Harrison Copp

• Year of study: Third year (2025/26)
• Length of course: Three years

I decided to study Geography having enjoyed the subject at GCSE and A-level and the broad range of topics that can be covered. I chose the University of Northampton for a variety of reasons – being from the county, I decided to remain at home during my undergraduate study as I felt this decision was best for me and enabled me to keep costs lower. I was also attracted to the University’s modern campus and its use of small seminar-style teaching rather than big lecture theatres.

I’ve wanted to train to be a Geography Teacher since my A-levels and will soon begin this training with the Northamptonshire Teaching School Hub.

Whilst at University, I’ve received lots of support from the Student Futures team with interview preparation, particularly the careers advisor linked with the Geography course. We met several times to practice interview questions, which ensured I felt confident going into the teacher training interview.

Several of the modules I’ve studied will be useful for my teaching career, particularly Geographic Information Systems, Landscape Processes, and Weather and Climate – these have given me an in-depth understanding of key geographical concepts which feature throughout the National Curriculum. The course has also enabled me to develop my time management, organisation, and presentation skills, all of which are important for teaching.

During the third year, all Geography students are required to complete 30 hours of work experience in a graduate role. I returned to my former secondary school and enjoyed spending the week with the Geography department, learning about teachers’ responsibilities by observing classes across all key stages.

The placement enabled me to gain insights into the daily responsibilities of a teacher. I had conversations with them about how they plan and deliver lessons and observed the importance of reflecting on those lessons to ensure they are having the desired impact. I practiced my teaching skills by delivering a starter activity to a Year 7 class, which enabled me to build on my confidence in the classroom. I was also able to develop my time management skills by working to a school timetable, as well as my communication skills. This enabled me to develop vital employability experience which will put me in a good position when I begin my teacher training.

I was able to refer to my placement during my teacher training interview to demonstrate my genuine interest in teaching and to reflect on the aspects of teacher training that I felt might be challenging. It also enabled me to show that I’ve taken steps to be as prepared as possible.

My advice on applying for a placement would be to get support from the Careers Advisors within the Student Futures team, as they can help with contacting employers and submitting applications. To get the most from the experience, ensure that you know what you’d like to find out during the placement, and have questions prepared to ask the people that you meet during your time there.

Whilst studying, I’ve worked for the University’s Schools Engagement team as a Student Ambassador, assisting with events where local schools visit the campus such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) writing retreats and the annual STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) Northants event. This has increased my familiarity with schools in the area, as well as my confidence in working with students.

During the summer between my second and third year, I joined the David Ross Education Trust as an Appointed Governor for a local secondary school. This voluntary opportunity arose through my LinkedIn profile – we’d received lots of advice about this as part of the Career Planning and Employability and Geography Plus course modules. The role involves providing support to academy leaders and challenging them on their decisions to shape the strategic direction of the Trust’s academies, giving me valuable insights into many areas of education which I previously had no knowledge of.

For other students interested in teaching, I’d suggest getting as much experience within schools and of working with students as possible prior to submitting a teacher training application.

I would recommend the University of Northampton to anyone – it’s been a very enjoyable three years!