Hanna-Non Cordingley Opens Doors to Opportunities through Education Studies
Hanna-Non Cordingley has just graduated from the Education Studies: Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Course at the University of Wales Trinity St David. For Hanna, this degree is more than a qualification; it reflects a personal journey of discovering her strengths, building her confidence and her skills.
Hanna comes from Llansamlet near Swansea. She decided to study in UWTSD as the University offered the course she wished to study through the medium of Welsh, something that was very important to her.
As a student, Hanna said there were several highlights associated with the course, including guest speakers coming in to share their experience and knowledge with students. She also liked that her work was assessed in various ways and was not dependent on essays alone.
According to Hanna, the course was about more than learning about education, as it opened doors and prepared students for a number of different jobs. She added:
“The course is a great way to get to know about techniques and learning styles, and the way to adapt them for children with additional learning needs. You can also choose your own topics when working on some assignments, and therefore, you can research and learn about specific things that interest you.”
She said that the course had helped to develop essential skills through receiving additional experiences in various schools and institutions. She managed to work as a classroom assistant with an agency, alongside her course, which enriched her understanding and wider context of the educational sector.
Hanna says the support she received from her tutors has been amazing.
“They were so ready to support, offer suggestions and share any possible guidance. There was a real feeling that the tutors wanted you to succeed, and they were willing to do what it took to make it happen. They gave clear feedback which was easy to understand, and gave the opportunity for us to discuss any challenges and look for a way forward to improve.”
Helen Griffiths, one of the lecturers and manager of the Education Studies programmes though the medium of Welsh said:
“Hanna’s success is an excellent example of what the Education Studies programme and other similar programmes offer. It is not just about learning – it is about discovering strengths, building confidence and creating new opportunities. Offering the course through the medium of Welsh ensures that students can develop academic and professional skills without losing their cultural identity. In addition, the personal support from the programme tutors and support specialists is key to this success, working closely with students in order to encourage and guide them on every step of the journey.”
The course has succeeded in developing Hanna as a person as well. She said:
“Personally, I have learned that I have the ability to do what I need to do, but sometimes I need to adapt what works for others for my own purposes. While studying the course, I discovered that I have ADHD and dyslexia, and the course has helped me to discover different techniques which work for me by learning about them in different modules.”
“Professionally, it has prepared me to write in several different ways and has taught me how to present things in a concise way when needed.”
The course helped to grow her passion for social work and special needs education, and in the future, she would like to work as a social worker dealing with disabilities, or work in a team which supports children who have experienced terrible traumas and give them a voice in society.
Further Information
Lowri Thomas
Principal Communications and PR Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: lowri.thomas@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07449 998476