What degree did you study?
I graduated with a first-class degree in early childhood studies with psychology from the University of Portsmouth. I'm currently studying education at Sheffield Hallam University to gain a PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) through a SCITT route with my training provider, Insignis Academy Trust.
How did you get onto your course?
I applied after carrying out online research and seeking guidance from the careers and employability service at Portsmouth before graduating. Their support helped me understand the application process and routes into teaching, deciding between a PGCE or SCITT route. I'm currently preparing to apply for primary school teaching roles in Key Stage 1 (KS1).
How relevant is your degree?
My degree has been extremely relevant. It gave me a strong understanding of:
- child development
- classroom practice
- learning theories
- safeguarding.
The placement provided valuable hands-on experience, which strengthened my confidence and gave me practical evidence to support my PGCE application.
What does your course involve?
My course combines academic study with practical classroom experience. A typical week includes:
- assessing pupils' work
- meetings with mentors
- observation of expert teachers
- planning lessons
- reflecting on my practice
- subject specific seminars
- teaching in my placement school.
Alongside this, I attend university sessions focusing on:
- behaviour management
- curriculum knowledge
- educational research
- pedagogy.
There is a strong emphasis on meeting Teachers' Standards and developing professional practice throughout.
What do you enjoy most?
I really enjoy building relationships with pupils and seeing their progress over time. It's incredibly rewarding to plan lessons and watch children engage and grow in confidence, especially with topics that are new to them.
I also value being part of a supportive school community and learning from experienced teachers.
What are the challenges?
The workload can be demanding, especially balancing lesson planning, marking, assignments and professional development tasks. Time management is essential.
Adapting lessons to meet the needs of all learners can also be challenging due to the variety seen in just one class, but there is plenty of support from the team to navigate this.
How important is what you're studying to becoming a teacher?
My current course in education, incorporating a PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), is highly relevant as it covers topics to help prepare students to meet the Teachers' Standards and commit to developing their professional practice. QTS, which involves a period of initial teacher training, is legally required to teach in most schools in England.
What are your top tips for choosing a PGCE?
Research entry requirements and outcomes carefully and compare different course structures to see what works best for your time, location, finances (some routes are paid) and routine.
Do you need work experience?
Yes, work experience is extremely important. Schools expect evidence of classroom experience, and most teacher training providers require it as part of the entry criteria. It also helps you confirm that teaching is the right career choice for you as the hours are very long.
Where do you hope to be in five years?
In five years, I hope to be an established primary school teacher with increased responsibilities, potentially leading a subject area. I would also like to continue developing professionally, possibly working towards leadership roles in the future or furthering my academic research, which is a passion of mine, in the early years field.
What advice can you give to others?
- Gain experience early through volunteering or working in schools alongside your studies to build confidence and strengthen applications.
- Use your university's careers service as they provide invaluable support with applications, mock interviews and exploring different routes. Speaking to current trainees and teachers also helped me make an informed decision.
- Stay organised and resilient as some applications fall through but when it works out it is incredibly rewarding. Good time management and self-care are key.
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