Education BA(Hons)

 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 8-16 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."