Three of our Year 12 students taking part in the Future Teacher programme, visited the University of Bedfordshire as part of the first 21st Century Learners Conference.

The Future Teacher programme has been designed to support year 12 students by offering immersive opportunities for prospective teachers to experience elements of practice, essential to the profession, prior to applying to UCAS.

Over the course of the day, Admira Kecskemeti, Harrison Saini and Katy Taylor, met with academics and current trainees, experiencing elements of the PGCE university course, and considering some of the elements that make up effective classroom practice.

Harrison said, ‘The day was beneficial to understand learning from a student’s perspective, something I wouldn't consider myself while learning. I was also able to understand what being a teacher would mean and how it would benefit young lives from previous teachers’ perspectives and how teachers’ careers have advanced overtime.’

Katy said, ‘The trip to Bedford University was extremely beneficial, as I was able to gain valuable insight into what a teaching degree would entail. This trip further solidified my ambition to get an educations degree, and I feel that this would be a valuable opportunity for anyone who has any interest in the teaching profession.’

Assistant Principal Jamie Jones said, ‘It was a unique and eye-opening opportunity for the students to consider what happens in a classroom through multiple lenses; practitioner, student and observing academic, whilst also engaging with theoretical learning through play and early year's foundation pedagogy.’