Honest opinion on a Primary Education degree?
Hiya,
I’m thinking of studying Primary Education (5-11) at Sheffield Hallam Uni in September.
I’ve seen lots of Tiktok’s recently saying the course is extremely demanding and has made people drop out of uni completely. This has definitely made me question my course decision, and have recently looked at switching to a Speech and Language Therapy course as a backup.
Would love to have some honest opinions from trainee teachers to dispel/ confirm any rumours. Thank you!
I’m thinking of studying Primary Education (5-11) at Sheffield Hallam Uni in September.
I’ve seen lots of Tiktok’s recently saying the course is extremely demanding and has made people drop out of uni completely. This has definitely made me question my course decision, and have recently looked at switching to a Speech and Language Therapy course as a backup.
Would love to have some honest opinions from trainee teachers to dispel/ confirm any rumours. Thank you!
Reply 1
18
Original post
by fayebarnard06Hiya,
I’m thinking of studying Primary Education (5-11) at Sheffield Hallam Uni in September.
I’ve seen lots of Tiktok’s recently saying the course is extremely demanding and has made people drop out of uni completely. This has definitely made me question my course decision, and have recently looked at switching to a Speech and Language Therapy course as a backup.
Would love to have some honest opinions from trainee teachers to dispel/ confirm any rumours. Thank you!
I’m thinking of studying Primary Education (5-11) at Sheffield Hallam Uni in September.
I’ve seen lots of Tiktok’s recently saying the course is extremely demanding and has made people drop out of uni completely. This has definitely made me question my course decision, and have recently looked at switching to a Speech and Language Therapy course as a backup.
Would love to have some honest opinions from trainee teachers to dispel/ confirm any rumours. Thank you!
It is hard work. Education is hard and people who work in education work hard.
My only caveat is I do have a slight problem with people who go to school, then go to university, then go back into school as a teacher. They have absolutely no real-world experience and I can't help but feel they make poorer teachers for it. They are also more likely to drop out because they don't understand how the other side isn't greener.
When you graduate, you are staring at a working life of 50ish years. You have plenty of time to become a teacher at any time in that career. I did it at 40. Best decision I made but I couldn't have handled it aged 23.
Reply 2
Original post
by hotpudIt is hard work. Education is hard and people who work in education work hard.
My only caveat is I do have a slight problem with people who go to school, then go to university, then go back into school as a teacher. They have absolutely no real-world experience and I can't help but feel they make poorer teachers for it. They are also more likely to drop out because they don't understand how the other side isn't greener.
When you graduate, you are staring at a working life of 50ish years. You have plenty of time to become a teacher at any time in that career. I did it at 40. Best decision I made but I couldn't have handled it aged 23.
My only caveat is I do have a slight problem with people who go to school, then go to university, then go back into school as a teacher. They have absolutely no real-world experience and I can't help but feel they make poorer teachers for it. They are also more likely to drop out because they don't understand how the other side isn't greener.
When you graduate, you are staring at a working life of 50ish years. You have plenty of time to become a teacher at any time in that career. I did it at 40. Best decision I made but I couldn't have handled it aged 23.
I wholeheartedly agree with Hotpud here. I'm also a mature teacher—I'm 39 and about to go into my second ECT year. I bring so much of my life and experience into my job that I can make it relatable to the students, and I feel I have a richer subject knowledge because of it.
My favourite complaint from a younger teacher has been how their school expects teachers to walk around the classroom for the whole hour (secondary English) circulating the students - it's "not fair" and "against human rights" to make someone stand for that long. I teach Food tech, so I never sit down while teaching, and I spent most of my pre-teaching career in the hospitality industry...not uncommon to go 7-8 hours without sitting down at McDonalds 😜
Also, coming from someone who did their undergraduate and went straight into a PGCE - teaching courses are much more full-on than a standard undergraduate course. For my BSc, I would have so much free time I didn't know what to do with it (it was meant for personal study), and it was laid back, only having to be in lectures/seminars for a couple of hours a day. My PGCE was a shock as it was placement 4 full days a week and uni 1 day - it is a full-time role in the sense that you're expected to do full-time PLUS assignments on top. So, my UG I could do assignments in my downtime, PGCE has them being done in your "free time".
Reply 3
Original post
by fayebarnard06Hiya,
I’m thinking of studying Primary Education (5-11) at Sheffield Hallam Uni in September.
I’ve seen lots of Tiktok’s recently saying the course is extremely demanding and has made people drop out of uni completely. This has definitely made me question my course decision, and have recently looked at switching to a Speech and Language Therapy course as a backup.
Would love to have some honest opinions from trainee teachers to dispel/ confirm any rumours. Thank you!
I’m thinking of studying Primary Education (5-11) at Sheffield Hallam Uni in September.
I’ve seen lots of Tiktok’s recently saying the course is extremely demanding and has made people drop out of uni completely. This has definitely made me question my course decision, and have recently looked at switching to a Speech and Language Therapy course as a backup.
Would love to have some honest opinions from trainee teachers to dispel/ confirm any rumours. Thank you!
I don’t know if you ended up doing it but it’s the most awful course you’ll ever be on. They don’t care about student wellbeing and take your money….they made my cohort do two placements worth of work in 7-9 weeks. Expecting us to attain QTS in 7-9 weeks without any prior school experience because of lack of funding due to us missing our second placements. The staff were horrendous and gaslighting when we’d complain. Stay clear. They need to realise what they’re putting people through. No wonder there is a teacher shortage. The school deputy was acting as though getting QTs is the be all and end all saying if you pass that is. Sod your QTS and a job that requires people to work 80 hours a week with little sleep!
Reply 4
Original post
by fayebarnard06Hiya,
I’m thinking of studying Primary Education (5-11) at Sheffield Hallam Uni in September.
I’ve seen lots of Tiktok’s recently saying the course is extremely demanding and has made people drop out of uni completely. This has definitely made me question my course decision, and have recently looked at switching to a Speech and Language Therapy course as a backup.
Would love to have some honest opinions from trainee teachers to dispel/ confirm any rumours. Thank you!
I’m thinking of studying Primary Education (5-11) at Sheffield Hallam Uni in September.
I’ve seen lots of Tiktok’s recently saying the course is extremely demanding and has made people drop out of uni completely. This has definitely made me question my course decision, and have recently looked at switching to a Speech and Language Therapy course as a backup.
Would love to have some honest opinions from trainee teachers to dispel/ confirm any rumours. Thank you!
Hi @fayebarnard06
I am aware this post is a year old but wanted to reply in case anyone is considering applying for BA Primary Education now as I am in my third year of studying it at BCU!
The course can be quite full on, especially when you are on a full time block placement, however it is manageable. The ways I managed the workload were:
•
Starting assignments as early as possible so that I did not have loads of work to do close to the deadline. I found this was particularly helpful for when I had assignments due around placement as it meant that I did not have to work on them during placement.
•
Always give myself at least one day off per week where I do not do any work. When I am on placement, this will be a weekend day and I will try to plan something fun to do. It is really important to look after yourself whilst on busy placement blocks so that you are well rested and ready to teach to the best of your ability.
•
I avoid having to stay late at school everyday by making sure that I get in early and make the most of any time that I have to get work done.
•
Find a support network of people on your course who you can chat to about your experiences. This will be particularly beneficial if you are living with people who do not study a course including placement as your uni experience will be very different to theirs. I have been lucky to live with people who study healthcare courses so have an understanding of what it is like to balance uni with placement.
Another thing to consider is the schedule that your university follows, for example do they have block placements (full time placement for a period of time) or is it combined with teaching (a couple of days per week), and consider which you feel would work best for you.
Hope that helps!
Sophie.
BCU Student Rep.
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