I chose to study the Sport, Coaching and Physical Education (SCAPE) degree as I saw it as a progression to develop my career as a teacher.
The facilities at Loughborough are great. Having access to NGB centres and world-class coaches has allowed me to develop my knowledge across a wide variety of sports.
Furthermore, Loughborough’s world leading sports research has meant that I have been taught the most up-to-date thinking within the field.
Having a personal academic tutor (PAT) is an invaluable part of the support that Loughborough offers. They are the first person you can contact surrounding any issues or help you may need. I was allocated the same PAT for my PE PGCE as I had at undergraduate level, which allowed for continuation.
The Sport, Coaching and Physical Education degree helped prepare me to progress on to a Physical Education PGCE, where I have been taught by some of the same lecturers that taught me at undergraduate level.
The thread of teaching modules on the SCAPE course – ‘Fundamentals of Teaching Physical Education’, ‘The Reflective Practitioner in Physical Education’ and ‘Critical Pedagogies in Physical Education’ – allowed me to develop a good fundamental understanding of pedagogy along with an increased understanding of curriculum and assessment.
Furthermore, the Contemporary Issues in Sporting Cultures thread of modules provided me with a greater understanding of the inequities of sport and how this in turn transpires to inequities within PE spaces. This has enabled me to adapt my teaching to create an equitable PE space.
Next year I plan to continue with my studies and running on a scholarship in the US, before coming back home to teach in a secondary school with the hope of developing my knowledge of special educational needs.
Loughborough has helped massively in this as it has helped me to develop as a person, as an educator and as an athlete and I now feel confident to progress onto the next chapter of my life.
My advice for anyone considering studying for a PE PGCE is to gain some experience of working with children in a sports setting. Other than that, I would encourage people to get involved with all Loughborough has to offer.