Dr Ruth Thompson Teachers of Tomorrow Scholarships
At Staffordshire University, we place students at the heart of everything we do, and supporting the Horizon Fund, helps support every student with ambitions and aspirations to be the very best they can be, and take a step towards their brighter future. This is a belief that echoes across our connected community - with the many donations of gift, time, and opportunities, our students have experienced the generosity of our donors and have already achieved incredible things.
One-way students are supported via the Horizon fund is through Dr Ruth Thompson Teachers of Tomorrow Scholarships, including PGCE Scholarship for the Teachers or Tomorrow, Progression Scholarship for the Teachers of Tomorrow, and the Global Teaching Scholarship.
Dr Ruth Thompson
1953 – 2016
We recognise Ruth’s exemplary and remarkable contribution to higher education as a Governor of Staffordshire University and throughout her 30-year career with the civil service. Ruth gave her wisdom, experience and time freely, acting as a mentor and inspiration to many.
With courage and determination, she made a difference, transforming lives of students by shaping and funding scholarships and bursaries, leaving a legacy for future generations.
Following the success of the scholarships in transforming the lives of Staffordshire University students training to be teachers, Sir David Bean, Dr Ruth Thompsons's husband made further incredible donations to ensure its continuity.
Sir David Bean
Following a generous legacy donation from Dr Ruth Thompson, three scholarships were created to support Staffordshire University aspiring teachers.
The PGCE Scholarship for the Teachers of Tomorrow has been established to encourage more people to take up teaching locally. This scholarship is available for students studying a PGCE, wishing to become a teacher.
The Progression Scholarship for the Teachers of Tomorrow has been established to support students within education whose aim is to become a teacher. It has been designed to assist people already working in education, for example, to help teaching assistants who want to the next step in becoming a teacher but who would need extra funds to be able to take a year out of their career to complete their PGCE.
Lastly, the Global Teaching Scholarship has been established to encourage social mobility, the advancement of learning and to invest in global education systems and practice. This award aims to provide students with an opportunity to attend a world class education conference chosen by the Institute of Education, based overseas (for example, The American Educational Research Association Annual Conference) to expand their knowledge of education systems and practice and to bring back innovative ideas to share with fellow students.
"Supporting a family whilst studying is costly, so this scholarship will relieve some of this pressure and I can buy equipment and resources to help me with my studies."
- Helen
"This funding will not only provide me with the opportunity to run the curriculum-based dance classes, improving concentration, coordination, movement, spacial awareness and confidence of the children concerned, but provide some financial assistance in numerous ways throughout the year ahead."
- Emma
"I believe that children should be provided with every opportunity to achieve their own goals. I want to utilise every moment of my time on the PGCE, and I do not want finances to be a barrier to anything that I want to achieve."
- Holly
"I aim to give back to the children I teach this year by providing them with materials to ensure each lesson is engaging and hands-on with stimulating experiences. This can be ensured through the scholarship to buy extra resources and equipment to aid in my lesson planning."
- Lucy
- Lauren
"I am a PGCE primary student, with the ambition to pursue a career in education, aiming to improve education for young children in Staffordshire. I have two young children myself and have worked extremely hard over the past few years to achieve my aspirations, including working throughout my maternity leave to continue my studies. I am strong believer that all young mums should be encouraged to go for their goals and succeed in their career and education and I am determined to show that this can be achieved.
Following my passion to succeed in making a difference in primary education, this bursary will enable me to carry out my research in a learning project, improving educational practice with a focus on the emotional well-being on young children. In addition, this generous donation will allow me to make my goals and dreams a reality, being able to support my family and to stay on track with my own education and complete my degree.
Thank you again for your thoughtful and generous donation."
- Danielle"Thanks to you, I am able to pay for resources to support my current studies and to use whilst I am at my placement school to enhance the children’s learning.
I will be undertaking a learning project which will improve/develop practice within the primary school setting. In a world of COVID 19 I feel that children and staff within primary schools may be in need of some support in terms of mental health. In order to address this issue, my aim is to implement Mindfulness activities/sessions with both staff and the children within the school. Mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind as well as reducing stress. Creating a calm environment means that the whole school community can concentrate on the most important part of school, learning.
Thank you so much again for your investment in my education by awarding me with the ‘Dr Ruth Thompson PGCE Scholarship."
- Chloe
"It is such an amazing opportunity and I cannot thank you enough. After the year we have all had, receiving an email stating I have been accepted to receive the bursary was a blessing, especially studying a PGCE in Physical Education where the standard bursary is not made available to us. As a studying mother of an 18-month-old girl, balancing the two is definitely a challenge, but this bursary has eased the stress of money that plays on my mind. The money will go towards paying for several coaching courses to be able to teach a variety of sport.
Thank you again, I hope you realise how much this will help me, I honestly cannot thank you enough and I send my best wishes to you and your family."
- Zara"From the bottom of my heart, the stress of working two jobs with personal circumstances resonating above my head. I am and always will be extremely grateful to be granted this assistance. Thank you for providing associate teachers with a lifeline, as this has been the light in a dark place of this year. I hope this generous legacy donation will continue to encourage local teachers to embark on their teaching career, as it is a valuable vocation to society and a role that can make such a substantial difference."
- Annie
"I accompanied the recipients of the Dr Ruth Thompson Global Teaching Scholarship to the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting 2022 in San Diego and saw first-hand the impact the opportunity to attend such a prestigious international conference had on these students. Over the five days the students attended cutting-edge research presentations from American and international academics, were able to meet and network with other researchers and scholars from around the world and listen to a range of international scholars disseminate brand-new education-related research findings. There was also time to explore San Diego together and enjoy some sightseeing in the sunshine. Firm friendships were established; receiving the Dr Ruth Thompson Scholarship has been for these students absolutely life-changing."
"I wanted to write to you to let you know what an honour it was to be selected for the Dr Ruth Thompson Global Teaching Scholarship. To have been chosen from amongst so many worthy candidates is hugely humbling. Although we were not able to attend the AERA conference itself it did provide me with many opportunities that I would not have otherwise had. We were able to attend a virtual address given by AERA: this provided us with information and clarity on our place as researchers and our future role in the world, and how a single person could make a difference.
Being part of the conference, even virtually, enabled me to become part of a wider community and allowed me to reflect on my own research and plans for the future. In my application to the fund I spoke of continuing my own study and I was hoping to apply for the Doctorate in Education course. I am pleased to say that I have been accepted onto the course and begin early next year. I may not have had the confidence to apply had I not been successful in receiving the Global Teaching Scholarship.
I cannot thank you enough for this opportunity and how important and valuable Dr Thompson’s legacy has been to me and others."
- Christine
"I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity that the Dr Ruth Thompson Global Teaching Scholarship Fund afforded me; the excitement and confidence boost that ensued after reading the “you have been successful” email was amazing. I applied with little expectation, and only did so after encouragement from my supervisor, Dr Gillian Forrester. As someone who is older and re embarking on her educational journey after a number of years, the receipt of such a prestigious award, with high stakes opportunities is significant.
I have taken advantage of AERA and used some of the bursary to undertake two AERA researcher development courses; how to get published and how to write qualitative research, both of which have been very interesting from an American perspective and from a researcher development perspective. This opportunity has also inspired me to submit my own paper to AERA for the 2021 conference. I would also use the bursary to fund a trip to Orlando for this conference, but again this has been cancelled as a placed-based conference already due to Covid-19 but it will be held virtually.
Thank you again."
- Jan
