Education BA(Hons)

Leo Jordan

I chose to study education to provide me with a wider range of knowledge. There was more background knowledge to discover, and more freedom in research-based learning, offering me the chance not just to look at education within a classroom but in other aspects. For example, outdoor education, prison education, looking into aspects of charity work, and to look into why children are taught the current curriculum and the social sciences of the human brain.

In our first week we were thrown together in groups and tasked to create a cake following a specific brief and relate it to education. To see how everyone bonded together so quickly was definitely a highlight for me not only because of the cake but to be able to realise that education means something different for every single person. There is no one definition of education!

To begin with, lectures were difficult and the reading is something new to get used to but with the dedicated module looking at how we adapt and settle into higher education you start to realise that it is a lot easier. I have found these especially helpful and after the first week everything becomes like normal day to day life.

Staff here at the University of Brighton and more specifically the education team are so friendly and approachable. They will always be on hand to offer extra support and will always do their very best for each and every student, and if they can’t help find a solution they will always help you find someone who can help.

Acceptance, this is the one word I could describe Brighton as and this extends to the university. You get a sense of freedom with this university that I have never felt before.

Carly Bleach

After working as a teaching assistant and an individual needs assistant for almost three years, I decided I wanted to develop my skills further by studying for a degree. At this stage, I was pretty certain I wanted to become a special educational needs coordinator (SENCO), or work as an inclusion assistant but I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to train in primary or secondary education.

The course focuses on so much more than just teaching. It opens up many career opportunities for students to consider such as a careers advisor, counsellor, play therapist, SENCO, community education officer and criminal rehabilitation.

I think this course has made me really conscientious about the type of practitioner I want to be by thinking about the social, political and historical occurrences that have influenced the teaching practice we see in classrooms today.

It has also helped me in my current job as a relief TA. I have recognised many of the theories I have studied in everyday practice, helping me to understand why phonics or maths are taught in a particular way.

My plan after finishing the course is to continue my studies. I still hope to work in an Inclusion Team supporting vulnerable students and students with SEND.

Shannon Reed

I chose to study at the University of Brighton because I had always loved the city itself. The freedom and acceptance to be whoever you want to be is what drew me to the area. Your ideas are as valued as the person next to you.  

The Education BA is the best for academic freedom. It teaches you to pursue your aspirations and own interests overall as long as it has some tangible relevance. It is also an enjoyable course because the lectures are approachable and consistently available to help. The course feels more like a friendship than an academic setting most of the time, it’s nice to know that people just want you to succeed.

The placement opportunities are brilliant as the course allows you to consider your own path and pick where you want to go. As long as you can justify your interest you are free to go where you please, which is a really nice feeling and allows the course to feel unique to each student.

The facilities on the Falmer campus are brilliant; the library has so many resources and if they don't have exactly what you're looking for you can always ask and they will always try to help. There are plenty of available resources and always support networks in place.

My favourite thing about studying at Brighton is the variation of students. You can guarantee that you won't experience the same day twice as you continuously get to meet new and interesting people.

 Michela Marazzi 

I choose to study the Education BA because I thought it would give me a broader understanding of the range of fields in education. I also wanted to do be able to explore different career opportunities like teaching as well as other areas of interest such as international education and research.

Coming from a different country, it was hard deciding where I wanted to spend the next three years of my life studying. Brighton for me has a welcoming and vibrant community. I like that it is close to the attractions and charm of London, whilst offering one of the best nightlife and eating destinations in the UK.

The mixture of essay writing, presentations, research and other assessments have been very helpful in learning to be flexible and innovative. The teachers on the course are really supportive and are happy to help you with any issue, even if it’s not academic related. The passion they put into delivering sessions makes the course so enjoyable.

One of my highlights so far has been the opportunity to go on two placements in settings that are of interest. I have been given the freedom (and responsibility) to organise my own placement which has helped me to pursue a field of education I feel passionate about.

Although still unsure of my plans after graduating, one option I am considering is to continue studying at the University of Brighton for my PGCE and then become a teacher in an international school abroad.

Donna Moseley

Teaching is something that I’ve always been interested in. As a mature student, I felt that the Education BA was applicable to me as I wanted to expand my knowledge of education policy and this degree helped me do that. 

I spent one of my placements in a primary school and engaged in school life for around eight weeks, which gave me valuable experience of how a school runs on a daily basis. I also observed many teachers in their classrooms and was able to draw on their skills and attributes to help me with my future career as a teacher.

Having time to reflect on what I was doing and what I hoped to achieve during my placement was pivotal to my learning because I was able to determine my next steps. The networking also put me in touch with lots of education professionals and I know that this will benefit my future. 

The course was the most challenging and rewarding thing I’ve ever done and made me ready and equipped to embark on a PGCE course, which I started following graduation.

Mark Penred

I wanted to be a primary teacher but chose this course as I thought it would give a different overview to education that I wouldn’t find on a course specifically designed for teaching.

At the suggestion of the course team my second year placement was spent with the Widening Participation team at the university. I thoroughly enjoyed running activities for children of all ages and helping them to understand the possibilities and opportunities available to them through education. The benefits I saw these projects having helped me to develop a real passion.  

From then on I chose to focus my studies on this area of education but the layout of the course also allowed me to continue to study multiple areas of education which had a great value in expanding my thinking. 

Since graduating I have founded my own charity which runs mentoring projects in primary and secondary schools to help pupils understand the vast numbers of opportunities available to them for future education and careers and to help ensure everyone has the tools they need to follow their passion and purpose in life.

The variety of ideas shared in this course, as well as the levels of critical thinking, strongly assist you in your growth, which go far beyond the course itself.

Hayleigh Ponting

I focused my learning on equality and international education as they are two things that I am very passionate about, and I knew I could adapt the modules to fit these areas. In the first year I chose a placement with a charity which gave advocacy to adults with learning disabilities as I wanted to see what kind of support was available post-school.

As the course progressed, I became more and more passionate about international education, and more specifically inclusion within less economically developed nations. My placement in year 2 was spent in two schools in Ghana. I learnt a lot about the culture and school system in the eight weeks I spent there and it cemented my passion for international education.

After finishing the course I am spending a month in Jamaica working in a care home for children with special needs and on my return I am planning on undertaking a TEFL course with the aim of becoming an English teacher abroad.

I was set on being a primary school teacher at the beginning of the three years but wanted some more experience before I jumped into a teaching degree. I am so glad I did as looking back I have gained so much from the different modules and am now extremely happy with the career choice I have made.

Chelsea Matthews

I chose this course because it meant I could go into a range of employment opportunities afterwards – my goal was to become a primary school teacher but I liked the fact that I wasn’t restricted to this one area. If I decided to change career path I would be able to do so with the education degree. 

My placements were extremely different to each other. My first was in a Buddhist primary school and my second in a self-managed college for eight–16 year olds. This enabled me to gain a variety of experiences.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning new information such as pedagogies and theories of learning and Brighton is a wonderful place to study. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly and go to great lengths to help with any issues or concerns that you had. I would recommend the course to anyone. 

Since graduating I have started a PGCE at Brighton in order to become a primary school teacher."