Double success for PCET Graduate
Rebecca Trott has a double celebration this week – being awarded her degree in Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) at Swansea’s new arena and securing a new role teaching on the health, social and childcare courses at Afan College.
A mum to three teenagers, life for Rebecca is already a busy one and is set to get even busier. But it’s a challenge she relishes.
Rebecca said: “Before I enrolled on this course I was a literacy support co-ordinator in a secondary school, mostly working with children with Additional Learning Needs (ALN). I wanted to take my career a step further and use my experience of ALN to inform and educate future teachers and education staff, being a lecturer was the natural path to enable me to positively influence others.”
The PGCE Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) is a professional teacher education course that will qualify you to teach in the post compulsory education and training sector.
Rebecca decided to study at UWTSD because the course was close to home and the modules included ALN which is her specialism.
“I found Caroline Lewis a kind and informative leader who made the application and interview process straightforward. I liked the SA1 campus, it has a friendly feel to it, all the staff from cleaners, catering, IT and lecturers made me feel welcome. They have an excellent library service which houses an abundance of books and journals, as well as plenty of room to study. They also provide private rooms for small groups of people, this meant that some of the cohort could meet up for group study time, I found this invaluable as peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and support is one of the best ways to enhance learning.”
Rebecca said she has grown in confidence both as a teacher and as a person and credits UWTSD.
“I was worried about meeting new people at first and didn’t know if I could meet the demands of the course. However, very quickly we all bonded, and my insecurities faded. I have developed the ability to listen to others more carefully, to give clear instructions and communicate using educational terminology.
“Having learned to structure a lesson, a module and a curriculum, it has helped me organise my life more efficiently too, I use Gant charts for work and for chores around the house now. I’m much more organised, I love it, but my children think I am taking my teaching skills it too far!!
Rebecca is now looking forward to her new teaching role which starts in September.
“Children in education are our future, and ensuring that all children, regardless of ability, thrive in education is my paramount goal. ALN children tend to have a lot of stress and anxiety in school and with my experience of teaching ALN children, I can pass my knowledge onto my FE and HE students.
“We must see the child in a person-centred way and encourage them to be independent learners by scaffolding bespoke support until they no longer need it. I’m sure everyone will need support at some time in their life; I know I certainly did.
“I would highly recommend the PCET course, it is highly informative of the legislation surrounding education and the skills you learn are invaluable to anyone pursuing their dream of becoming a lecturer. Dig deep and meet the deadlines, but never be afraid to ask for help and support because it is available in abundance with UWTSD.”
UWTSD lecturer Katie Gardner said: “Rebecca has enthusiastically taken on the challenges in her PCET year, she has juggled home life and a very busy programme making sure she had given her all to everything. As a result of her hard work she has been offered a teaching role starting next year. It has been a pleasure to teach Rebecca and be part of her teaching journey.”
Further Information
Rebecca Davies
Executive Press and Media Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: rebecca.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467071