Aled discusses his time as a PGCE Secondary Economics and Business Education Student here at Manchester.

Life on the PGCE is very busy but hugely rewarding. You’ll spend most of your time on placement in a school in Greater Manchester. Here, you will have a subject and professional mentor who will help guide your teaching and help you to perfect your practice. The first few weeks of this are a complete whirlwind, and will be unlike anything you’ve done before. One thing I would say is to wave goodbye to the days of lie-ins and snoozing your alarm. Your PGCE will be very busy, but you’ll look forward to waking up in the morning, as every day is so enriching (it’s a cliché I know, but teaching truly is the best job in the world). 

Intermittent days are spent at the University during the course. You’ll really look forward to these days as it gives you the opportunity to catch up with course mates and learn more skills . The University itself is beautiful and bursting with life. If you’re looking for somewhere to go and study for a couple of hours, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Museum Cafe on campus, which is always quiet, and has a cake selection to die for!

But no matter how busy you’ll find the PGCE, there are other aspects to life too. So what can you do for fun in the city? Manchester has a thriving culture and arts scene. Packed with theatres, gig venues and cinemas, it is quite literally bursting with life.

If you’re into theatre I would recommend the Royal Exchange, one of the most beautiful theatres in the UK, who regularly put on productions of plays and musicals both old and new, and if you’re under 25 you can get tickets for just £7. If you want big west end productions from Mamma Mia to the Book of Mormon, check out the Manchester Palace and Opera House theatres, with tickets starting at just £13, you can see big west end shows for a fraction of the price.

If you’re into Music, there’s something to suit all tastes in Manchester. If you enjoy seeing smaller and more independent bands, be sure to check out what’s on at the Deaf Institute and Manchester Academy, which is situated inside the Student Union. Or if you want to see bigger global pop stars from Taylor Swift to Billie Eilish, be sure to see what’s on at the AO Arena. 

There’s also a wealth of great cinemas – both independent and chains in Manchester. HOME is a really cool independent cinema which shows more art house films, or if you want to see a good blockbuster, check out Vue in the Printworks, where all tickets are just £5. 

And of course, if you’re into your sport – from cricket to football, Manchester, the home of two of the biggest football clubs in the world – is the place for you. 

And if that’s not enough, and you’re looking for something exciting to do during your half term, there are also many exciting cities less than an hour by train. Check out Leeds or Liverpool for shopping, sightseeing and sport. 

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