Joe
What attracted me to Huddersfield
Being born in Huddersfield, I'm very lucky to have such a great university on my doorstep. I’d been in higher education before but left early during the Pandemic, so when I decided to return to it to pursue teaching, I was excited to see what a great range of education courses Huddersfield had to offer.
The facilities that the University provides are exceptional, and I was especially impressed with the disability and mental health support which I knew would be very important to me whilst completing my studies. My previous university was very small, so I was overjoyed to see the amount of support that Huddersfield had to offer, as well as the size of the library.
“The modules on offer, especially those that delve into the theory and philosophical perspectives surrounding education, are brilliant, and help potential teachers to gain a critical consciousness of their practice, which is essential to becoming a well-rounded professional in the industry.”
Why I chose the Primary Education Studies course at Huddersfield
I was looking for a shorter course that provided a full degree, so the Primary Education Accelerated Degree, being a two-year course, seemed like a practical solution, as it conformed to my financial needs and allowed me to gain a full undergraduate qualification in that time. The course by no means sacrifices anything to fit into that timeframe – you get the full experience, simply compressed into two years rather than three.
I was very excited to have the chance to learn and write about SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) and SEMH (social, emotional and mental health) provision, as these are two subjects that are close to my heart and will be a career focus of mine in the future.
"The Academic Skills Team are very helpful with ironing out any qualms I may have with assignments or formatting, and being able to book meetings with my personal academic tutor is a great way to gain extra support, keep on track and make sure my studies are running smoothly."
Supportive tutors
The teaching is fantastic – I've never felt more supported in any stage of my education! All my lecturers and my brilliant Course Leader have plenty of time for all students and drive us to do the best we can, as well as being great industry role models. Everything is explained clearly, and if I've ever felt that there are concepts that aren't quite clicking for me, my lecturers are always on hand to clarify.
The lectures are always engaging and thought-provoking, and I really like the chance to discuss ideas and concepts that seminars offer. I always leave with fresh thoughts that contribute to my practice and assignments, and the subject matter is consistently highly relevant to me.
Library resources
The library, especially the online portion, is vast and absolutely essential to success on my course. The University provides access to a plethora of online collections of books and journals from other libraries, which makes finding works needed for assignments a breeze. The library team also offer great academic support, such as referencing workshops and meetings to help find specific information and sources, which I've made good use of.
“My favourite thing about my course has to be the freedom to discuss relevant matters that interest me - since I'm so passionate about SEND, I find myself writing about that field frequently during my assignments, which is an absolute joy!”
Developing my skills on placement
I've really enjoyed my school placement. We have the chance to find and choose our own placements, so I was able to find a great local school to practise in. The staff there were very welcoming and encouraging, and I learnt so much from them. I'm very much looking forward to my placements in second year!
Activities outside my course
I am an Academic Representative for my course, a voluntary position through the Students' Union, involving assisting with raising any small issues that may arise on the course and helping to make some improvements and give student feedback, to make positive change for students.
I have also got involved in some of the many activities offered by the Students' Union and societies, including goat yoga (yes, that's exactly what you think it is) and various trips, such as to Christmas markets and Alton Towers.
“I love the community within the University – the connections between students, staff and the support offered really come together to provide such a good experience, and I'd definitely struggle without it!”
My favourite thing about Huddersfield
I like the community feel at Huddersfield and how everything contributes to such a great support network to help with your studies, and it's such a great feeling knowing that everyone has your back. It's really helped me to push through anything I'm struggling with and overcome any obstacles I may face. I'm really proud of my successes and those of my peers, and very excited for the future.
Pursuing a career in teaching
After I graduate, I'm hoping to complete both a PGCE and a Master’s degree to support my teaching career.
Studying at the University of Huddersfield has helped me gain so much confidence in my abilities, both academically and as a practitioner, and I can't wait to develop those and turn them into a career I can be proud of.
The experiences I've already had at university in my first year are many and have helped me really focus in on my plans for the future and decide what direction I want to take, and I'm really excited to pursue them!
