Q&A with Mohamed Sailaa
Mohamed Sailaa is a Mathematics and Secondary Mathematics Teacher Degree Apprenticeship BSc (QTS) student from the UK, class of 2029.
Why did you choose your degree at UCL?
What stood out to me about an apprenticeship was that I’d be able to work in a school (which I know I would love) at the same time as getting my degree. I was keen to build hands-on skills and get into the classroom as early as possible in my career. Additionally, I was excited to choose to study in a city I’ve lived in my entire life.
What are your course highlights?
This degree provides an excellent balance between work and study. I attend university lectures two days a week and then spend three days a week working in a school, getting hands-on experience.
The highlight of this course is definitely being able to immediately apply my off-the-job learning to a real school environment to make a difference from day one of the course.
There is no feeling quite like a student who you've been working with one-to-one finally understanding the concept you've been teaching them. Every single time I hear the words "thank you, Sir" from a student, I am reminded of the genuine impact I'm able to have on children's lives every day.
I’ve also loved that in the first four months of this course, I’m constantly learning, which is just brilliant. UCL is a brilliant university with a very diverse community, and I’m proud to be a student here.
What are your career goals?
In the short-term, I want to continue working at my current school as a maths teacher. Going forward, I would love to take on more responsibilities. I’m leaving my options open, and I would love to take part in curriculum design or even taking on a head of year role. In the long-term, I am aiming to work in senior leadership, and hopefully one day be a headteacher myself.
What is it like to study in London?
Studying in London is brilliant because you meet so many different people from a wide range of diverse backgrounds.
UCL is in a really good location with many tube and train links and plenty of nice places to eat out too!
Sum up your UCL experience in three words
New, exciting and interesting.
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