Education BA(Hons)

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."

Sophie O'Neill

"The course and the wide range of topics studied were invaluable in helping me secure the position of admissions and marketing assistant at a leading boarding and day school after graduation.

"My current role is quite varied and the practical nature of the course gave me many transferable skills that help me during my working day.

"Through the organisationally based research project I gained hands-on experience in project management, research techniques and producing reports. I have also been able to apply the learning from the work placements such as working with databases and taking notes in meetings.

"The course really built my knowledge of education and the education system and has made a big impact as I start my career."

Rhiannon Sanders

"When I started the course, I wanted a career within the criminal justice system, such as teaching young people within a young offender’s institute. I felt that this degree would allow me to broaden my understanding of many different aspects of education and I was particularly interested in the sociology and inclusion modules as they were linked to societal views.

"My first year placement was with the police force, learning how school police officers work with children to complete the safer schools partnership programme.  It gave me the opportunity to see the relationship between the criminal justice system and educational settings. In the second year, I worked in a school looking at the funding available to support ‘looked after’ children, and in my final year I again worked with the police looking at crime prevention education in schools.

"I enjoyed my placement in the school but it highlighted to me that teaching was not where my heart was. I want to become a police officer and, while waiting for operational requirements to change, I am working for them as a civilian investigator.

"My experiences at university have provided me with many different skills and experiences that are of great benefit to me in my current job."

Grace Austick

“Joining the Education BA(Hons) was one of the greatest decisions I could have made.

“I wanted to become a teacher for a long time and decided to undertake this course so I could study the many elements within the field of education. On the course I undertook placements in two different schools and focused my studies on personal interests within education, which as a consequence has been a valuable contribution to my professional development as a trainee teacher. 

"The Education BA was a valuable platform to a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Through learning about educational psychology, philosophy, policy and practice, I felt very prepared for my future career as a teacher. I always knew my learning was supported by professionals who really wanted the best for me. The staff on the course are approachable, understanding, dedicated and driven.

“I am now three months away from finishing my PGCE with a teaching job secured for September.”