Thursday 30 07 2020
A former university professional is gearing up for a brand-new career in another area of education, having recently graduated as a secondary teacher with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS).
Ayr-based Sonia Ferguson took the decision last year to head back to education herself to change careers and become an English teacher.
She said: “It’s been a lifelong aspiration to be an English teacher, but life takes you in different directions. I eventually got to a point after a lengthy and successful career working in higher education when I decided if I didn’t go for it now, I probably never would.”
Sonia enrolled on the UWS Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) (Secondary) at the University’s Ayr Campus, which combines campus-based teaching and learning with placements in secondary schools. Returning to education while raising a family was going to be a challenge for Sonia, but she says that the course has real benefits for people from all walks of life.
“I found that being a mature student made no difference in the course. Everyone was incredibly supportive. We had people who had come straight in from their degree, some had had a little bit of time out, and others were making career changes like me."Sonia Ferguson
She continued: “I think that’s one of the PGDE’s strengths. So much of the learning is about what you put into it yourself and what you learn from others on your course. When you all come from such different backgrounds, that really does help. Education needs diversity.”
Sonia’s achievement ties in with National Graduates Day on 30 July. The campaign, organised by Universities UK, celebrates the successes of the Class of 2020, who have faced additional challenges to obtain their degrees as universities across the nation suspended face-to-face teaching following the outbreak of COVID-19.
Supported
For student teachers, the pandemic meant that final placements were cancelled following government advice, but Sonia says that tutors at UWS managed the changes well and ensured that students were supported throughout.
“When the pandemic hit, we were coming to the end of a University-based block, we only had a couple of weeks left to go,” she said. “We actually did that over Zoom. We didn’t have that third placement in schools – there’s no way that you can simulate that online. We’ve had regular emails from members of the course team, some pointing us to external resources we might want to look at, exploring different types of teaching methodology, and we did some lesson planning. We also had Zoom meetings with former UWS PGDE students who are now teaching. There has been that ongoing contact even during the time when the campuses have been closed.”
Sonia is now gearing up to get started in her first teaching position in August, and is feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension as she embarks on her new career.
She said: “The biggest thing for the Class of 2020 teachers going in is what environment are we actually going into. That’s still a little uncertain– and it could all change."
"One thing that the course at UWS does stress to you is that you do need to be adaptable as a teacher. All schools are different, teachers within schools are different, pupils are different – and everything is a learning opportunity, and that’s the way that we need to embrace it.”Sonia Ferguson
Experience
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the year of learning at UWS has been a positive experience for Sonia – and she advocates that it’s never too late to opt for a change of career.
“I feel a huge sense of achievement,” she said. “And I hope that I can make a difference in my new career. I would love to be able to spark that enthusiasm in young people for English.
“In terms of anyone going into the course, you have to soak it up like a sponge. Everything that happens on the course is something you can take away and learn from and possibly use. That’s one of the benefits of the PGDE. It’s former teachers teaching you – they know exactly what you need to know. The tutors on the course care about us so much. They genuinely want us to succeed.
“I’m so pleased and so grateful that I’ve done this. It’s been an amazing experience.”
Find out more about joining the PGDE at UWS.