{"id":519,"date":"2026-02-18T12:09:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T12:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/enuapplyscience\/?p=519"},"modified":"2026-02-18T12:10:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T12:10:31","slug":"meet-graduate-jack-carberry-pgde-biology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/enuapplyscience\/2026\/02\/18\/meet-graduate-jack-carberry-pgde-biology\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet graduate Jack Carberry, PGDE Biology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jack graduated in 2025 and is currently completing his probationary year in Stirling.<\/p>\n

“Completing the PGDE in Biology<\/a> at Edinburgh Napier University was a really important experience that shaped me into the teacher I am today. Before starting the course, I was extremely nervous about the idea of standing in front of a class and teaching for the first time, but the structure and support built into the programme helped push me out of my comfort zone. Each module and school placement gradually built my confidence and helped me find my voice and develop my own teaching style.<\/p>\n

What stood out to me was that the course not only taught me about education theory but also how to apply that knowledge in real classroom situations. For example, exploring topics like cognitive load theory and the wider context of learning gave me a much better understanding of how pupils process information and how thoughtful lesson planning can make a real difference to pupils’ learning and understanding.<\/p>\n

I really valued the balance between theory and practice. Spending time in labs developing Biology and BGE Science teaching skills, as well as practising teaching in front of peers, giving and receiving feedback, and practising marking assessments, gave me the hands-on experience I needed. These sessions were challenging but incredibly worthwhile, and they made me feel much more prepared for teaching in real schools, especially when it came to probation.<\/p>\n

The peer support throughout the course was also something I really appreciated. Everyone was so willing to share ideas and encouragement, and that sense of community made such a difference during the more demanding parts of the year. The lecturers were also extremely supportive, and their enthusiasm for each subject and aspect of the course made a huge impact by making it a more enjoyable experience.<\/p>\n

Overall, the PGDE was a demanding but rewarding year. It gave me the confidence, knowledge, and mindset I needed to start my probationary year feeling ready, supported, and excited about my future in teaching. I highly recommend Edinburgh Napier for PGDE because it provides an excellent balance of academic study, practical experience, and personal support, all of which prepare you for the classroom while inspiring you to become the best teacher you can be.”<\/p>\n

Written by: Jack Carberry, PGDE Biology<\/p>\n

Edinburgh Napier University offers a\u00a0PGDE<\/a>\u00a0in specialisms such as Maths, Physics, English, Biology & Chemistry, both full-time and part-time.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jack graduated in 2025 and is currently completing his probationary year in Stirling. “Completing the PGDE in Biology at Edinburgh Napier University was a really important experience that shaped me into the teacher I am today. Before starting the course, I was extremely nervous about the idea of standing in front of a class and … Continue reading Meet graduate Jack Carberry, PGDE Biology<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":520,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[153,152,69],"tags":[156,114,6,155],"class_list":["post-519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-graduate-experience","category-teaching","tag-biology","tag-pgde-english","tag-postgraduate","tag-teaching"],"yoast_head":"\nMeet graduate Jack Carberry, PGDE Biology - The School of Applied Sciences<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I highly recommend Edinburgh Napier for PGDE because it provides an excellent balance of academic study, practical experience, and personal support.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/enuapplyscience\/2026\/02\/18\/meet-graduate-jack-carberry-pgde-biology\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Meet graduate Jack Carberry, PGDE Biology - 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