Skip to content

How I applied my Sport, PE and Health degree to my Cardiff City FC Foundation work placement

Student Holly header
Student Holly header

Since arriving at Cardiff Met back in 2017, I have been hit with endless opportunities from playing competitive netball undergoing a challenging training programme to being able to excel in my degree-  gaining knowledge and experience surrounding PE teaching, becoming a student ambassador and to being a course representative.

I am currently a third year student studying BSc Sport, Physical Education & Health with a lifelong ambition to be a secondary PE teacher. This has been something I have dreamed of from being at secondary school and studying at Cardiff Met has grown my desire to teach even more.

Sport, PE & Health has encouraged me to take on different roles, both teaching and coaching- to get a feel for both. These roles include being able to gain Level 1 and 2 NGB coaching qualifications in a range of sports, being able to work with pioneer schools as part of an ‘Open Campus’ initiative delivering PE lessons as part of our practical modules and take on different placements in a variety of education contexts as part of an industry module.

Holly Cardiff City stadium
I chose a module ‘Industry Placement’ that granted me with the opportunity to gain a place with Cardiff City FC community foundation helping young adults to develop themselves, their learning, in PE and Health and other subject areas.

The opportunity to study a variety of different modules was something that fascinated me when applying for Cardiff Met. Sports Performance Analysis was a module I most enjoyed as it gave me an insight into a different role within the sports industry, developing contrasting skills such as IT, critical thinking, analytics and presentation skills gave me the breadth and depth to my degree. Cardiff Met has made me the person I am today, something of which I am extremely grateful of; blessed with life skills and knowledge to flourish in the world of sport industry and teaching.

Within my third year, I chose a module ‘Industry Placement’ that granted me with the opportunity to gain a place with Cardiff City FC Foundation, helping young adults to develop themselves and their learning, in PE and Health and other subject areas. Each and every lecturer was amazing in supporting this process, giving a wide range of options from working in primary and secondary schools, to varied sporting organisations, to working as a coach or working within SEN sporting contexts.

So far, I have loved each day working with different learners with various abilities, and experienced the sincere rewards that working with young children and adults brings.

Holly in a school
Engaging in a placement is an excellent way to network and develop your learning. Each day working with young children and adults is different and that is what is exhilarating!

The experience gained working alongside young people in a professional teaching context has helped me to develop myself professionally, of which I hope to take onto my PGCE course starting 2020. I felt this has been a great enhancer to my university work where the knowledge and confidence gained on placement was utilised in a practical assessment delivering PE and health concepts to a group of peers on my course. Engaging in a placement is an excellent way to network and develop your learning. Each day working with young children and adults is different and that is what is exhilarating!

Looking back at myself at secondary school, I would never have believed I would be where I am today. Full of confidence, knowledge and experience to set me up for employment as a PE teacher. I would never look back and I have Cardiff Met and all the lecturers on Sport, PE and Health degree to thank for that.

 

Hear how Holly gained real-world experience on her work placement with Cardiff City Football Club Foundation.