The university is proud to support PGCE Graduate Nicholas Borge and his involvement in GibSams and St Bernard’s Upper Primary School’s Cultural Award-nominated ‘Buddy Bench’ initiative and mural to encourage kindness and friendship amongst the St Bernard’s pupils.

The Bench’s concept was posed to each student, who were then encouraged to submit their designs for the Bench. The Bench’s design was then taken on by talented volunteer artist, Naomi Duarte, to select and amalgamate four students’ designs, one from each year group. After finalising the design and securing the relevant permissions with the support of the school’s Elaine D’Amato, the Bench and accompanying mural were painted by Ms Duarte using materials donated by GibSams.

When asked how this initiative has impacted the students he has been teaching during his PGCE year, Nicholas replied: “This project allowed me to instil the Bench’s principles in the class I taught during my PGCE. I also had the gratifying opportunity to share these teachings with the entire school through the lessons I prepared and year-group presentations I gave during the school’s Wellbeing Day. Many students expressed a thorough understanding of the Bench’s purpose, and I observed instances where students actively supported others who had been on their own in the playground”.

• Postgraduate

  PGCE

  Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

  The course has been designed and delivered in partnership with the Department of Education in Gibraltar and seeks to provide students with the opportunity to become effective teachers in the education profession.[...]

  1 Year

  Yes Placement option

  Full Time

  View Course