Aspiring Educators aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Connor Thompson, a current PGCE student and recent BSc Exercise and Sports Science graduate, talks about how the skills and experience he devolved through the Learning for Teaching module helped to shape his current career path. Click here to read more.
Aspiring Educators
Aspiring Educators
Working in the Education & Teaching sector
There are several different routes into the teaching sector, and you will need to research these to find out which is the best route for you. However you choose to train to be a teacher, you will need to demonstrate a commitment to teaching, have a range of experiences working with young people, and classroom teaching observations to demonstrate that you are a reflective practitioner in your teaching applications.
My Career Zone Digital has a great range of resources for aspiring teachers: find them here.
Register your interest!
We will be running bespoke guidance sessions to help you make the most of your teaching experience and to provide you with guidance if you are interested in having a career in teaching. These sessions are open to ALL students and will be run in the Spring term.
To register your interest in the guidance sessions and to keep up to date with the current teaching and eduication bsaed opportunities availbale, please complete this short form.
There are a number of opportunities to gain teaching/education based experience via the University of Exeter and our partners listed below.
Primary Enrichment Volunteer
Are you interested in a career in teaching?
Would you like to gain experience working with primary age children?
Would you like to observe high-quality teaching?
We are now recruiting volunteers for the Primary Enrichment Programme. The spring programme runs from 2-14 March 2023.
Our Primary Enrichment Programme is a long-established Outreach Programme, which takes place on the St Luke’s campus three times a year. We offer all-day workshops to children in Key Stage 2 (age 7-11) from across Devon.
Our programme is supported by dedicated student volunteers who are interested in finding out more about the world of teaching. If you would like to gain invaluable work experience working directly with young people; observe high quality teaching; and contribute your own subject knowledge, then we would love to hear from you!
Our workshops range from humanities to maths, physics to art, creative writing and music. This volunteering opportunity is open to students from all disciplines and all year groups. Students are welcome to volunteer from as little as one day to a whole week or more.
Typical activities and experiences include:
- Meeting and greeting pupils and their parents.
- Liaising with the Outreach Coordinator and class tutor.
- Supporting teachers and groups of children in the classroom with teaching and learning activities.
- Opportunities to plan and lead lunchtime games activities.
- Assist with classroom organisation and the distribution of classroom resources.
What are the benefits?
- Opportunity to obtain the skills and knowledge you will need to pursue a career in the Education sector.
- Opportunity to increase your employability skills and add valuable work experience to your CV.
- Observe high quality teaching from experienced teachers.
- Valuable networking opportunities.
- Enable you to contribute to the Exeter Award by volunteering with us.
How to apply:
Our spring programme runs from 2-14 March.
This round of applications has now closed, but we will be back in the Summer term. Please keep an eye on our webpages for more information when the summer applications open.
Explore Teaching and Gain Classroom Experience
Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers on which you can embark. Choosing a “Learning for Teaching” module will help you gain experience and insight into this challenging profession while studying for your undergraduate or Masters degree.
To help you discover if teaching is right for you, or if you're just interested in developing your skills in this area, we have developed an accredited teaching experience module which is open to all second and third year undergraduates and Masters students, regardless of subject or discipline. Learn more about the Teaching Module.
**Open to all undergraduates and masters students in Exeter and Penryn and provides you will school experience and training in a credit bearing module.**
Exciting volunteering opportunity to gain school based experience.
St James Secondary School in Exeter is about to launch an unprecedented, large scale enrichment programme for its students.
The aim is to provide high quality enrichment opportunities (similar to those found in Private Schools) for all students, completely free of charge.
In order to make this work, the dedicated teaching staff are giving up their time and developing new skills to share with the students. But we need your help!
- Would you like to work directly with young people (age 12 – 15) on an activity that they are passionate about?
- Would you like to work closely and build a rapport with a member of teaching staff?
- Would you like to gain vital work experience at a non-selective, but hugely successful Secondary school?
If the answer is yes, then St James School (EX4 8NN) would make you feel very welcome.
To find out more and register your interest in volunteering please get in contact with Steve Brown, Assistant Head.
Below is the list of enrichment activities that will take place between 1:30pm-3:00pm each Wednesday during term time.
If you have a preference or relevant skill set you can register to help with a particular activity. Opportunities will be allocated on a first come basis.
Creative |
Active |
Skills & service |
Book Riot |
Couch to 5K |
Babysitting & Childcare |
Creative Writing |
Fitness Classes |
Bike Maintenance & Cycling |
Cross Stitch Stitch-A-Long (SAL) |
Flag Football |
British Sign Language |
Electronic Music Production |
Golf |
Charity |
Embroidery & Patchwork |
Gym & Strength Training |
Cooking |
International Cinema Club |
Gymnastics |
Debating Team |
Knitting & Crochet |
Haven Banks |
Environment, Gardening & Wildlife |
Literature Seminar |
Hockey |
Equalities Elective |
Model Building |
Performing Arts Showcase: Dance/Drama |
Guest Speakers |
Movies & Media |
Self Defence |
Italian Language & Culture |
Performing Arts Showcase: Music/Singing |
Skateboarding |
Magistrates Court Trial |
Pete the Poet (Art, Culture & Diversity) |
Softball |
Mindful Puzzles |
Print Making & Photographic Print Processes |
Swimming (Water Confidence) |
Robotics (Lego Education) |
Textiles |
Track & Field |
Sea Safety |
Young Curators |
Trampolining |
NCS Skills Booster: Career & College preparation |
Ultimate Frisbee |
STEM Club |
|
Yoga |
The League of Master Strategists (Board Games) |
Gain teaching experience as part of Aspiring Educators at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum
The role of School Activities Volunteer at RAMM is to engage and teach visiting pre-booked KS2 school groups with activities linked to Ancient Egypt, Romans in Devon or The Second World War + The Exeter Blitz . You would join a team who lead/assist, setup and takedown a number of activities that are linked to the museum’s collection.
More information about the scope of the museum-led schools activities can be found on our website at Museum-Led visits - Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Exeter (rammuseum.org.uk)
When - The time commitment for this volunteer role is a minimum of 3 hours twice a month (once a week would be great) with timeout for holidays and other responsibilities. You will choose your shifts and the school activities you wish to undertake in advance of the school visit.
You should be available to volunteer for at least two terms in an academic year.
School visits to RAMM are generally Tuesday to Thursdays during the first three weeks of each month, during Devon school terms. Each shift (with setup and take down times) is generally 3 hours for half a day (09:30 to 12:15) and 5 hours for a full day, with a 30 minute lunch break (09:30 to 14:00).
During your shift you will lead or assist in up to three activities, each 25 minutes in duration. The average number of school children taking part in each activity at a time is between 8 and 12.
Training - It is important that you attend training for this role before you can start. The required training will be in three parts:
- At home, one hour general museum induction via elearning
- A one hour walk around the museum to orientate yourself around the building, safety such as fire-escapes and understand the various procedures and policies that are in place
- In person training of the school activities in situ at RAMM – shadowing/assisting sessions during school visits
Skills - You should possess a broad interest in one or more of the school subjects we cover, with a willingness to learn. An ability to communicate clearly with school children and ability to work as part of a team. You should have a smart appearance and currently it is recommended that you wear a face covering, which will be supplied.
Please apply here and ensure to state that you are enquiring as part of the University of Exeter Aspiring Educators Programme.
Help widen participation in higher education.
Student Ambassadors share their first-hand experiences of life as a University of Exeter student to a variety of different audiences, providing a positive, authentic and unscripted insight into the world of higher education. The work student ambassadors undertake involves both promoting the University of Exeter as an institution to prospective students and visitors; and helping to widen participation in higher education more generally by providing information, advice and guidance to young people from a diverse range of backgrounds who are under-represented.
Why get involved?
This is a great scheme to join if you:
- feel positive about higher education and the University of Exeter and want to share your experiences with others
- like to work with young people and recognise that they may need help in making important decisions regarding higher education
- want flexible work that fits well around your study commitments
- want work that will enhance your existing skillset and increase your employability (student ambassadors will have their work with ESAS listed on their Higher Education Achievement Report and may use their work on the scheme to gain the Exeter Award)
Who we are looking for?
If possible, we are looking to recruit student ambassadors from all undergraduate courses and year groups, plus a range of postgraduate courses. Student ambassadors should:
- be enthusiastic
- have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people from different backgrounds
- be brilliant team workers
- be professional, well organised and reliable
- be pro-active and able to use their own initiative to respond to different situations appropriately
- be current undergraduate or postgraduate students at the University of Exeter
To find out more about this role and the recruitment process, please visit the Student Ambassador webpage.
Develop your mentoring skills with this paid opportunity from Exeter Maths School
Exeter Maths School are seeking to appoint online mentors to work with KS3 students, in groups of 6, to complete the MESME Maths Circles curriculum.
If you enjoy maths problem solving and are keen to develop this in others, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. You will be supported by a team of EMS teachers who will provide training, resources, feedback and encouragement whilst you develop your mentoring skills. This is a paid opprtunity working up to 3.5 hours a week, £9.50 an hour.
Further details, including a job description and person specification are available via our website, here.
Please do get in touch if you have any questions, by emailing: events@exeterms.ac.uk
Gain experience working with Primary school, GCSE or A Level students.
CoachBright are looking for University of Exeter students to work with school pupils from low-income backgrounds to help improve their grades, confidence and access to university. A great way to build your employability skills, learn about whether working in school is for you and support a young person.
As we navigate life in a post-covid world, it's more important than ever that our most disadvantaged pupils are getting the support they need. Join us to help make education fairer!
As a coach, you will work with 2-3 pupils as either a GCSE Coach in Maths, English or Science or as an A-Level Coach in one of the following subjects: Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, History, Sociology, Psychology or Business Studies. Programmes are 15 hours long: including a launch session, 8 coaching sessions and a graduation trip and will run either in person or online.
By volunteering with CoachBright, you will…
- Help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds build confidence, independence and resilience in their learning
- Gain transferable skills in leadership, communication, and relationship building
- Gain experience in education and working with young people
- Gain professional references from your Programme Officer
- Receive a SSAT accreditation - a formal student leadership accreditation worth £500!
- Get hours towards the Exeter Award
Apply online today at Coachbright
Any questions? Please get in touch! Email team@coachbright.org
Are you a PhD researcher or doctoral graduate who wants to help a young person realise their academic potential? Then join us as a Brilliant Club Tutor!
The Brilliant Club's Researcher Development Programme offers PhD and Early Career Researchers a meaningful, professionally developmental, paid tutoring opportunity. Training with The Brilliant Club and working as a Scholars Programme tutor enables researchers to communicate their research to a non-specialist audience, gain valuable teaching and public engagement experience and deepen their knowledge of the UK education system.
Tutors working with us will:
- Support local pupils from underrepresented backgrounds to access university
- Get expert training and real experience to develop their teaching and other transferable skills
- Earn £500 per placement, plus an additional £100 for designing a new course, and travel expenses
- Disseminate their research to small groups of school pupils
- Join a nationwide community of like-minded researchers making a huge impact on university access
Tutors will be supported to complete a series of training modules before beginning work with us, and further continuous professional development for each subsequent placement.
You can view some additional information on this opportunity by visiting the Doctoral College web page.