What our students say

I am from Brighton and have lived in this area all my life. I returned to study five years ago by completing an Access course at Sussex Downs College in Lewes and graduated from the School of Education in 2010. Although it was daunting returning to study after a period of approximately 20 years it soon became apparent to me that I found the new challenge hugely rewarding and this spurred me on during my time at university. Prior to this I had worked in the Insurance and Recruitment sectors primarily in man-management, training and sales roles.

Choosing the right course

Being a mature student it was logistically important to study at a university within the Sussex, Surrey or Kent borders because I have a young family and could not simply choose to attend university anywhere in the country. The University of Brighton naturally appealed and importantly I knew it had a good reputation in the Education sector. Initially, I considered completing a BA in Primary Education (QTS) and was also offered a place at Chichester University, however when I applied to Brighton I noticed that they offered a different type of degree, BA (Hons) Education, which was still in my chosen field of education but I felt may offer me broader career options in the long term whilst still allowing me to complete postgraduate studies and teach in the future.

Experience on the course

The course was great from the outset because of the style of teaching (small classroom-based rather than lecture-based sessions) and the broad nature of the subjects studied. I also liked the opportunity we had to critically explore each topic and consider different opinions and attitudes from fellow students, tutors and academic writers of course. The course also involved two work-based placements, which afforded me to opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in a work setting, gaining valuable skills and helping me to consider my future career options.

The course tutors were particularly helpful in playing a supportive role throughout the course and it was really noticeable how knowledgeable and passionate they were about their own particular area of expertise. Many were also inspirational because of their individual life and work experiences, making the teaching sessions interesting and creating lasting memories of my time at Brighton.

The course was an excellent preparatory course for anyone considering teaching as a career; however more than that it enables you to open your eyes fully to the world of education and the many possibilities that exist out in the field beyond simply teaching.

Future aspirations

For the time being I have decided not to pursue a PGCE course, largely because my children are still young and need support through their own education. Furthermore, I am also much less rigid in my view of the type of opportunities that exist to work with children, not simply through teaching, and have started working for a social care organisation,  supporting post-16 young people who are making the transition from living in foster care to fully independent living. I believe my own life experiences and those I have gained through this course will equip me well to support these vulnerable young people who deserve the right to achieve their potential in life.

"Celebrating students as researchers" conference

Cathy Atherton was chosen to be the opening keynote speaker for our recent event "Celebrating students as researchers", a conference organised for all of our BA (Hons) Education students.

Find out more about our BA (Hons) Education course.