Daryl Greenslade

"I'm aiming to become a Deputy Head in ten years, that's my ten-year plan. And I can say that I've got the university to thank for that."

1. Why did you choose to get into teaching?

I chose to get into teaching because I was a teaching assistant beforehand and I completed a three-year foundation degree in Learning and Teaching Sport also with the University of Cumbria and it provided a really good platform for me to do my teacher training at the University of Cumbria.

2. How did you manage family, work and study?

I have kids myself and I was balancing working in a school and studying. So being a dad and doing that it was fun! Yeah, fun is the word I'd say.

3. Did you struggle during your degree?

I actually did overcome a struggle. I felt through a ceiling but the University was really helpful. They were really supportive and they gave me some time to recuperate from that and also an extension which was really helpful at the time because my back was really bad so they were really supportive.

I've got my first full-time teaching job a month after I graduated. I started in July. In fact, I had to take time off work to graduate.

4. Why did you choose Cumbria?

The reason I chose University of Cumbria is because it was one of the only ones in the area that did the course that I was interested in doing. Because I was a TA and I didn't have a degree I was able to do the foundation degree and get onto it that way so the progression was there for me and it was really, really easy. And now I've got my first full-time teaching job a month after I graduated. I started in July. In fact, I had to take time off work to graduate but I got my first full-time job in a school in Tower Hamlets and now I've decided to move on to another school.

5. Top tips for people looking to do the same course as you?

Talk to people if you're struggling. There is a good supportive team at the University, so talk to them, use them to your advantage.

Second one, don't talk in the library. They do not like it and that's a serious thing. And on the library, use it. There is a lot of usable books in the library that do help you with your assignment.

And thirdly, try to enjoy your time there. Hopefully, you're only going to be in university once and then you'll be in your dream job. So make sure you enjoy it and you take as much away from it as you can. I've I used it and I'm aiming to become a Deputy Head in ten years, that's my ten-year plan. And I can say that I've got the university to thank for that.

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