My Initial Teacher Training year allowed me to enter the profession with confidence and ambition

I am currently in my third year of teaching after completing my Geography PGDE in 2017/2018. The PGDE course at the University of Sheffield provided the perfect springboard for a successful start to my career in the classroom. This has recently been acknowledged through my selection to complete the SSAT Leadership Legacy Course as a potential future school leader. My experiences during my Initial Teacher Training year allowed me to enter the profession with confidence and ambition to achieve such recognition. 

In my opinion, the greatest strength of Sheffield’s PGDE course is the course tutors. They work tirelessly to provide each student with a bespoke and beneficial experience as well as providing high quality support and feedback throughout the course. They also ensure that your placement schools provide you with a comprehensive insight into the world of teaching. For example, during my training year I was placed in two contrasting schools, in regard to school size, demographic, and ethos. I found this incredibly useful in helping shape my vision for education and envisage the school setting I saw myself working and thriving in.

Another highlight of the Geography PGDE was the residential field class to the Cranedale Field Studies Centre. This weekend provided a valuable insight into the leading and logistics of field trips; I have since gone on to plan and lead trips both in the UK and abroad, such as Iceland and India. 

Teaching is a difficult profession but an incredibly rewarding one. I love what I do but it is not for everyone - a strong work ethic is essential! I strongly recommend the PGDE course at the University of Sheffield as an excellent starting point for your teaching career. Not only is Sheffield the best university city in the UK, but the university’s PGDE course will fully equip you with the vital expertise and experiences needed to confidently begin a successful teaching career.