Work Experience Success: Julia at St Andrews Primary School
Year 10 student Julia spent a week at St Andrews Primary School as part of her work experience, gaining valuable insight into the day-to-day life of a primary school. Each day, she worked with a different year group, gaining a broad understanding of how teaching and learning develop across ages.
Her favourite experience was working with the Foundation Stage, where she particularly enjoyed the play-based learning environment. She found it fascinating to see how young children engage with educational activities through imaginative play and hands-on exploration.
Throughout the week, Julia took on a variety of tasks, including one-to-one reading, English tutoring, supporting pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL), assisting with classroom organisation, distributing materials, marking homework, and helping to tidy up after lessons. She also supported the supervision of break times and enjoyed contributing to a creative geography activity involving drawing — a task that combined her interests with classroom learning.
Julia thoroughly enjoyed her placement and came away feeling inspired and more confident about her future. The experience has given her a deeper appreciation for the teaching profession and the many roles involved in supporting a successful classroom.