Daniel Small

Hi, my name is Daniel and I’m studying BSc (Hons) Physical Education and School Sport at Hartpury.

Why I love Hartpury

What I love most about Hartpury is the environment. Hartpury is situated in a slightly more rural environment than most other universities.

One of the best things Hartpury also has to offer is the staff, who are very welcoming and friendly, looking to get to know you as an individual rather than just a class and their willingness to help you succeed and push the limits.

Hartpury continues to support students who have progressed on from university and maintains connections with students, which provides a sense of belonging.

Hartpury helps you to find and choose something you enjoy doing, whilst pushing you to reach your limits and go beyond to succeed in your chosen career.

Lots of communication has been provided to help students deal with any concerns and approach towards Covid-19 through weekly email updates and regularly testing at onsite facilities.

Everyone enjoys practical sessions

A typical day at Hartpury as a student on the BSc Physical Education and School Sport course consists of attending lectures both online via MS Teams and face to face, with roughly a 50/50 split in current circumstances with the Covid-19 pandemic.

These lectures cover topics such as Curriculum Studies, Sport and Exercise Psychology, Sport and Exercise Physiology, The Sport and Exercise Professional and the beginning of your journey towards a Coaching and Teaching Portfolio. Within lectures, many topics will arise, and discussions regularly take place to consider everyone’s viewpoints and ideas.

Throughout the day, as well as lectures in the timetable, multiple hours are spent taking part in face-to-face practical sessions, often in the new multi-million Sports Academy sports hall or 3G turf pitches.

The practical sessions are what everyone enjoys and look forward to most in the week. Within these sessions we can apply theories and skills we have learnt in lectures to create and exercise our own lesson plans.

After conducting our lesson plans, we will critically evaluate and reflect upon how the session was presented, to continually develop and improve in various ways, gaining a deeper insight and understanding to the role a teacher would play in a school.

Making connections

Alongside lectures and practical session, we adventure out into the workplace and make connections with numerous businesses and companies, volunteering and helping in the community.

Hartpury offers an Innovative, Careers and Enterprise centre to help promote and enhance your working profile with support on interviews, CV writing and much more.

Also, we undertake job placement roles at schools or sport events to express what we are learning in the degree into a working environment, in preparation for leaving university and gaining a job in the sector.

I have already been able to secure a job position working as a Sports and Outdoor Activities Teaching Assistant at an International School.

Inside and outside of Hartpury, we are encouraged and have the opportunity to take part in additional courses relating to our future career, such as first aid training, safeguarding courses, national navigation awards and sport activity courses.

Plenty of enjoyable activities

During my free time, there are many things still available to keep you occupied, such as hanging out with friends, trips into Gloucester and Cheltenham, or exploring the Forest of Dean and Cotswold area with some amazing sights, which is one of my favourite things to do.

On campus, there is a study lounge and library area dedicated to university students, as well as Legends Bar to watch sports and get food and drink, or alternatively to pick up a coffee at Red and Black café.

If you are looking for something slightly more active, the sports pitches are available for training and exercise, or you can explore the grounds of the campus, such as the animal, equine and agriculture areas.

Hartpury is well-known nationwide for producing some of the best elite athletes. Multiple teams are available to join, such as netball, rugby and football, and you may choose to access the on-site gym.

Training occurs several times a week, and matches are played on Wednesdays, with regular social events organised too.

Due to the current pandemic, teams have still been able to bond virtually via MS teams and athletes are provided with training routines that can be completed at home.

Alternatively, if elite sport is not for you, there are recreational sport activities organised each week through Hartpury Active.