Training to be a PE teacher – what I’ve found

Emma Chapman is in her final year of training to teach on our Physical Education BA(Hons) with QTS degree. She chats about being a student at Brighton.

I’m passionate about fitness

I chose PE with QTS as I have always been passionate about sport and physical activity as well as enjoying working with children and young people, so this was the perfect course as it is tailored specifically to teaching young people to learn new sports with the potential to inspire them to take part in physical activity for the rest of their life.

I feel at home here

I attended an applicant day where I was shown around the campus by students. I also stayed the night in Eastbourne and fell in love with being by the beach. I was torn between Uni of Brighton and a uni closer to home but there was something about the university that just made me feel at home and I wanted some independence of moving away.

This course is a great route into teaching

PE with QTS is a great way to get into teaching, it’s the quickest way as all other ways will result in having to do 4 years at uni as you will need to do a PE PGCE with any other path into teaching PE. The course includes two 15-week placements at a secondary school teaching PE. You can be placed in Brighton or if you have a home in the south-east, you can do your placement whilst living at a family home which makes things a lot easier including saving money on rent and being supported in other ways by family when working on placement. We are assessed mainly through practical assessments including teaching lessons and performing physical activity as well as a few essays.

The course has prepared me

I feel that my course has prepared me to become a good teacher, I have learnt the most on teaching placement as this is great opportunity to get involved and learn on the job.

We get various opportunities to teach a range of lessons and we are provided feedback on each lesson to help us improve. I have developed communication skills by being required to communicate effectively and appropriately during lessons. I have learnt great leadership skills when required to lead a lesson.

Staff are approachable

I feel supported by all lecturers, they are all approachable and most have experienced the pathways of university and teaching as we currently are, so we can relate to them personally and academically. Students are in the same boat as you and have likely gone through similar situations to you so you can relate to them and seek advice and support from them when needed. The university offers disability support, where you can apply for a tutor, extra time for exams and financial support. There is also various Student Support and Guidance Tutors (SSGTs) that are committed to supporting you with any issues that might be impacting your studies, your mental and physical wellbeing.

Working as a student ambassador

I got a job as a student ambassador in my second year at university after having enjoyed helping out at open days in my first year. This job offers a range of opportunities to inspire prospective students to come to the university of Brighton. This job involves assisting at open days, showing people around the campus, leading talks and answering questions about the courses and university life.

I joined the swimming team

This team is a small team, so everyone is pretty close which is nice. We enter various competitions, however there is never any pressure to compete and there is always the option just to swim for fun or fitness. We also have an amazing coach and train four times a week.

I want a job as a PE teacher

I am hoping to secure a job for a September start back in Hertfordshire where I am from.

Learn more about training to be a teacher at the University of Brighton.