Adam Willets

Willets AdamBSc Sport, PE and Coaching Science

“I knew I wanted to get into PE teaching, and SPECS is a great course for building not just the foundational knowledge required, but also holistic practices that I use in my teaching now.”

I stayed at the University of Birmingham to complete a postgraduate PGDipEd with QTS Physical Education, which I will be finishing this summer! I've secured a job in Redditch teaching Secondary PE.

Why I chose Birmingham

UoB provided me the opportunity to learn from world-class experts in their field, alongisde competing in a sporting community that achieves some incredible accolades. 

I knew I wanted to get into PE teaching, and SPECS is a great course for building not just the foundational knowledge required, but also holistic practices that I use in my teaching now.

As a city, Birmingham is a vibrant and busy place, something that I wanted to experience first-hand. It has an excellent night life too, which helps!

What skills/knowledge did you develop at Birmingham that helped you to follow your career path?

UoB challenges you to become a research-informed indvidual, someone that can critically evaluate the world they see ahead of them. It has made me a more independent and confident person, both in my studies but also my wider life. As a coach and teacher, my course helped me realise the barriers that many people face into living healthy, active lives, and the unique ways we can combat these.

What advice would you give to current students studying on your degree programme?

Enjoy it! Take time to enjoy the things that make you unique. There are numerous great clubs and societies to get involved in, as well as wider-university opportunities to find. Birmingham is a great city so take time to explore it! It has a great nightlife so don’t be afraid to go out and about. 

Degree wise, work hard to stay on top (catching up isn’t fun) but don’t overwork. It may seem hard at times to stay on top of things but being proactive here and there will help. When studying, going to lecutres, seminars, or reading, put 100% in, so that you can relax more the rest of the time.