first practicum at St Kentigern College in Pakuranga.
“It is great to be back in the local Pukekohe community and catch up with a lot of the people (students and teachers) that I already know.”
William wants to complete his Graduate Diploma in Teaching and then hopes to get a permanent local teaching position.
He says his advice to anyone thinking of becoming a teacher is to: “absolutely go for it!”