Arron Barry

Course studied: Geography BSc (Hons)

Year of graduation: 2022

Current job title: Early Career Teacher in Geography

Current employer: Teach First

Industry: Education

I decided to study this course at UON because of the way the course was operated. The lectures were all based on small group teaching styles and conducted in classroom environments, where discussions were encouraged, and thoughts could be shared with the class. In addition, the lecturers were very friendly and approachable for any query or issue, no matter how small, and the staff members of the department were supportive in answering questions or concerns about the course – they weren’t afraid to be honest and take any personal circumstances into account. The opportunities on the course were also very good – we had the chance for a residential trip, as well as a variety of day trips and short outings to conduct the fieldwork that is an essential part of geography.

Unfortunately, Covid-19 struck during my degree, but that didn’t stop UON and the Geography department adapting and offering the same experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip down to the coast at the beginning of the final year, which was arranged in place of other trips that had to be cancelled, and it still gave those from all geographical backgrounds (physical, human and environmental) the chance to conduct some fieldwork in their respective specialism. In addition, when classes were online, there were continued opportunities for discussions and open communication within seminars, just like the face-to-face equivalent. However, the part of the course that I enjoyed the most was the dissertation as it gave me the opportunity to research the topic that I’d developed a keen interest in, which was travel by use of public transport. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to conduct my own research and finding out things for myself in the real-world, as well as testing theory against practice in a real-world situation – it was such a good experience to develop my own confidence, communication skills and research skills for my future career.

Throughout the course, I experienced a number of different challenges that have aided my personal development, as well as my career. Conducting a mini-investigation within Northampton town centre in the first year increased my confidence when speaking to unfamiliar people in an unfamiliar location – without this experience, I wouldn’t have the confidence to do this now. Alongside this, the work I conducted for my final-year dissertation further developed my skills in communication, organisation and confidence. These were particularly important for my teaching career, as they are three of the top qualities that would be required for any teacher, of any experience. As a new teacher, I’ve relied on these skills to see me through the academic year, without suffering burnout or fatigue – I don’t feel that I’d be in this position today if I hadn’t completed my studies at Northampton.

After University, I successfully applied to the Teach First training programme in Spring 2022. I spent six weeks completing an intensive initial training programme to introduce myself to the teaching profession, alongside a week of experience at a local school, before progressing my career to become an employed teacher in my own school.

The biggest adjustment that I had to overcome was the unfamiliarity of the job. Although I had some ideas and on-the-job training at hand, there was so much to learn and the hurdle came when the pace of learning needed me to just get up and run with it. Fortunately, the organisational skills I gained from my degree helped me through and my plan is to stay in teaching for at least the foreseeable future.

The most useful skill I gained from my degree is the organisational skills picked up from the assignments. The course offered some good tips and tricks for getting organised for classes, whilst also having a social life outside of university. This has become quite important in my career as a teacher, as it’s very easy for work to spill over into your home life and, without intervention, you could find yourself working seven days a week. However, my degree gave me some really useful techniques to be able to stay on top of deadlines and prioritise, which have helped me with managing the teaching workload.

If I could offer one piece of advice to undergraduates interested in this career path, it would be to just go for it, as so many jobs can be obtained from your degree.

To summarise my UON experience – friendships, unforgettable experiences, powerful Geography!