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Teaching hits right notes for local musicians at UEL

Friday 26 May 2006

Local musicians are set to become some of the first graduates from the University of East London’s (UEL) recently established PGCE in Secondary Music Education.

Naomi West (22), is one of eight UEL students now coming to the end of their final teaching placements in local schools and has already been offered a job.

Naomi, currently on placement at Robert Clack School in Dagenham, said: “I absolutely love my course. The tutors are really helpful and friendly, it’s a nice environment and I’ve learnt a lot of important things, including that, if you like kids and you’re prepared to respect them and let them be themselves, teaching’s the best job in the world.

“I come home every day happy and looking forward to going back to work. Even better, I’ve already been offered a permanent job at my first placement school, Brentwood County High.”

Richard Pope (28), on placement at Frances Bardsley School in Romford, added: “I hadn’t been finding my previous jobs very satisfying and was really attracted to the idea of using music as a way of earning a living. Every day is surprising; the highs are extremely high, the lows are pretty low, but I feel so much more alive, optimistic and enthusiastic about the future.”

UEL’s School of Education is fast becoming one of the most highly successful providers of teacher education programmes in London, and was top rated for secondary teacher training in recent Ofsted reports.

UEL offers PGCE programmes in English, Science, Mathematics, Modern Foreign Languages, PE, Design and Technology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Music and from 2006, Religious Education. UEL also runs a range of taster and refresher courses for people returning to teaching.

Karen Wilton, Recruitment and Placements Advisor at UEL’s School of Education, said: “Our teacher training programmes are attracting a growing number of people from other professions. With financial support from the government as well as excellent career prospects, teaching is becoming an increasingly attractive career option.”

For further details, contact Karen Wilton on 020 8223 2319 or visit www.uel.ac.uk/education.

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For details and pictures contact Patrick Wilson: 020 8223 2061 or 07951 797 975

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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