Julie Coombs, BA Theology and Religion 2007, PGCE in Religious Studies in 2008.
Julie completed a BA in Theology and Religion in 2007, before going on to complete a PGCE in Religious Studies in 2008. She is currently studying a Masters in Education and is currently a Head of Faculty at a school.
“The content of the Theology degree, along with the fact that you could choose the majority of your modules, meant that you could focus on key areas- either those of interest or those you knew you would need at a later date. This has helped in my teaching practise. Teaching is a fantastic job - every day is different as you never know what the students will come out with next. The fact that we're educating the next generation is amazing- inspiring a love of your subject in them is the most satisfying feeling.
Without doing Theology I would have found it very difficult to get accepted onto the RE PGCE and from there get an RE teaching job. The PGCE really prepared us for what working in a school would be like - it has just the right amount of independence and support to ensure that you flourish.”
Anna Munro, BA Theology, 2001
Anna graduated in 2001 with a BA in Theology. She currently works as a Programme Manager for The Children’s Society.
“I don't know if my degree in itself did [help to secure my first job] but I think what it taught me about people, relationships and tolerating difference has been fundamental to what I do now. After graduating, I went to work in the voluntary sector, with people from the UK and abroad who were volunteering, I was also saving up for my therapy training. I then moved to work for The Children's Society (TCS) to set up and run a Lottery funded project working with children missing from home in Birmingham. It was a lot of child protection and safeguarding work with some of the most vulnerable children in the city and my therapy training which I was continuing was instrumental.
During this time, I set up a private therapy practice. When my funding ended, I continued my work with TCS, moving to a project working with Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children across the West Midlands. I now manage all of The Children's Society's refugee and new migrant work in the West Midlands with a particular interest in mental health and trauma. I never have two days the same and get to meet some of the most inspirational young people and workers in the City - we work with a lot of young people and families who can be incredibly hard to like sometimes and who are in unimaginably difficult situations and yet somehow survive. I am constantly reminded that there's always an explanation for challenging behaviour and that positive relationships with workers who really care and go the extra mile can be transformative.”