I have always been interested in working with children and education, particularly in supporting pupils’ confidence, wellbeing and progress within the classroom. Before beginning my PGCE, I completed the Primary Education accelerated degree pathway, which gave me a strong foundation in child development, inclusion and classroom practice.
London Met stood out to me because of its strong focus on inclusive education, practical teaching experience and supportive learning environment. I felt that the course placed real value on preparing trainee teachers for the realities of the classroom
My favourite part of the course has been the school placements because they have given me the opportunity to apply what I have learned in university to real classroom settings. I have really enjoyed building relationships with pupils, seeing their confidence grow and developing my own teaching practice through hands-on experience.
I have also enjoyed how reflective the course is, as it has encouraged me to think critically about teaching approaches, inclusion and how to create supportive learning environments for all children. Seeing my confidence develop over the course of the PGCE has probably been the most rewarding part for me.
As part of both my undergraduate degree and PGCE course, I completed placements within primary school settings where I gained experience teaching across a range of subjects and year groups. These placements helped me develop my confidence in lesson planning, behaviour management and adapting teaching to meet the needs of different learners.
One of the biggest highlights has been building positive relationships with pupils and seeing their confidence and progress develop over time. I have particularly enjoyed creating engaging lessons and supportive classroom environments where children feel encouraged to participate and succeed.
Another highlight has been seeing my own confidence grow throughout my placements. Through hands-on classroom experience, mentor feedback and reflective practice, I have become much more confident and adaptable as a developing teacher.
A challenge has been building confidence in myself as a teacher, especially at the start of the course. Leading whole-class teaching and managing the different needs within a classroom felt quite daunting initially, but over time those experiences have helped me grow professionally and become much more confident and adaptable. Although it has been challenging at times, those experiences have also been some of the most rewarding parts of the course because they have pushed me to develop both personally and professionally.
I have found the lecturers and tutors at London Metropolitan University incredibly supportive throughout my studies. They have always been approachable, encouraging and genuinely invested in helping students develop both academically and professionally.
In particular, my PGCE tutor has had a really positive impact on my experience. Her understanding, compassion and support have made a huge difference to my confidence and development throughout the course. Knowing that there was always guidance and encouragement available made the more challenging parts of teacher training feel much more manageable. Overall, I have felt very supported throughout my time at London Met, and I think the positive relationships between staff and students are one of the University’s strengths.
What drives me most is knowing that I can make a positive difference to children’s confidence, learning and overall school experience. I find it really rewarding being able to support pupils not only academically, but also emotionally, and helping to create a classroom environment where they feel safe, supported and encouraged to succeed.
I am also driven by personal growth and continuous improvement. One of the things I value most about teaching is that there is always something new to learn and ways to develop professionally. Seeing the progress I have made in my own confidence throughout my placements has motivated me even more to continue growing as a teacher.
Above all, I think the relationships built within education are what drive me the most — whether that is supporting pupils, working collaboratively with staff or learning from experienced teachers and mentors.
I am proud of how much I have grown in confidence and resilience throughout my journey into teaching. Becoming a student teacher has challenged me both personally and professionally, and I am proud of how much I have developed through those experiences. I am also really proud of the positive relationships I have built with pupils during my placements and the impact I have been able to have on their confidence and learning. Seeing children feel more comfortable participating, asking questions or believing in themselves has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey so far.
More broadly, I am proud of the commitment and determination it has taken to progress from my undergraduate degree into the PGCE and continue working towards becoming a primary teacher.
My favourite place within London Metropolitan University is probably the classroom where we have most of our PGCE sessions, because it became a really familiar and comfortable environment throughout the course. A lot of important discussions, learning experiences and memories happened there, so it feels quite meaningful to me now.
I also really like the break area near the lecture hall, especially the egg-shaped seating area. It is a nice space to relax, chat with others on the course and take a break between sessions, which made university life feel much more welcoming and supportive.
One of my favourite places in London is Camden Market because I love the atmosphere there. I really enjoy walking through the market, exploring the different shops and food stalls, and seeing how lively and creative the area feels. I also enjoy being near the river, especially because it feels a bit calmer whilst still being surrounded by the energy of London. I think places like Camden really reflect the diversity and character of the city, which is one of the reasons I enjoy living and studying in London so much.
I have used the Disability and Dyslexia Service at London Metropolitan University, and they have been really supportive throughout my studies. They helped put reasonable adjustments in place, which made a significant difference to my experience at university and helped me feel more supported academically and professionally. I found the service understanding, approachable and genuinely helpful. Having that support available made it much easier to manage the challenges of balancing university work and placements, and it allowed me to feel more confident throughout the course.
My career plan is to become a primary school teacher and continue developing my practice so that I can create supportive, inclusive and engaging learning environments for children. I am particularly passionate about helping pupils feel confident, supported and able to succeed both academically and personally.
I think London Metropolitan University has played a really important role in preparing me for this career through the combination of academic learning, reflective practice and hands-on placement experience. The course has helped me develop confidence within the classroom, strengthen my understanding of inclusive teaching and learn how to adapt to the different needs of pupils.
The support and guidance from tutors, mentors and placement experiences have also helped me grow professionally and feel much more prepared for the next stage of my teaching career.
Overall, my experience at London Metropolitan University has been really positive and has helped me grow both personally and professionally. The course has challenged me in many ways, but it has also helped me build confidence, resilience and a much stronger understanding of what it means to be an inclusive and reflective teacher.
I am especially grateful for the support I have received from tutors, mentors and placement staff throughout my journey. The encouragement and guidance
I have received have had a lasting impact on both my confidence and development, and I feel much more prepared and excited for the next stage of my teaching career.
My biggest tip would be not to be afraid to ask for support and make the most of the help available. Starting university can feel overwhelming at first, but there are so many supportive staff and services at London Metropolitan University that genuinely want students to succeed.
I would also say to try your best to build good relationships with the people on your course, because having that support network makes a huge difference both academically and personally. Some of the best parts of university come from the connections and shared experiences you build with others.
Finally, give yourself time to grow in confidence. It is completely normal not to have everything figured out straight away, and a lot of personal and professional growth happens gradually throughout the course.