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Student Hall Survival Guide

Wed 4 October 2017 - 10:42

By Lowri in First year

Hi! I’m Lowri, I am in my first year of University and have just moved into student halls. Now everyone has told you that when you first become a student and live in halls it’s going to be so much fun, and that you’ll meet loads of people and go out socialising all the time. BUT they never really tell you the things you’ll face and experiences you’ll have when you move in. So, I’ve made a small list of things you’ll come across while living in accommodation.
 
1. Noise
Obviously when you first move into your new accommodation you also come face to face with fresher’s week. This means lots of fresher’s events and parties. Now, if like me you have moved in right next to the student union, there WILL be noise....

The First Weeks of Uni as a Mature Student

Wed 4 October 2017 - 10:35

By Jack in Mature students

Call it cliché, but the time spent between getting an unconditional offer and actually starting university has flown by. Suddenly, I’m back into the education system after four years away, getting up earlier than I’d like to, and trying to find my way around a campus in Treforest that looks deceptively small, yet is larger than you’d think!
 
My name is Jack. It’s a pleasure to meet you! I guess you could call me a fresher, although I was probably the most boring fresher you could ever meet. As a mature student, I found most of my time during fresher’s week taken...

UCAS Teacher Training: Before you apply

Tue 3 October 2017 - 15:17

By UCAS in Teacher Training

Before you apply for teacher training programmes in England and Wales, here are some tips to help you prepare.

 
Get your certificates ready
 
You need to enter your GCSEs and A levels (or equivalent) on your application, as well as your degree. Dig out all your certificates so you know your grades and the awarding bodies.
 
For your degree, you need to enter the modules you completed, or are in the process of completing, that make up your final grade. If you’re not sure what they are, speak to the uni you studied at – they should be able to tell you.
 
Prepare your personal statement
 
Your personal statement can be a maximum of 4,000 characters or 47 lines of text, whichever limit you hit first. While you’re waiting for...

From PGCE to NQT – Karishma Raja

Tue 3 October 2017 - 15:12

By Karishma Raja in Teacher Training

I moved to China straight after graduating and taught abroad for two years before applying for my PGCE course at UCL Institute of Education (IoE). I chose this course because I enjoy the academic side as opposed to going through another route. I’m now looking forward to starting my NQT year.

Interview tips

  • Make sure you brush up on your subject knowledge, they will test you. You should bring in your own experiences of what happened at school and what inspired you.
  • Usually the university will give you tips and a brief of what you need to know and bring, but going the extra mile - showing how much you care, and how you are willing to learn - will help you nail the interview.
  • In addition to this, it is important to be calm and relaxed, and enjoy the interview. You will get to meet new people on the day, so talk to them, and get to know about their experiences.

Teacher training tips

    ...

I just knew I wanted to change lives – Emmanuel Awoyelu

Tue 3 October 2017 - 15:04

By Emmanuel Awoyelu in Teacher Training

My journey into teaching hasn’t always been smooth sailing, partly because I didn’t always want to be a teacher. Don’t get me wrong, I have always loved working with young people, I love teaching and learning new things but the job profile for a teacher (especially after working in a mainstream school for four years) just never appealed to me.

I guess I always doubted myself because of my own expectations of a teacher. I was convinced not many teachers had left school with four A-C GCSE’s and believe it or not, I just thought I didn’t fit the profile of a teacher. A young black male who has a bit of an East London twang to his talk and GCSE certificates that might as well have said “Thanks for turning up to the exam today”.

What I didn’t do was look at myself and see all the qualities I had to bring to the table. I was young; yes that is a quality thank you very much. I was relatable to the pupils I was working with (Important when working with inner city kids), I...

The dos and don’ts of differentiation – Rachel Orr

Sun 24 September 2017 - 14:58

By Rachel Orr in Teacher Training

What is differentiation?

The education dictionary defines it as this: Differentiated instruction is the way in which a teacher anticipates and responds to a variety of students' needs in the classroom. To meet students' needs, teachers differentiate by modifying the content (what is being taught), the process (how it is taught) and the product (how students demonstrate their learning).

I always say to student teachers, established teachers, and TAs when they are working with groups – what difference are you going to make to these children’s learning because of your input working with them? If the adult is simply keeping children on task or under control, is the learning right for these kids?

I like to associate differentiation with shoes:

  • If we walk around in ill fitting shoes that are uncomfortable, too big or too small we will struggle to learn.
  • When our shoes are too big we have not yet...

Personal statements: quick-fire questions answered!

Sat 23 September 2017 - 10:45

By UCAS in UCAS advice

Got a question about writing your personal statement? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. We’re often asked about this section of the application, and chances are your question will be one we’ve heard from other students. Check out the answers to five of the most frequently asked questions below – they're all from admissions staff at universities and colleges (the people who spend their time reading personal statements!)

1. When should I start?
  • "As soon as you can! Give...

On Studying History

Wed 20 September 2017 - 19:02

By Charlotte Stevenson in First year

When deciding on my modules for study abroad, there was a lot more freedom in choosing a variety of different topics. This is largely due to a cultural difference, because in the UK where students do one set degree pathway here in the Netherlands there are a variety of modules. It's kind of like pick n' mix - you have to get approval for the ones you choose from your teachers back in your home university, but you also get the opportunity to pick out some of your old favourites which you might not have come across for awhile so long, of course, as they remain fairly relevant and you can back up your choice.
 
For me, this meant choosing a lot of historical modules. I studied history up to A level, and part of the reason I decided to study literature at university is because it encompasses so much of history (with the addition of many other topics, from music to art). Yet I've always been curious about what it would have been like to...

September Favourites

Wed 20 September 2017 - 17:26

By Charlotte Stevenson in First year

It's that time again where I tell you my favourites of the month, everything from the books that have really stood out for me, to unique experiences or fun new songs. September has passed by so quickly up until this point, and I think this is largely because I am experiencing so much all at once, what with the whole study abroad situation as well as all of my own individual projects. It is an odd combination to have but one that continues on nevertheless. 

In terms of new experiences, and re-discovering old ones, September has been packed full of them. I've seen so many new places, picked up new skills and learnt such a lot - particularly about writing. This past month, I've been working on more written projects than ever in order to develop and shape my voice further academically as well as beyond the classroom. The results so far have already started to pay off which I hope goes to show that hard work really does end up being your most...

Five tips to avoid deadline day drama

Wed 20 September 2017 - 15:48

By UCAS in UCAS advice

The deadline for conservatoire music courses is 1 October 2019 at 18:00 (UK time). By this date your entire application, including referee details and payment, must be completed and sent to us. Make sure you don’t miss this deadline by following these five tips.

1. Know your logins
We’ll start with the basics, it’s important you know your username and password so you can complete your application. You don’t want to be struggling to login while trying to meet the deadline. If you’ve forgotten your username or password, recover your details online.

2. Give yourself plenty of time to complete the personal statement 
The personal statement may appear daunting but we’ve got plenty of advice to help...

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