Kimberley Ashmore

BSc (Hons) Physical Education and School Sport

'The best thing about the course was the variety of modules, which helped to provide me with an extensive knowledge in a variety of areas. The practical nature of the course was also excellent, as it meant that different learning styles could be catered for.

'I believe that the course helped me to prepare for the 'real world' primarily because of the variation of the modules. It meant that I wasn't pigeon holed into one area, and that my skills were vast enough to allow me to progress into a variety of different roles. I do feel that the course helped me to gain the position I am in now.

'I am currently the development officer for Disability for Activity Sheffield (Sheffield City Council). I am responsible for running the Disability Sheffield project, in which I line manage a core member of staff, along with many casual staff and volunteers.

'My responsibilities include • organising the project timetable, setting up sessions and developing sports clubs • providing training to young leaders, teachers and sports professionals • organising and delivering Sheffield events • supporting on national and international events • organising a volunteer programme and recruiting volunteers • applying for funding bids - both small grants and grants over £10,000

'The tutor sport was fantastic, especially for my dissertation. I found the tutors knowledgeable, approachable and experienced. Many of the tutors also had external contacts relating to jobs and volunteering opportunities which was extremely useful.

'The sports clubs and programmes are also fantastic. I represented the Women's Basketball Team throughout my duration at university. The standard of the team was always excellent, and the facilities we were able to use were very good. The coaching was also of an excellent standard which I believe is a result of the relationship with the Sheffield Hatters Women's Basketball Club'.

Natasha Amess

BSc (Honours) Physical Education and Youth Sport, third year

'I chose to study as Sheffield Hallam as I wanted to stay fairly local, but mainly because of the course content, and the reputation of the University itself.

'From a young age I have aspired to be a PE teacher, and Sheffield Hallam offers the best course to achieve this. The course covers a variety of useful modules, all applied to secondary school teaching, as well as offering opportunities to follow careers in other areas of sport.

'Whilst at college I completed two 15 day placements, one in a primary school and one in a secondary school PE department. This helped reinforce that secondary teaching was definitely the career path I wanted to follow, whilst gaining experience in planning and delivering short activities to the children.

'I have enjoyed all of my modules on the course so far, particularly the practical elements, but the highlight was the outdoors adventure activity trip to Coniston. I was able to experience new activities, which were all challenging and gave me a huge sense of achievement both individually and as part of a team. I have gained vital experience in leadership and speaking in front of an audience, which is important for a career in teaching.

'The teaching at Sheffield Hallam is fantastic. The tutors go the extra mile to help all students reach their potential, giving guidance and support right from the start. The range of backgrounds which the tutors come from is great, as there is always a practical example they can draw upon to help explain a theory or discipline.

'The facilities are also excellent, enabling students to take part in a range of activities both in and out of timetabled slots.

'My advice to any students thinking about this course is work hard and don't give up, you will get to where you want to be if you want it enough. Also come to an open day at Sheffield Hallam and experience the spirit for yourself.

'Sheffield is also a very student friendly city, with plenty of things to do in your spare time.'

Natasha Pearson

BSc (Honours) Physical Education and Youth Sport

'Studying PE and Youth Sport and then my PGCE in PE at Sheffield Hallam was the best four years on my life. I learnt so much about myself and the subject and was given the opportunity to use some amazing facilities across Sheffield and work with some highly talented staff. Particular highlights were the outdoor adventure residential courses, diving off the 10m board at Ponds Forge and strangely doing my third year dissertation!

'Outside of the course I was heavily involved in the Union at Hallam which has provided me with memories and experiences I will never forget! The opportunity to represent the voice of 500 student volunteers at Hallam and work in the community on projects purely run by ourselves was character building and gave me the vital experiences I needed to not just make me stand out on a CV but to more so to experience making a real difference to the lives of people we worked with.

'The Hallam student nightlife and involvement in the Sports Union is obviously a highlight too as it is for any student!!

'I was involved in the Sports Union, playing for four years for the Korfball Club. I was also involved with the Hallam Volunteering Network for four years. As part of this network I volunteered, to project lead a primary school PE project called ready steady jr, I also set up my own project which still runs called Shine and Smile, I was the chair of the Hallam Volunteering Committee and also the Hallam Volunteering Executive on the Exec Committee during my second year. And I absolutely loved every minute of it!

'Both my degree and my PGCE gave me hands on practical experience working with young people of all ages both in primary and secondary school. The degree was great as it covered all the main practical sports activities, including swimming, which is a real asset when looking for jobs in the secondary PE industry. Like any degree I think you get out of it what you put in. You can coast by, but if you really want to put yourself at the top of that pile for the jobs you apply for you have to embrace every opportunity and use it to practice the skills needed to be a teacher.

'As mentioned above I project led a project called ready steady jr in my first year at Hallam. As a project it worked with primary schools to aid their staff in delivering PE during lesson time and extra-curricular activities. At lot of people from my course and SDC volunteered, I had a team of about 30 volunteers I think at one point. In addition to organising this project and getting people out to schools delivering sessions I also led development sessions for the volunteers to ensure they were leading quality sessions, whilst also volunteering out at the schools myself.

'In my second year whilst I was HV exec I set up the Shine and Smile project which is still running. This project grew from a real passion of mine around the divide between young people with disabilities in school for special educational needs and mainstream school children. I recruited a team of around 30 volunteers and as a team we set up this project to break down those social barriers through the vehicle of sport. We went into primaries and delivered disability awareness sessions, taught them disability sport and then went into the SEN school and worked with their staff to deliver sports sessions. Following this initial period we then took the kids to each other's school to take part in sports based activities and healthy lifestyles to give the kids an understanding of each other's environments. As a culmination to the project we then bought all the kids to the Sports Union at Hallam and had a disability sports festival day when kids were competing in teams with kids from the other schools. We raised all the funds for the project including t-shirts, coach transport, lunches etc.

'I ran this project for two years until I left and I am honoured that it made such an impact and that it still runs and has interest.

'The skills I gained from these experiences were immense. I learnt school based skills, how to communicate with schools and adults in the profession, sports based knowledge around disability sport and vital skills around events management.

'In addition to this I also worked with a course mate to coach Korfball to a local secondary school during their PE lessons over the course of one year to help increase youth participation in the sport.

'From leaving university I was lucky enough to be employed by the school who I had my second placement with on my PGCE course. In that job I quickly progressed and gained many responsibilities including been employed as the Curriculum Innovations Coordinator, G&T coordinator for PE, Lead on BTEC Level 2 and A level PE, Talented Athlete School Mentor and PGCE/NQT mentor for students from Leeds Met and newly qualified staff.

'I have now just moved schools to Sirius Academy in Hull working closely in the sixth form to help develop their new sixth form provision in PE and sport and I am hoping over the coming years to become further involved in developing this.

'The list of skills I have gained is endless. I have definitely developed sports specific skills required to teach practical based subjects, but it also gave me an understanding of how to deliver theory based subjects including BTec Sport, GCSE PE and A level PE.

'I developed my communication skills, organisational skills, work ethic and desire to achieve on the course which has helped me to go onto having a good start in my teaching career.

'I am hoping to stay at my current school for a long time and work to develop the image of their sixth form and the provision provided in the curriculum. One day I would like to go down the pastoral route maybe becoming a head of year or head of house as I love to see the difference you can make to students as a whole person, not just through the subject area.

Emma Hubbard

BSc (Honours) Physical Education and Youth Sport, third year

'After receiving a prospectus I fell in love with the physical education and youth sport course. The open day made up my mind that this was the place for me, it felt right as soon I got here.

'The quality of teaching at Sheffield Hallam is fantastic. All the lecturers have a vast amount of practical experience in the field of either teaching in schools or working for organisation such as the Youth Sports Trust. Their up-to-date contacts with professionals in influential areas allows us to receive the most recent and relevant information about education and sport in the UK.

'I have regular contact with Sheffield Hallam’s learning services for support with my dyslexia. The staff in the department are very welcoming and easily approachable which is important since having a learning disability is a delicate matter to discuss. Everything is kept confidential and they are quick to respond to e-mails with regards to issues.

'Staff in the learning centre have helped me with referencing and finding books, they have always been willing to help.

'Sheffield is great for shopping with Meadowhall just a tram or bus ride away. It also has a large amount of international sports venues such as the English Institute of Sport, Ponds Forge, the Ski Village and Ice Sheffield. There is always plenty to be doing and the night life is welcoming.

'I have no regrets about taking a step out of my comfort zone, moving away from home and starting my degree. I have fallen in love with a whole new city and made friends for life. Studying sport at Sheffield Hallam was certainly the best decisions I have ever made.'