BA (Hons) Secondary Education with RE with QTS
Name
Victoria Whitham
What course did you study?
PGCE Secondary Education RE (with QTS)
Year of graduation
2019
Where are you from originally?
Burnley
Why University of Cumbria, what attracted you?
The beautiful and serene campus at Lancaster and the fantastic reviews that I had heard.
Job title
Teacher of RE
Current employer
Our Lady & St John Catholic College
What sector/industry do you work in?
Education
Briefly describe your role and responsibilities
Religious Education teacher; form tutor
Briefly describe your career progression from graduation to where you are now
I graduated in 2019 and from there was given a full-time position as a teacher in a local school. I was given the responsibility of also having my own tutor group. I also completed a Masters this year in religious education!
What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?
Inspiring passion in my students.
What are your ambitions, now and in the future?
I recently had an interview for promotion in my school - I hope to become a head of year in the very near future alongside still teaching RE.
Looking back, what advice would you give yourself when you just graduated?
To take some time out! Being an NQT and completing a Masters in the same year has been a lot of hard work.
What top tips would you give to new alumni who are wishing to pursue a similar career to you?
To enjoy teaching and not put too much pressure on. You’ve done the hard part with the PGCE - now enjoy it!
Do you have any support messages for the class of 2020, just embarking on their careers during the Covid-19 pandemic?
Times are hard and unusual for everybody. Ride the wave and still try to enjoy it - lots of smiles and positivity makes it a lot easier. People will respect and admire your resilience and will appreciate someone that is positive in the situation.