Personal Statement

During my primary education years, I struggled with academics, however through dedication, perseverance and self-motivation, I found ways that I could keep up. Because of this I feel that I have the understanding and the empathy for children who find academics a struggle. For my secondary education I went to school in the Middle East. From this I have experienced different cultures and the way that different children experience and value education. I feel that as a teacher, having seen this, I will have a greater understanding of children’s diverse backgrounds and their family’s approach to learning. My undergraduate degree is Drama: Education and community. I learn about all the different ways that you can place drama into community and educational settings. For this I have done a few different placements. My first was in a school in Hull delivering six workshops with children aged 12-16. This solidified my knowledge that I prefer teaching primary aged children, as I find it more fulfilling to interact with younger children and have a stronger passion for drama being used in primary schools as it’s not as accessible to them. My second was with Mind the Gap theatre company. This was an experience that I value highly. I was out of my comfort zone as I had never delivered workshops to adults before. From this I learned how valuable patience, resilience and a good back up plan are when it comes to teaching. My most recent placement was with St Oswald’s Primary school, where I observed and delivered PSHE lessons with years three to four. Working with these children gave me the opportunity to consolidate my reasons for wanting to teach, especially in primary education. During my observations I understood that I needed to plan a session that was accessible to children of mixed ability and age and hold their attention. They thoroughly enjoyed the workshop that I did with them about the themes of the Ugly Duckling. I asked them to walk about the room as if they were experiencing different weather conditions, and to look at three different photos around the topic of bullying and comment on how this made them feel. Throughout my degree I have learned how to make performances accessible, especially for a variety of ages. Because of this I feel that my confidence has grown, and I have become very good at adapting to different situations and last-minute adjustments, something that I know is often required in teaching. During the Easter holidays I observed some teaching in a primary school and spoke to the teachers about their approach to planning and the classroom. I observed three year groups in KS2. At the beginning of every class the teacher shared the lesson objective so that the children knew what they would have learned by the end. I observed different strategies to manage behaviour for example, raising a hand for silence, or clapping a rhythm and receiving a response. There was always a discussion about the answer to a question, as the children were putting their learning into practice as children don’t learn if they are just spoon-fed information. I have a Grade 5 in flute, and have been involved in school plays and choirs since a young age. I strongly believe in the arts being used for good within schools, as they build children’s confidence and gives them a creative outlet. I value all areas of education for children, but I like to think that I could bring a creative twist to the classroom and a school. I believe myself to be a confident, caring, responsible and organised person, qualities that I feel make a strong and reliable teacher. I therefore hope to be a valued student on your PGCE programme.