A NEW generation of educators took a vital step towards becoming ‘heroes’ after officially qualifying as teachers.

A large cohort of primary and secondary newly qualified teachers joined family and friends for an official awards ceremony at Carmel College.

For the past year, the trainee teachers from across the North-East and North Yorkshire have been learning their craft in schools in Darlington, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Billingham, Bishop Auckland and Durham.

They trained in 50 schools with 150 school-based trainers; were visited by assessors 515 times and underwent 3,360 lesson observations.

Their training culminated in a ceremony in Darlington to mark the completion of a programme that will allow them entry into a profession which is recognised as a vocation.

College Principal Mike Shorten told the NQTs: “You are about to become the heroes of the future. I believe teaching is a vocation and something you do not go into lightly.

“Your journey starts here and you will have a wonderful career ahead. You have become educators and already started to make a difference to children’s lives. How many have you already inspired and been a hero to?”

Carmel Teacher Training Partnership has been training teachers for the past 19 years and is one of the largest and most successful providers in the region, creating professionals who strive to open and shape the minds of countless young people.

Carmel Education Trust Chief Executive Maura Regan said: “As teachers you have the most powerful weapon in your hands and you need to use it wisely. I hope in years to come students will come back as successful adults and tell you ‘it’s because of you’.”

The guest of honour, artist, actor, radio presenter and comedian Alfie Joey, told the audience of his experiences of teachers who inspired him. His diverse career includes training as a priest, a monk, being a toy-demonstrator with Hamleys, before appearing on Britain’s Got Talent, in Coronation Street and presenting the breakfast show on BBC Newcastle.

“I have been interviewing the Lionesses recently and even though they have been involved in the football World Cup, they always found time to text their teachers and family,” he said.

“Some of my teachers shaped my life by making me believe that I was capable of doing things I didn’t think I was meant to do."