For students

Placements

The right student in the right placement is an integral part of our courses. The opportunity to work within schools enable students to gain a wide experience of teaching in many different educational environments. Experiences vary from city centre to suburban and semi-rural settings, laying a sound foundation for future professional development.

The importance of our placements is shown in our employability record. We are consistently above the national average for the number of our students in teaching roles within a year of graduating. *

For Initial Teacher Training Courses, placements are a requirement of the training for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and form an integral part of the undergraduate and post graduate courses.

For education-related courses, these placements take place in a variety of settings from children centres to sport and leisure complexes, from hospitals to manufacturing companies. These courses provide a framework for a wide variety of possible careers. Careers based on your chosen subjects but also in teaching, training, human resource management, sports development and many others.

But it is not just our students who benefit from a placement. The host school can see the impact of the latest research and academic thinking on teaching and feedback into our courses to make our graduates relevant to the education sector today.

*TDA data, February 2012

International opportunities

As part of the International Perspectives module on our BA (Hons) Childhood Studies course, the majority of students choose an overseas placement. Not only does an international placement develop your independence and confidence, but it will also give you the key skills valued by employers within a global economy.

Recent placements have included:

• British Council School, Spain
• Auchtebeddie Primary School, Jamaica
• Ballajura Primary School, Australia
• Children Walking Tall, India
• Codlea Orphanage, Romania
• Pro-health International, Nigeria.

Students in Classrooms

In addition to placements as part of your course, our Schools, Colleges and Community Outreach team run a number of exciting and fulfilling schemes to work within local schools either as a teaching assistant, mentor, university ambassador or literacy supporter. Not only are you paid a wage while you enhance your employment skills, but you are truly appreciated by the schools and pupils who benefit. 

Find out more about joining a Student in Classrooms scheme.