Unlike a regular PGCE I spend much more time in school - its more like an apprenticeship than a post-grad course - I'm learning on the job! I was keen to stay in Sheffield with all its benefits and had enjoyed working in Sheffield schools in the past.

Work Experience - Through the university of Sheffield I was able to gain work experience in two different secondary schools in the area to boost my knowledge and classroom experience. This really helped to get me on my PGCE course and also prepare me for what this entailed.

For the summer of 2013 I continued to work part-time as an Online English Tutor for a French company via video-conference software. This prepared me for the planning and differentiation aspects on teaching and really helped me to hone my communication skills - I was required to tailor my language and approach to the needs and abilities of each pupil I encountered.

By June 2014 I will have completed my post-grad course, gaining a PGCE qualification and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). I will also have gained 40 credits towards a Masters in education which I intend to complete in the coming years. In the future I see myself working in the education sector - either within a secondary school environment or within educational writing as this is another aspiration of mine.

Get as much classroom experience as you can before starting your course - the more you have the more ready you will be to begin working within school four days a week. Read! Read as much teen fiction, poetry and drama as you can get your hands on - particularly more recent stuff - so that your subject knowledge is as good as it can be. Be prepared for long days and little sleep - relax as much as possible over the summer and be prepared to have to "timetable" your free time to make sure everything is completed on time!