🚧 NSCG | Q&A with former Early Years student, Molly Sherratt
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17th March 2021

We are always so pleased to hear how well our past students are doing in their careers and how studying here at NSCG has helped them to achieve their success. Last week we caught up with Molly Sherratt who studied the Foundation Degree in Early Years at Newcastle College to see how the last few months have been for her.


Q. Can you remind us about your work history.

A. I am currently working at Merryfields School in Wolstanton as an unqualified teacher, which means I am completing my teaching qualification through a practice only route. After a year of working at the school, I applied to be a Higher Learning Teaching Assistant which I worked as for a year and loved going around the different classes and teaching many different children. After this, I then got offered to lead a class which was amazing as I love my job and thoroughly enjoy going to work every day. This school was actually one of my student placements whilst I was completing my college course on the BTEC Early Childhood Studies so it is so lovely to be starting my teaching career here.

I am also balancing work with studying for my BA (Hons) Education Top-up at Staffordshire University.

Q. You originally studied the Foundation Degree in Early Years with us at NSCG, why did you choose this course?

A. I wanted to study, whilst still being able to work within a school, as I love my job and did not want to leave to go into full time education. I also wanted to be able to learn and be able to put this into practice. I hoped that this course would be a stepping stone to help me to become a teacher. I also knew that Gill Leech would be teaching the course, and she had been my tutor at college previously. I found Gill to be an inspiration and knew that I would learn so much from her. All of the lecturers including Jayne Dale and Amanda Garside were amazing, and went above and beyond to support us all throughout the course.

Q.What was the biggest challenge for you?

A. The biggest challenge for me was getting into the head space of independent learning. It can be difficult to complete the course, work and have a life all at the same time especially if you are working full time. However, with effective time management this really is possible, like with any career choice. And once you find a balance between them all, writing assignments becomes a positive experience.

Q.What would you say to students looking to get into teaching?

A. Go for it! It will be one of the best and most rewarding experiences. Only you can decide which pathway to take to get into teaching, but Newcastle College’s environment is so positive and a bit like a family and I really flourished on the Foundation Degree. If you can, get experience of working with young people as this is very important.

Q. Have you now completed your degree?

Yes! I completed my BA honours in Education and came out with a first class degree which I am so proud of.

Unfortunately I haven’t been able to have my own class this year due to a fall in numbers, so I am currently supporting in a behaviour class at the school.
However I am still working on providing evidence for meeting all of the teaching standards and producing a portfolio for that, so that hopefully when the opportunity arises after the pandemic, I will still be able to complete my teaching qualifications through the assessment only route.

Interested in becoming a teacher? Find out more about the courses available at NSCG which could help you get there. Take a look - bit.ly/2OZovRg