Students Comments
Testimonials - Students' Comments
Here is some feedback from some students who took part in the Student Associates Scheme in 2008/9.
General comments
This was a thoroughly enjoyable course and has really opened my mind about considering teaching at primary level. Thank you.
Thomas Leahy
The teaching input was very enjoyable and well presented. The school placement was a real eye opener ... and has confirmed my career choice.
Andrew Ballen
The scheme has provided a brilliant introduction to teaching. Both the lectures and the placement have been exceptionally useful in terms of my own learning of education and gaining insight into the day to day running of a school. I have learnt a vast amount.
John Barnett
Encouraging and supportive
Marcus Chapman
Brilliant course, run by great staff, brilliant opportunity and experience
Lloyd Dehara
Impact of the Student Associates Scheme
I was unsure before (whether I should apply for a teaching course) but I loved every minute.
Lucy Barrett
It's difficult really to see any disadvantages to the SAS. Before our placement we had a very friendly and knowledgeable chap called David leading our training sessions. As a former teacher himself he was able to talk from experience, and often used examples from his teaching days to illustrate important points in his presentations. I felt that was particularly useful because we could trust what he was saying was realistic, and not just some random academic preaching theories of education.
Of course, the best part of the SAS is the placement itself. I enjoyed very much working as part of a team in the maths department, particularly when I was able to provide cover for a teacher who was ill for a week. Whilst I was able to help out the school academically, and later on do a talk about university life, I was also helping myself by gaining real experience for a TEP - an asset highly regarded if you wish to persue a career in maths. It really is surprising how just much you can fit into three weeks - I thought I would struggle to fill in my portfolio, but instead I was selective with my words and still clocked up over 7,000!
Another great aspect is the final stage - earning your school £250 and pocketing £600!
All the best,
Matt Friend student 2006-2007
The student associate scheme is a perfect introduction to teaching with the minimal amount of commitment which allows an enquiring student interested in a future as a teacher to be able to interact and play a key role for a limited amount of time within their chosen subject area.
As far as I was concerned with regards to teaching as a career this was a perfect way to get a true understand of what the job involves, although personally I am interested in post-sixteen education (and still am after my experience at Towers School) it was beneficial for me to see a secondary comprehensive school at work. Only one recommendation to any potential candidates for the SAS scheme would be to enter wholeheartedly into the experience rather than do the bare minimum required, this includes recreational contact with members of staff, teaching your subject area and an experience of other subject areas and interact with statemented children and their helpers to try and get a true understanding of the struggles on both sides of a teaching relationship.
When I entered this student associate scheme training I had not even completed half of my first year at university therefore allowing myself to be more flexible between the different subjects which I deemed of benefit.
In my opinion a teacher is three things, an actress/actor, crowd control and to the students that they "reach", the little voice at the back of their minds helping to guide them through life.
From Graham Earl 2006-2007 student
"I would really recommend taking part in the Student Associate Scheme. This really will make your mind up! I think that there is nothing that can tell you more about teaching than this. The portfolio completed on the scheme takes you through many of the everyday tasks done by teachers. My placement school were very welcoming and really helpful. I would seriously recommend this scheme to anyone who is interested in teaching. It has certainly made up my mind to go into teaching!"
Thanks,
From Ann Wheeler 2006-2007 student
Thank you very much for all your help throughout the course of the scheme.
I found the scheme to be really good for my as it clarified in my mind that I was doing the right thing in starting a pgce in September. I think the Student Associates Scheme is the perfect way for students to gain the some experience so that they can either decide whether they want to follow teaching or not, and to use it as I did to check that they have made the right decision to go for a teaching career.
From David Buttery 2006-2007 student
In June 2007, I spent three weeks in Walmer Science College in the P.E. department. Over the three week period in which I attended the school I gained valuable experience through observing lessons, participating in lessons and finally taking a lesson myself. The Students Associate Scheme provided me with the opportunity to experience what it would be like to work in a school and confirmed that this was the career path that I wanted to take. Hopefully the experience and the knowledge that has been gained will be beneficial and advantageous when I apply for a P.G.C.E or G.T.P course when I finish my degree in 2008. As well as gaining experience being paid for the three weeks was also a great incentive. I would recommend this scheme to anybody who is hoping to go into teaching.
From April Cribben 2006-2007 student
I found the Student Associate Scheme extremely worthwhile and a beneficial and enjoyable experience. Before doing this scheme I had not had that much experience with teaching. I had carried out two weeks in a primary school as part of my work experience when I was at Secondary School, but, although I had fun doing it and did get some insight into teaching, it was limited to what I could do and I mainly observed.
The Student Associate Scheme, on the other hand, enabled me to actually interact with the children and in the third week of my placement, in a Secondary School, I taught a couple of year seven lessons, after preparing the exercises myself. Therefore, this allowed me to develop my organisational and preparation skills, as well as experiencing exactly what it was like to be a teacher as I took the role as the main practitioner in the classroom.
The teachers at my placement were all very welcoming and were extremely helpful in helping me with the portfolio that you must complete whilst on the scheme. The portfolio was well worth doing as it meant that I did such things as teach a lesson, prepare activities for the children as well as learn about the different policies that the school abides by, such as the teaching and learning and behaviour policy.
The Student Associate Scheme was not just a placement in a school, but had
3 very good sessions/ workshops that were carried out at my University, which prepared you for the placement and how to fill in your portfolios.
Overall, I think I really got a lot out of the Student Associate Scheme and I would recommend it to anyone who was thinking of teaching as a career, as it gives you a flavour of what teaching life would be like, it boosts your confidence and improves your people skills.
From Elizabeth Holt 2006-2007 student
Thank you very much, I really appreciate it. Just to say that the SAS course has been great and I really enjoyed my experience in school. I hope the course will be extremely valuable when I apply to do teaching at the end of my degree.
Many thanks
From Charlotte Wilby 2006-2007 student
I took part in the SAS scheme because I want to become a teacher and when I read up about it, it matched everything I would want to do. It is a great opportunity to gain some valuable experience for those interested in teaching. I spent three weeks in a middle school near where I live, and now when I walk around town I constantly have students and teachers that I worked with come up to me and say hello. Its certainly an experience you will never forget and the feeling of pride and achievement you gain from it is something you only get when you get out there and actually take part in schemes like this. If I could do it again next year I will definitely sign my name up.
From Victoria Ball 2006-2007 student
I had been unsure whether to apply to do a PGCE. It seemed a big step to take, especially if I decided that, having started, teaching wasn't for me. I discovered that Christ church university ran what they call the Students Associate Scheme. It appeared to me to be a taster course of the PGCE to allow people to see if the PGCE was for them.
I t was quick and easy to apply for and was open to people with or without experience of working with children. This had been one of my worries as I have had no experience up to this point. The actual course for me took place over 3 days with a 2 week placement in a Primary school (with a very generous paid allowance). What pleased me especially was that the work I undertook in the scheme could later be used as evidence in my PGCE proper. Participants at level 2 (those who had experience) could actually complete some of their standards in preparation for the PGCE.
All in all I found the scheme was exceptionally helpful. It allowed me to get some first hand experience of what the PGCE involved and helped me make the choice to apply. It also gave me added confidence when it came to my application interview. I feel that it gave me an advantage over those who had had no experience in this area. I have just completed my PGCE and can honestly say that it helped me make the hard but ultimately correct decision to take the PGCE.
From Jonathon Hooper student 2005-2006
Upon seeing an advertisement for this scheme to introduce university students to the experience of teaching prior to undertaking specific studies to become a teacher I applied for a place on the course.
I am a mature student and therefore had not been into a classroom for well over 20 years and needed experience of today's students and teaching practices.
The initial 3 days of the course where we were introduced to requirements for teacher's as well as challenges faced by today's students. The course provided a good insight into what would be needed from prospective teachers' and the standards set by the government regarding teaching to students throughout the different range of key stages.
I then in consultation with the university arranged a 3 week placement at a secondary school in order to experience school life. During my placement I was able to assist teachers in their lessons and also took the opportunity to teach a double lesson in French, my chosen degree subject. I was able to use knowledge obtained in the initial 3 days of the course as well as the expertise of the teachers at the school.
I compiled a workplace dossier of my experience which I hope will assist me when I apply for a teacher training position and in the early years of my career as a teacher. I did not find the experience particularly easy but it did help me to decide that I wanted to qualify as a teacher. I certainly feel that participating in this course has been most helpful and I would recommend anyone considering teaching apply to go on the course before making any decisions about their chosen career.
From Philip Sheppard 22/8/07