Aleena Habib
Study Type: Higher Education
Study Location: The Roundhouse
Subject Studied: Teacher Training, Coaching and Mentoring
College teacher Aleena now considering master’s after gaining PGCE
Having a mentor as well as plenty of support from her Derby College Group tutors, has helped Birmingham-based college teacher Aleena Habib achieve qualified teaching status.
Aleena – who has a degree in youth, communities and families from University College Birmingham – now works where she once studied, teaching childcare and health and social care.
She said: “I was quite new to my role and wanted to do a PGCE so I could learn more about teaching. My work commitment hours, however, were too long for me to study closer to home, so I enquired at Derby University about part-time courses.
“I was put onto Derby College, their partner college, who despite me being outside their area, still agreed to observe me in my workplace.”
Aleena found studying while working quite challenging. She had to attend classes at the Roundhouse every Monday from 4pm to 8pm after a hard day’s work.
She added: “I had the same workload as everyone else on the course but a full-time job as well.
“My tutors were on top of their game though and always responded to any questions I had, even if it was later in the day.
“I was well supported; the teaching staff and my mentor helped me get though the past two years.”
Aleena now has a PGCE in Post 14 (Education and Training) and is thinking of taking a master’s degree next year.
She added: “I enjoyed all aspects of my PGCE but particularly pedagogy, linking the theory of teaching to the practice.
“I was early into my teaching career when I joined the course so some of what we were taught was new to me. I learned such a lot.”
“My tutors were on top of their game though and always responded to any questions I had, even if it was later in the day. I was well supported; the teaching staff and my mentor helped me get though the past two years.”