Lily Barnes

Lily is a 3rd Year student on our BEd Primary Education with QTS course, and part of our first cohort of ITT trainees.

Why did you choose to study at ARU?

I chose to study at ARU from the moment I attended the Open Day. I felt a genuine passion radiating from the lecturers. This real sense of excitement and positive energy was welcoming and reassuring.

One of the biggest selling points for me was the course structure, particularly the opportunity to complete three placements, with one taking place each year. I felt this was a valuable aspect which excelled above other teacher training courses, as it promotes gradual progression which was comforting when I was a first year student. Knowing that I had the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in each year was reassuring, as it meant I could apply the learning taken place at university with real-life classroom situations.

What do you hope to do when you graduate from ARU?

Once I graduate, I would like to gain experience being a classroom teacher. At the moment I am leaning more towards a bigger school with team collaboration being at the heart of the school.

Once I have completed my Early Career Teacher (ECT) years, I would like to take the opportunity to teach in a different country. I feel like this would open up my experiences and opportunities to allow me to help children who may be in a less privileged area. I want to understand how teaching occurs within environments where basic needs are not met but children are still expected to progress and learn.

What's the most valuable thing that you’ll take away from your course?

I’m someone who enjoys meeting new people and building positive relationships with others. Throughout my time at ARU, my confidence has grown both professionally and personally. By embracing new opportunities and challenges, I have developed valuable skills and gained knowledge that I hope I can use to inspire the children I will teach in the future. I am passionate about making a positive different in education and creating a supportive environment where every child can thrive.

Something I have always viewed negatively is feedback, as I previously associated it with criticism or being told that I have done something wrong. However, since studying on this course I was soon taught that feedback is an essential part of teaching. Through learning about giving and receiving feedback, I have come to realise how invaluable it is for continuous improvement.

During placements I have received constructive feedback from my school mentor, which has become an important part of my professional development. I have learnt to listen to what I have done well, consider what I could have approached differently and reflect on how I can improve for the future. In teaching there are always things to improve. As I have learnt, not all lessons will go smoothly, and this is why feedback is crucial to my professional development.

Which aspects of your course have most helped your career development, and why?

On the BEd we participate in Intensive Training and Practice (ITAP). This is something we do in all three years where we focus on a specific aspect which will help us develop. So far, we have explored phonics, behaviour management and adaptive teaching.

ITAP provides us with the opportunity to take a deep dive into the focus area, develop our understanding and identify gaps in our knowledge that may require more attention. The design of these sessions are progressive as by the end of the week we are required to have achieved and progressed in this topic.

During the week we observe teachers in action, we take all the learning from the focus subject and see how this is done in schools. This is a really interesting point of the week as it allows me to see the theory put into practice and understand how teachers adapt their approaches to meet the needs of different groups of children.

What inspired you to become a teacher in the first place?

From a young age, I always enjoyed working with and supporting children, which led me to my first job as a swimming teacher. Taking this on was a significant responsibility and pushed me out my comfort zone, but I was determined to help swimmers of all abilities and ages develop their skills and confidence in the water.

This experience played an important role of shaping my passion for teaching: I discovered how rewarding it was to support others who are learning a new skill and I knew I wanted to help other people achieve their potential.

Another factor was my own experience of school. Not all my experiences with teachers were positive, which made me realise how much of an impact a teacher’s attitude and beliefs have on a child. This motivates me to become the kind of teacher who creates a safe, inclusive and motivating classroom where children can make mistakes and try new things.

What did you study before coming to ARU?

I studied Health and Social Care and Physical Education at Long Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge. I was unsure which path I wanted to take, but I knew I wanted to do something where I would help others and make a positive impact on people’s lives.

Health and Social Care covered a broad range of topics including safeguarding, child development and other areas, which luckily provided me with a strong foundation for my degree. It helped me develop a better understanding of supporting others and promoting their wellbeing.

I chose Physical Education because of my passion for sport, particularly netball and running. I believe it’s a vital part of everyday life and should be prioritised to support both physical and mental wellbeing. This is something I hope to carry forward into my future career in teaching, where I want to make PE an enjoyable, inclusive and engaging subject. My aim is to create a positive association with PE where all children want to participate, develop their skills and find an interest which they can carry on in their later life.

Did you always know that you would go to university and, if not, what changed your mind?

During college, I initially focused on working within a hospital setting. I considered careers such as occupational therapy, as I liked the idea of helping individuals improve their quality of life. Over time, my interests developed further towards nursing, where I would have to provide care to patients during challenging times in their lives.

As I continued to study Health and Social care, I began to recognise how I much I enjoyed learning about the topics and my interest in teaching others increased. This encouraged me to think more about working with children, which is when I picked up my swimming teaching job. I realised that teaching could offer me the opportunity to combine my passion for helping others with my interest in education and development.

The real turning point came when I heard about ARU’s new BEd course. From that moment, I was interested in finding out more about it and exploring where it could take me. I began to see how well it suited my interests and future aspirations. When I found out it was being offered in Cambridge, I immediately felt that it was the right opportunity for me.

Looking back, I‘m confident that choosing ARU while living at home was the right choice. It has given me the opportunity to develop a continuous learning journey into becoming a professional who is willing to learn.

What is your favourite thing about studying in Cambridge?

Studying in Cambridge is a very positive experience. The campus is very modern and buzzing with people. There are lots of different places within the university to sit and study or catch up with friends. Having a lot of space is great as there is a place for everyone at ARU. In Cambridge there is also a wide range of cafés, which are great to sit at during studying times when campus is a bit busy.

The campus is also very close to town and offers many transport options. This makes it so much easier being someone who lives at home - travelling home doesn’t take as long as I thought it would.

What piece of advice would you give to other students in your field?

My biggest piece of advice would be to take every opportunity that comes your way! Stepping out your comfort zone is often where the most valuable learning and personal growth happens. It is important to embrace the experiences offered to you, as they can provide opportunities to develop new skills, build confidence and gain a better understanding of what it is like to be a teacher.

Additionally, I would advise gaining experience in a primary school alongside your studies. During my first year, I volunteered a local primary school where I read with children, I helped around the class and even got to attend their school trip. I am so glad I took that opportunity as I was able to see how children behave outside of the school environment, as well as how teachers organise and manage behaviour while being in a different context with the children.

What projects are you currently working on, both on and off the course?

Currently I am in the initial stages of my Specialist Focus Project (SFP). This is our big final year project which we work on for the whole of our third year. During these lecturers we have felt very reassured and listened to. As this is a very daunting project the lecturers have ensured we feel confident and supported due to their clear guidance and availability for us to answer questions when we need.

Additionally, I am soon to be starting my Core 3 assignment. This is a patchwork assignment looking at our professional development in the core subjects. This is our only assignment due in the first trimester of our third year, so I feel supported by the lecturers and more confident in managing my time.