PGCE Primary

What is it really like to study PGCE Primary?

Melissa: I love the course. It's really inspiring. It's given me focus, drive. Marjon's as a whole, you just come here and the atmosphere is a buzz and gives you a want to learn and a want to achieve.

Thomas: The people on the course are really good, really nice. The lecturers have brilliant expertise. The teaching quality's amazing. And they're really supportive if you have any issues while you're on placement. So you're not at the uni, they're really good about communicating and keeping on top of everything, so that's good.

Charley: I quite enjoy the theory side of things before you out on placement. So you start off by getting the knowledge from the lectures, and then you go out onto placement and put theory into practice. Really enjoy the placement side of things because you get a real taste for the school environment and becoming a teacher.

Sam: And the fact that I've made some really good friends here and the tutors are all lovely.

How is Marjon helping you to develop as a teacher?

Thomas: By giving us loads of opportunities to go to conferences, training days, encouraging us to go to inset days while we're in school, telling us ways that we can improve our subject knowledge, basically up-to-date research, lots of things really.

Melissa: Aw, it's been amazing. It's given us the insights of theories and strategies in a class environment, but then going out on placement and actually putting that into practice and that's been really good. So it brings everything to life and makes it real.

Sam: Well, we get to go out on placements, which means that we get experience with the classrooms. And also, they give us advice on how to do your subject knowledge. And just, yeah, basically they're really supportive in whatever we get to do.

Charley: When we come back off placement, we have our UTs who give us a report of how we've done on placement, so that gives us time to come back, reflect on what we've done well, what we haven't done so well on. And then everyone here gives you lots and lots of support to make you a better all-rounded teacher.

What has been the highlight so far?

Thomas: Probably some of the lessons that I got to teach during placement A where you have a really good lesson and you encourage the kids to come out of their comfort zone and maybe take part in a lesson that's something they've never done before, to have really brilliant discussions. Knowing that you're facilitating, that's pretty cool.

Melissa: I think my personal highlight is just seeing the difference I made when I went in my first placement, and knowing that I actually made a difference to those children in that class, and some children particularly, that was absolutely amazing.

Sam: I would have to say it's my last day of placement when all the children brought me up in front of the whole school in assembly and presented a massive big card and presents and everything, and actually made me realize why I wanted to be a teacher.

Charley: Personal highlights so far is probably the cohort. We've got a really nice cohort here of other teachers. Everyone's in the same boat. Everyone's really nice and supportive. It's been a pleasure meeting everyone, and everyone really helps you strive for your placement and hopefully we'll get through the end with each other.

Thomas: Yeah, really good. So from the academic side, the tutors, you have your personal development tutor, who's there to help you, they help you with personal statements, CVs, work. There's student support to help you with you have an assignment, and then they also have great stuff like counseling, mentoring, if you're struggling with anything personally. So yeah, there's a lot around really.

Charley: Support's really good, not just for yourself, but for everyone. As I said, we do have a really good cohort here, so everyone supports each other through. Everyone's in the same boat. Lecture side of things, we have really good supportive lectures, open door policy. You go see them when and as you need them really, and that they offer you support on placement, assessment, normal subject knowledge, anything really. Really good.

Sam: Support is fantastic. So obviously you've got your PDT, which is your pastoral mentor. Obviously your cohort is very supportive as well. You've got student support, the hub, everybody's really supportive and, yeah, able to be with us the whole way through the cohort.

Melissa: Absolutely. I'd say if you want a university that is really supportive and cares, but on a greater level that you actually feel they're part of the family, the support on student support, from your lecturers, they know your names and they really do care. So you can give them as much or as little information about your own personal life, and that's just an amazing opportunity to have.

Thinking about your future in teaching, what are you most looking forward to?

Thomas: Basically having my own classroom that I can arrange how I want, treat it how I want and not having to obey rules that I might disagree with, structuring things in my own way that I think would be a good for the pupils.

Charley: Definitely enjoying having my own classroom. I think going in, having your own environment set up in your own class, it's something I'm really looking forward to working with.

Sam: Having my own classroom. No, yeah, it's basically seeing those light bulb moments in the children, especially when they haven't got something over that whole week, and then, bang, Friday, that's it. Boom. They've got it. And yeah, that's what I want to achieve.

The teaching training rooms are designed to replicate the classroom environment typically found in schools. Desks can be rearranged for group work. The walls are decorated with posters and other student work. There is a smart screen and lectern for presentations and lectures. This room offers a lovely view of the quad and chaplaincy, with additional seating by the windows.