Natalie Clark (PGCE Mathematics 2008, now MSc in Mathematics Education)

My first degree at Warwick was a BSc in Mathematics.  I chose mathematics because it is a subject I am very passionate about and was fortunate enough to have been taught by some outstanding teachers in my secondary school.  I thoroughly enjoyed my undergraduate years both academically, in a leading edge mathematics department, and socially, as part of the Warwick Women's Netball team.  It was during my second year that I discovered that teaching mathematics was what I was really interested in.  I was given the opportunity, with help from lecturers and tutors, to study a couple of modules over the course of my degree that concerned the psychology of learning mathematics and the link to practice in the classroom (as part of the Student Associate Scheme).  This provided me with sufficient experience to directly apply for teacher training after my BSc.

After gaining my degree, the PGCE in secondary Mathematics was the obvious root for me, giving me qualified teacher status in many countries and allowing me to continue studying the theory behind learning that had led me to teaching initially, albeit now at Masters level.  I chose to continue studying at Warwick because of the fantastic support I had received from the Mathematics department and Institute of Education staff during the earlier modules.

During my NQT year I have decided to make the most of the 60 CATs gained during the PGCE (one third of a Masters qualification) and study for two years part-time for an MSc in Mathematics Education.  Whilst it is certainly challenging, studying at evenings and weekends and coping with the NQT pressures during the week, I have had much support from my tutors and have continued to enjoy linking theory to practice.  Studying education at Masters level will enable me to progress to middle management more quickly by affording me the ability to reflect on and improve my teaching in relation to recent educational research.  During my time in the Institute of Education I was fortunate enough to work with a fantastic group of (now) teachers and am very thankful to both them and the lecturers for making my study so enjoyable.