Coby Thompson-Knight
Current Employer/Organisation Name
The Cooper School
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
After finishing my Masters remotely due to Covid I became a Teaching Assistant at a secondary school as I wanted to see if working in a school was for me. I then began a Teaching Apprenticeship which led to me achieving QTS. I will begin my second year as an ECT in September 2023.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I consistently scored highly during presentation based assessments so I knew I had the some of the skills needed for teaching. I also wanted a rewarding career which made use of the knowledge gained on my course. I enjoy building relationships with the students and then using these relationships to change their opinions on science. It’s a great feeling when you leave a lesson knowing you have given students new knowledge and skills!
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
I found the modules on sexual selection and sperm competition to be the most interesting. The Kenya field course was the highlight, especially learning about the symbiotic relationships between ants and acacia trees.
What did you enjoy most about studying here?
I studied at the Penry Campus, so I most enjoyed living in Cornwall and the laid back lifestyle. I also enjoyed how my teachers were some of the top academics in their fields and were active researchers.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
I wanted to study at a Russel Group university and the field courses offered at Exeter are incredible. I also instantly fell in love with the Penryn Campus!
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
Interacting with a range of people through group work and field courses. Presentation skills gained through assessments.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
Anyone can train to be a teacher, anyone can qualify as a teacher, but not everybody will last as a teacher. Have a good think about why you want to be a teacher and see if you can gain experience working with young people in a school environment to test the water.
What are your plans for the future?
I have recently taken on a role supporting students with SEND within science as I belive that anyone is capable of being a scientist if we can remove the barriers.
