Niall is a graduate from the PGDE Secondary Education: Physical Education programme at the University of Strathclyde

Tell us a little bit about your background...

I left school in 2012 and trained as an actor at Langside College. Following some years as a professional actor, I took a step back and realised I wanted something else with my life. I enrolled in a HND in Sports coaching in 2020, before entering university to study a degree in the same subject. Finally, in 2024 I started the PGDE at Strathclyde.

What drew you towards undertaking this degree?

I knew that I wanted to be a PE teacher, and Strathclyde’s reputation spoke for itself. Then, on the interview day, I met Cara and some of the rest of the team and realised that this was where I wanted to be, and where I felt most at home.

Tell us about the format of the programme...

A typical week on the PGDE saw two days where we would have classes with the rest of the Secondary cohort, covering subjects such as the rights of the child and how education fits into the broader context of Scottish policy. The other days of the week we were working as our PE cohort, planning, leading and reflecting on lessons, and learning more around the pedagogical theories that underpin the curriculum.

Tell us a little bit about your experience on placement...

My experience on placement was extremely positive. I felt really supported by those I was working with in the department and was able to quickly put into practice lots of the skills and techniques that we had been taught over our time on campus. There was excellent communication between my lecturer at university, and myself on placement, meaning that I felt supported and knew where I could go if I needed additional support that I could not get from those at the school. The placement really did set me up very well for my probationary year.

What is the academic support at Strathclyde like?

The academic support at Strathclyde is excellent. Having done my undergraduate degree at a different university, there were subtle changes between the work expected there and at Strathclyde, but the staff were always on hand to give advice, and point you in the right direction if you needed specific help and advice from the academic support team.

What are the facilities at Strathclyde like?

As a Physical Education student, the facilities at Strathclyde were absolutely first class. We had access to genuinely world class equipment and areas to work in, which meant that we had immediate opportunities to put our learning into practice.

What are you doing now and how has your time at Strathclyde helped prepare you for this?

I am currently on my probationary year as a PE teacher, and feel that my time at Strathclyde has prepared me excellently for this role. I am able to put into practice what I was taught last year, and I am able to see already just how important it is that teachers coming into the profession have this excellent training that I was lucky enough to enjoy at Strathclyde.

What advice would you give to someone considering applying for this course?

My best piece of advice would be is don’t try and become who you think Strathclyde want you to be; be yourself. The lecturers do not want robots, they want you to bring your own personality, skills and life experiences to your course, as this is what you will need to bring when you are out teaching. Enjoy every aspect of the process, from the interview day, to the teaching if you get in, and then take advantage of the support available and relationships built once you have finished the course and are out in the ‘real world’.