Case Study

I was previously studying for an engineering degree at a different university, but halfway through the course I suffered from a mental breakdown and not long after that, gave birth to my son. Due to a few different factors, I was unable to return to complete the course and I knew I had to rethink my career plans. This was when I looked into education – I completed a Level 2 teaching assistant course and shortly after starting it, I realised that teaching would be the best option for me.

I chose to study at the University of Sunderland because of the unique degrees they provide for secondary education. I was looking into ways that I could train to be a maths teacher at secondary school level and the University offer a course where I can achieve this in three years, as opposed to going down the route of a three-year undergraduate maths degree followed by a PGCE.

Another great aspect of studying at Sunderland was the generous £2,000 bursary I was awarded for my degree, due to coming from a low-income household. The bursary has allowed me to purchase supplies for my course such as stationery and equipment in preparation for becoming a teacher, as well as contributing towards my daily living expenses.

My favourite part of the course was delving deeper into the art of teaching and discovering how students learn. It was fantastic to be able to go out on placements in the first two years, as it really helps you to build confidence and gain that valuable classroom experience before being assessed on your teaching in the third year.

I’ve just finished my third year and it’s been challenging adjusting to the life of a teacher – planning lessons takes a lot longer than you’d think, especially when you’ve got three assignments to complete alongside it! I sought support from the wellbeing team who were fantastic in helping me mentally manage everything I had to juggle. Although it hasn’t been an easy year, the reward at the end made it worth it, as I achieved a First Class Honours degree and was offered a teaching job with my second placement school, which starts in September.

To anyone thinking of coming to the University of Sunderland, my advice would be to do some research and look at the different options available within the same subject or course area to find what’s best for you. From the supportive tutors and wellbeing team to my own personal development and friends I’ve made along the way, I’ve had such a positive experience studying here.”

Published 9 July 2024