Greetings,

It's not very game-related, but I have a question for my colleagues across the pond:

My sister is looking to do a semester abroad in England, but we don't have much idea of schools there.  She's looking for early education (elementary/primary school-level) with emphasis on music education and history.  Anyone have any recommendations?  Her school has exchange programs already in place with Kent, Salford, Sunderland, Cardiff, Napier, UCLAN, Chester, Strathclyde, and Ulster, but there is flexibility for other options.  Any thoughts on what might be a decent place to look would be awesome.  Even general tips such as "this school is rubbish" would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Maurice

I went to University at Chester, it's a small enough cmapus that it feels quite intimate, but large enough that it has all the facilities one needs; Chester itself is a pleasant small city, with a fine sense of history everywhere you go - the remains of the walls of the Roman fort that once stood there still run round parts of the city centre, many of the buildings in the centre are quite handsome Tudor ones, and there's the Cathedral.

I can't comment on the other Cities or Universities, but I hope this info helps you out!

I did my teacher training at Reading Berkshire.

I was told (by other teachers) that it is a good university for teaching.

Not sure about her specialism though, mine was in science.

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Somebody I went to school with dropped out of UCLAN when there car was set on fire.  

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I did my physics degree at Reading.

It's not a bad campus, very pretty as it used to be the gardens of some old marquis or somethng. I'm not sure about how it is for teaching but the towns pretty decent with alright nightlife and london's a 25 min train journey away. Only thing I have to say is that it can be a little pricey compared to other places further north.

Other nice campus's I looked around were exeter and york but again I know nothing of their quality in regards teaching.

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You see a mouse trap? I see free cheese and a f*cking challenge! - Scroobius Pip

I can't really comment on any of the institutions, but know a few of the areas well. I'm from near chester, live in Manchester (which Salford is just outside) and have some familiarity with kent (my ex is from there).

Is it Kent or Kent at Canterbury university that she would have the option of going to?

Personally I'd say that of the places she could go to Chester (the city) or Canterbury (hence asking which kent university) are probably the most historic cities she could go to. Canterbury also has the bonus of not being too far from London on the train.

I can very much vouch for Manchester as a great place to go socialising too.

I can’t comment on how it might be for that particular course but Cardiff is a good university and city generally. I’ve lived and studied there for 4 years now and plan to stay there ongoingly. It’s a good size of city, with enough pubs, clubs, shopping centers, etc, for there be plenty to do, whilst it still being small enough that you can walk to places (albeit sometimes a long walk) rather than needing transport to get everywhere. It has a very large and well regarded Students Union with regular gigs and nights out and a couple of hundred different clubs and societies you can join, so lots of social possibilities and opportunities to try new things. There are some nice parks close to the university and rural areas and mountains half hour away by train with lovely beaches down the Gower Coast around an hour's train away. I’m not familiar with any of the other universities / places you mention though, the only other university I have studied at is Hull and I wouldn’t recommend that.

Small world.

I did my Physics at reading, then went on to do a GTP a few years later.

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Tyranid air marshal

Goldsmiths in London is according to the teachers I know apparently quite sought after (seemed to do my sister fine for her Primary school training). Canterbury seems to supply  lot of the teachers for its locality. Teacher training in the UK for Primary and Nursery education though seems to be far more local than secondary, so people look for proximity as well as standards, with the expectation you will learn most of it in the classroom anyway.

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Im currently doing my degree at Reading and can agree with the good campus comments etc

One of my house mates is studying teaching and music there - she seems to enjoy it and does a lot of placement work in local schools as part of the course.

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Damn.. I did my PhD at Reading! Small world indeed.

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Wow really smal world but then how is it I never managed to find anybody to get a game in against   !!!

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You see a mouse trap? I see free cheese and a f*cking challenge! - Scroobius Pip

Well based on my observations last year, everyone at the Reading uni roleplay/wargames soc plays 40k with badly painted marines, warmachine with unpainted minis or runs about LARPing  

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I joined but was rather put off by the goff vikings.

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You see a mouse trap? I see free cheese and a f*cking challenge! - Scroobius Pip

Thanks very much for the responses Gents, I'll update you on the decision-making process