Secondary Teacher Training: Science

Physics Enhancement Course (PEC)

Student Profiles

A route into Physics teaching for non-specialists

Physics and Chemistry Enhancement 2008 - Student Profiles

My name is Zöe Floate and I have just finished the PEC course 2008. Prior to this I worked in the NHS as a Physiotherapist for two years, however decided a change was needed when I struggled to find work in the fields I really enjoyed.
I loved Science during school and always wanted to get back into it in some way. Many Universities turned me away for Science PGCE as I didn’t have enough Science experience, and this is where the PEC course is so unique.

The course is tough but very rewarding and it has increased my confidence immeasurably with physics: from GCSE Electricity to some quite mind blowing Relativity. I am now going to enjoy my summer off before the PGCE but I cannot wait to begin and go into schools to really test how much I have learnt in the last six months.

My name is Jana Krajakova and I am 27 years old. I was born in the Czech Republic but for the past seven years I have been living in London.
Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be a teacher. I started my teaching degree in Czech, however half way through my degree I decided to go to London, just for the summer to learn English and ... I never returned to finish it.

I started to study Psychology, via distance learning. In December 2005 I graduated from Counselling Psychology. However, my dream of becoming a teacher did not finish there and as I always loved science; I started to study at the Open University. Last Year I graduated and I was finally ready to apply for PGCE.

St. Mary’s recommended me the Physics Enhancement course. At the beginning of the PEC I did not know what to expect. To be honest I was a bit sceptical at first. But the course was brilliant and I really mean it. I learned so much and have become very confident. It did not only teach us about the subject but also how to stand in front of other people and to be confident to do a presentation. Now I feel I am ready to stand in front of the classroom and teach children and actually know what I am talking about!
I know I would probably not be able to be where I am at the moment without help of PEC lecturers; they were enthusiastic, energetic and supportive.

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Lisa Armstrong, 35, married with one child.
I trained at the Royal London Hospital and received my pin from St Bartholomew’s and my Diploma from City University. I worked in Surgical Urology (NHS) then joined the private sector as a Nursing Recruitment Consultant and promoted to Private Client Manager. During this time I a completed a part time BSc (Hons) degree in Nursing Research at Kings College. When I fell pregnant with my son I decided to have a career break to be with him during his early formative years.

Science, Physics in particular, has always been a passion from an early age. I would like to be able to share this passion for Physics and its application to students and if not get them all going on to do Physics degrees at least getting them to look at the world with fresh and questioning eyes. I find challenge invigorating and I think teaching offers the opportunity to creatively share a passion within a structured framework.

The PEC has been invaluable; a lot of development in Physics has occurred since my last academic contact and while I maintained an interest in these developments my subject depth needed to be increased. I think the PEC is a useful course for anyone who has a background in Physics up to at least GCSE level. I think GCSE standard is the basic level needed to get the most out of the PEC in the short time over which it runs. The PEC is a lot of work and very intensive but the delivery is accessible and the teachers are all happy to offer additional support and point you in the right direction.

I am looking forward to my PGCE and feeling very confident as regards my subject knowledge… I intend to enjoy my summer as a well deserved break after the last (intense) six months.

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Sabrina
I would class myself as a mature student. I hold A-levels in Maths, Physics and Chemistry, but did not do as well as I had hoped. After leaving College, I was unsure what career path I wanted to take. Although I enjoyed working with children I did not feel mature enough to follow a teaching career. I trained as a Financial Adviser working for Lloyd's TSB International.

After several years working there I decided I was ready to go to University and I completed a degree in BSc Forensic Science. Whilst completing my final year at University I worked for the Metropolitan Police in their Forensics Team, and it was during this time that I realised that although I enjoyed the Science aspect of the role, this was not the right career path for me.

My elder sisters are both teachers, and after spending several days observing them I realised that teaching would be both an enjoyable and rewarding career path, and that I was ready and mature enough to train.

Due to the several year gap between me completing my A-level's and starting my PGCE, taking the PEC course seemed like the best option for me to develop my science subject knowledge. I feel the PEC course has prepared me for the PGCE. I found the PEC course very intense but it has helped me to re-learn how to study and organise myself. I am excited about starting my PGCE and feel confident that I am now capable of adequately teaching all.

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My name is Yetunde Olomolaiye and I am from Dagenham Essex. I had a career in Conveyancing for about three years before embarking on the Physics Enhancement Course (PEC).

I did know I would like to be a Science teacher, but was not confident about my Physics as I had only done it to GCSE level. Charles Golabeck recommended this course to me. I was given a conditional offer on the Science PGCE, the condition being that I successfully complete the PEC.

I would say that the course is definitely intensive as Physics is being “shot” at me from every corner. Just over one month into the course, I can definitely say that my knowledge of Physics has improved. The class is made up of students from different academic backgrounds, some with a degree in Physics and some with no GCSE or A-Level Physics. I would definitely recommend the course to anyone who wants to be a Science Teacher, but have a weak Physics background.

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© 2007