Evie Devlin

How industry placement helped Evie achieve her teaching ambitions

Evie Devlin, from Market Harborough, has demonstrated exceptional dedication and resilience throughout her Education and Early Years T Level at Leicester College.

Having always wanted to work with children, inspired by family members who are teachers, Evie chose the T Level route because of the extensive industry placement opportunities it offered. Prior to joining Leicester College, she studied GCSE Health and Social Care at Welland Park Academy and knew that she wanted a career in education.

Gaining practical experience

As part of her T Level, Evie exceeded the required placement hours, gaining valuable hands-on experience. She thoroughly enjoyed her placement, describing it as one of the highlights of the course.

“The placement experience was one of the main reasons I applied for the T Level,” said Evie. “I gained so much practical experience.”

Excelling throughout the course

Throughout the course, Evie consistently received outstanding feedback from her placement settings, which praised her professionalism, commitment and ability to support children's learning and development. The practical experience helped to boost her confidence, develop her awareness of the education sector and prepare her for a future career in teaching.

Alongside her placement, Evie excelled in her coursework, Employer Set Project and examinations. She also completed a First Aid qualification as part of the programme, further enhancing her practical skills.

Standout moments

During the course, Evie successfully achieved her GCSE maths qualification after previously missing the required grade by just one mark and having a paper re-marked. However, she persevered and ultimately achieved the result that she needed. Her maths teacher praised her positive attitude, determination and commitment to her studies throughout the process.

Evie's hard work and professional approach were also recognised by universities. She received offers from all five universities to which she applied and after careful consideration, chose to progress to Sheffield Hallam University to study Primary Education.

Reflecting on her experience, Evie said: “The T Level gave me so much more experience than I expected. It really helped build my confidence and prepared me for university and my future career.”

Recommending the course

Evie would recommend the course to anyone considering a career in education, social work, nursing or related professions.

“Exams can be stressful, but it's definitely worth sticking with it. The practical experience you gain is invaluable.”