PGCE Students

- degree in Law and Philosophy from the University of Liverpool. The school which I attended was extremely diverse in the nature of the pupils, and RE lessons were nothing more than exercises in crowd control - which for me who had a keen interest in RE, was extremely frustrating. It was not poor teaching, rather there was a stigma attached to getting on and enjoying RE. I could not understand this and I suppose this is where I have gained the passion for getting pupils to engage and understand the relevance of RE. I studied philosophy at university which really opened my eyes to the ‘BIG questions'. It switched me on to thinking about issues of morality, mortality and spirituality. It also made me realize that these are questions that can lead to so many other questions, and are so important for everybody. Everybody should have the opportunity to learn about and learn from these ultimate questions and I want to be a part in sparking them in the minds of future generations.

- degree in Theology and Religion with Philosophy and Ethics from Liverpool Hope University. My interest in teaching RE came about through my own school experience and working with young people. Throughout my school life, I found my RE teachers to be great influences through their up-front and interesting and engaging teaching strategies. I then went on to study Theology and Religion with Philosophy at university where I became increasingly interested in the subject. I have worked in youth clubs and token part in the Student Associates Scheme where I realized my passion for working with young people and helping and supporting them in their interests and quests for the answers to the BIG questions in life.

- degree in Liberal Arts (Religious Studies) St Mary's University College, Belfast. I am 22 years old, almost 23! I think from an early age RE has always been a huge part of my life. I come from a Roman Catholic background in Northern Ireland and very often people in Northern Ireland think that religion is just protestant and catholic. However, I believe that RE teachers can help to break religious divides. In a gap year between my second and third year at uni, I took part in the BEI programme. I had to take largely business classes. However, I got a feel for standing up in front of the classroom and giving presentations and one of my teachers said that I would make either a good public speaker or a teacher. Her presence as a college lecturer affirmed for me that teaching is certainly my vocation. I have had some amazing teachers with such kind qualities and whilst doing the programme in America I had the privilege of working with some very under-privileged children whose parents were either in jail or provided a really bad home life. My future plan is to complete the PGCE, stay in Liverpool for my NQT year and then teach in a country in SE |Asia where children are taught with minimal tools.

- degree in Sociology from Liverpool Hope University. It was the outstanding teachers who helped me in my secondary school. They influenced my desire to teach by setting a good example and advising and encouraging me to take up the vocation. They saw me as an ideal candidate for teaching! This gave me the confidence to fulfill my aspirations. I worked with children in primary and secondary schools and this re-inforced my desire to teach. I have had experience fund-raising for charity, including doing a sky-dive for meningitis research and through my RE teaching I would like to integrate fundraising for charity and the ideals of helping people into the classroom.

- degree in Applied Social Sciences from Liverpool John Moores University. Having been brought up as a Roman Catholic, religion has always been a part of my life. This was instilled in me throughout my schooling. The RE department in my secondary school was highly regarded and made RE fun as well as educational. I have always been inspired to work with young people and numerous members of my family are teachers. I have seen at first hand how rewarding teaching can be as a career. My degree touched on many of the issues that the subject covers and as I have done a number of placements in RE departments, it confirmed my interest in RE teaching. Now that I am on the course I am sure this is the career for me.

- degree in Psychology from Lancaster University. Whilst I was at university studying Psychology, I began to think I wanted to eb a teacher due to work experience and volunteer work. However, owing to my psychology background I was not sure what subject I could teach. It was a careers guidance officer who suggested RE and pointed out that a lot of RE deals with moral and social issues. After university, I took a year out as I was unsure whether I wanted all the work and commitment of a PGCE course. It was during this year that I found a passion for teaching and decided this was a career I wanted to pursue. I gained some classroom experience and decided that RE and philosophy was the subject that could inspire pupils and encourage greater community cohesion. It was also one that allows great creativity in the classroom.

- degree in Sociology with theology and Religious Studies from Liverpool Hope University. RE basically passed me by in secondary school. The focus on what religions believe and teach bored me as it was never made particularly relevant to me. The teachers of the subject seemed even less interested than I was at times. So when I picked Theology and Religious Studies at university, it was essentially because it I was the closest degree to philosophy that I could get on to. I picked Sociology as a combined subject and this proved crucial in my decision to continue as a PhD student, studying the use of religion in popular culture. Whilst working on the PhD, I spent two years teaching Theology and RS to first year undergraduates. This was genuinely life-changing. I chose to continue teaching, rather than studying and RE was the natural choice of subject given my educational background. It was important to my decision that GCSE syllabi emphasise social issues and religious responses as this allows me to utilize my sociological mind to raise social issues and my RE mind to work alongside this.

- degree in Philosophy from Queen's University Belfast. My family and personal school experiences have brought me to this point in my life, training to become an RE teacher. As a pupil of a catholic grammar school, the religious classes were always positive and enjoyable. We were made aware of the importance of RE within our society. Also, being from Northern Ireland, RE has always played a vital role within our communities giving us a great sense of belonging and pride. It has come a long way from past troubles and of this I am proud. I feel that being an RE teacher I would like to lead my pupils in seeing its importance in the same way my teachers did with me. I would like to help mould them into good, social citizens who have an understanding and appreciation for all religions.

- degree in Irish History and Politics from the University of Liverpool. My love for teaching ultimately comes from my love of school. My schooling was a happy and enjoyable experience which I believe every child should have. Brought up in a catholic family and growing through the catholic education system, my faith became extremely fundamental to my life. It is this love of my own religion that helps me to relate to others who have an equal passion for their own faith. Throughout my school career, and being a natural leader, I was always involved in student bodies. Teaching seemed to be the natural path. My A level RE teacher was a wonderfully inspiring man who expressed such love for his subject it was difficult not to share his zest. The changes that are happening to RE are inspiring and it is the path I see my career following, mainly aspects of Community Cohesion. There is a lot of work to be done here. I feel that having been on the Booster Course, and now two months into my PGCE, I am confident this is the right move for me. Everything RE stands for makes sense. It is relevant, it is unique and it is evolving!

- degree in Religious Studies from the University of Kent. My interest in RE was sparked during GCSE years. This was partly due to an enthusiastic teacher but also the subject content. I think it was the first time I realized the importance of religion in everyday issues - looking at moral issues and how they relate to religious belief. This interest led me to take RE A level which had a big emphasis on the Philosophy of Religion. My teacher at A level held my interest in the subject especially with the philosophy side of things. I also had the chance to concentrate on Hinduism. I went on to study RE at the University of Kent where I carried on my interest in the reasons behind why people believe what they do. I have had a small amount of experience working with young people and thoroughly enjoyed it. This love of working with children and interest in my subject led me to apply for RE teacher training.