India work experience heaven-sent

Over the summer, three students from ARU’s BA (Hons) Primary Education Studies course travelled to Holy Angel School in Tehatta, India, for some valuable work experience.

For twenty eight days Grace Ellis, Raquel Costa Damas, and Amber Harding observed teaching, collaborated with staff, worked with pupils and even taught a few lessons at the school. This gave them a great opportunity to enhance both their academic studies and future career prospects, as well as providing a valuable insight into another culture’s educational practices:

“My time in India feels like a fever dream, an opportunity that I'm glad to have taken in order to enrich my perspectives on not only education but to take in the different cultures and experiences of the country. I'm incredibly lucky to have been able to go and wish I could have done more with my time there.” – Raquel Costa Damas

“It was an eye-opening experience into how education can be delivered in different places. We also became part of a community that offered opportunities and freedom to learn and develop teaching methods, while welcoming us into their school and making us feel part of their community. We gained experience and learned about their lifestyle, and built friendships with the staff and students.

"It was an incredible and enjoyable experience where we expanded our knowledge of education and had the chance to teach and plan lessons, receiving feedback on how to improve and recognising areas where we performed well. We also had the opportunity to explore many amazing places in India, immerse ourselves in their culture, and try various traditional foods.” - Amber Harding

The trip was first organised by the School of Education in 2024 , through a colleague in the Faculty of Business and Law, Sunrita Dhar Bhattacharjee, whose father is the founder of Holy Angel School. Our staff are now making plans for another group of students to attend the school again next academic year.