Students taking part in the BP Grampian Student Tutoring Scheme will be presented with certificates of participation at an awards ceremony being hosted by BP at their Dyce Headquarters tomorrow evening (Wednesday, March 23).
The scheme encourages voluntary work by university and college students in primary and secondary schools in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Seventy-two students from the University of Aberdeen, 58 students from The Robert Gordon University (RGU), and three students from Aberdeen College have successfully completed a 14-week placement as student tutors in primary and secondary schools throughout Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
To mark their achievement, the students will be awarded a certificate from the University of Aberdeen and the scheme sponsors - BP, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Council.
Jason Flintstone, a 2nd year student in English Literature at the University of Aberdeen, will formally thank the scheme’s sponsors and share his experience of student tutoring. Jason was one of the students from the University who spent half a day for 14 weeks supporting teachers in local schools. He said: “It would be my pleasure to share my experiences with others as I feel I have truly benefited from this experience.”
Jason helped out in Auchnagatt Primary School, where he was tutoring a class of 11 primary one to primary four pupils. He added: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and feel I’ve been given an excellent opportunity. I received great support from the class teachers, Mrs Crichton, and Miss Ross to get actively involved with the pupils. They were very kind and encouraged me to plan, organise and carry out a lesson in an area I’d like to teach. I helped pupils make a go-kart from egg-boxes as part of their science and creative studies, for example. I hope this placement will help me pursue a career in Primary Teaching in the future.”
Teachers at the participating schools have also been very impressed with the work of the student tutors. Helen Milne, who is Principal Teacher of Modern Languages at Torry Academy, praised the work of University of Aberdeen student Elizabeth Doggett, who is currently in the 2nd year of a joint Honours degree in French and Hispanic Studies. Ms Milne explained: “Elizabeth Doggett has been an outstanding student tutor in the French classes and has even come in at extra times to work with second-year pupils.”
Seema Miah, Project Officer for aim 4 uni, a Widening Access Scheme at the University of Aberdeen, co-ordinates the scheme for the University. She said: “The scheme provides a valuable opportunity for students interested in a career in teaching, as they gain practical experience and interact directly with the school pupils. We have been impressed with the feedback we have received from teaching staff at participating schools, and we hope that the placements will help students with their career aspirations.”