Hi, I’m Stella, and I’m a postgraduate student, currently studying PGCE Geography here at the University of York. Having completed my undergraduate degree in Geography at a different university, my decision to transfer to York came with an equal measure of excitement and nerves.
As I come towards the end of my PGCE year, I can single handedly say, my year in York has been a thousand times better than I could have ever imagined. So much so, I’m sticking around for a bit longer having recently got my first post in a school just outside of York!
Why I chose York
When choosing where to do my PGCE, I knew that I didn’t want to just be a good teacher. I wanted to be a good Geography teacher. With this, I chose the University of York’s PGCE programme because of its renowned reputation nationally as producing high quality teachers with a real honed sense of their subject specialism.
Over the course of the year, you have two placements in two different schools and a number of days in university. It is important to note, that the course does not simply drop you in a school in September and expect you to teach right away. For the first few months, you spend two days in school a week observing teachers and three days in university. The idea of this period is to allow you to understand the fundamentals of teaching and to build your confidence. Then over the course of the year, you slowly build up your teaching hours.
The days in University are spent practicing different techniques, investigating recent research to inform your teaching and understanding some of the constraints behind why and how pupils learn.
Working with other PGCE students
When I decided to move to York for my PGCE, one of my main worries was the social aspect. I was leaving a city where I had secure social networks and a good support system. But over the course of this year, I have met some of the most wonderful, kind and inspiring people. Some of whom, I will be friends with for a long time to come!
The way the course is laid out allows for you to meet people studying for PGCE’s in other subjects. Particularly in the first section of the course. From September through to the end of October, every Wednesday you have Whole School Issues (WSI). The whole cohort, so every one studying for a PGCE is split into three groups, all of which are of varying subjects. I found these groups a refreshing opportunity to learn from and listen to the range of people on the PGCE. With some straight out of university, some returning to university after a change in career and some studying in the UK for the first time. Each person on the course brings their own unique story of what inspired them to take up teaching.
The Role of Tutors
It would be unjust of me to write this without noting and crediting the role my tutors have had in my success this year. Each PGCE subject at York has a curriculum area (CA) lead and a varying number of tutors. In Geography, we have Georgia and Jane, both of whom have been instrumental in providing support and guidance. They have simply been there when things get a little stressful.
As well as the wealth of support at university, in each of your placement schools you are linked with both a subject mentor and professional tutor. Both of whom will be experienced teachers. These are two contacts in school that you can go to seek advice and support from. It would be foolish of me to say that the PGCE is a breeze. But with the immense amount of support available here at York, you feel so supported so you never feel overwhelmed.
So, to put simply my year in York has been wonderful. I have learnt so much, met so many inspiring people, been fortunate to have the most brilliant tutors. Fundamentally I am so ready to start a hopeful long and successful career in the Geography classroom.
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