Teaching career is child’s play for Hannah, thanks to Foundation Apprenticeship
Inspirational teen Hannah Magill helped pupils find their voice during her Foundation Apprenticeship.
She played a key role managing a Primary 1/2 class, providing tailored support to four children with Additional Support Needs (ASN) and building a strong relationship with a non-verbal child who was eventually able to say her name and several other words.
The 18-year-old, of Portlethen, Aberdeenshire, also shared her passion for music with them, designing and delivering engaging lessons that introduced pupils to orchestral instruments and music theory.
The experience at Fishermoss Primary School, in Aberdeenshire, helped her complete her Foundation Apprenticeship in Social Services: Children and Young People and secure a place on the Primary Teaching course at the University of Dundee.
Former St Margaret’s School for Girls pupil Hannah said: “Doing the Foundation Apprenticeship really boosted my confidence and communication skills – I went from being shy and timid to being able to teach a whole class and hold conversations with pupils and staff easily.
“My research skills improved during the apprenticeship, and I gained lots of knowledge about how children develop, process information and how their brains work, which definitely helped with my university application.
“Teaching the children to sign Silent Night and seeing the confidence it gave them inspires me to look for the hidden talents in everyone.”
Hannah attended North East Scotland College (NESCol) twice a week, successfully combining her theoretical knowledge of child development and inclusive practice with her practical experience in the classroom.
She won NESCol’s Foundation Apprentice Childcare Student of the Year 2025 and also completed Advanced Highers in Spanish and Music.
Foundation Apprenticeships are working for Scotland, providing pupils with the skills employers need and offering industry insight to gain a work-based learning qualification from SCQF Level 4 up to the same level as a Higher.
North East Scotland College Curriculum Manager Catherine Macintyre said: “Hannah’s Foundation Apprenticeship provided the ideal opportunity for her to put her career aspirations into practice.
“The apprenticeship has shaped Hannah’s future by giving her clarity, confidence and a confirmed sense of purpose for her future career.
“Hannah has a real passion for her learning and was always proactive, well prepared and organised - she is a real star.”
Fishermoss Primary School Class Teacher Helen Sang said: “Hannah is a natural teacher and was loved by everyone at our school.
“Apprenticeships are a great way to give young people an authentic experience of work at an earlier stage of their learning and can help confirm career choices.”
Hannah’s passion for teaching and learning have led to her being a finalist in the Foundation Apprentice of the Year category at the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards in association with SP Energy Networks.
The awards take place on 26 February as the launch event for Scottish Apprenticeship Week (2 to 6 March). Find out more about the award finalists and the event by visiting apprenticeships.scot/awards.