Balancing Sports and Study: Rugby Player Leah Tarpey's First Year at Portobello Institute

Hi, I'm Leah, and I’m a rugby player for Leinster and Ireland. Alongside my sporting career,
I’ve just completed my first year of the BA (Hons) in Physical Education at Portobello
Institute and what a journey it’s been so far!

Why I Chose Portobello Institute for Physical Education

As someone with a passion for sport and performance, I’ve always known I wanted to
pursue a future in physical education.

Coaching rugby has made me realise how much I enjoy helping people improve and understand movement and sport and it made sense to explore that further.

I chose Portobello Institute because their blended learning option fits perfectly around my rugby schedule.

I needed a college that would fit around my playing schedule and still give me a proper qualification, and Portobello offered exactly that.

The blended learning option meant I could study online at times that suited me, while still getting
plenty of support from tutors and classmates.

As a brand ambassador for the college, I get the chance to share my experiences while earning a degree - an opportunity I’m incredibly grateful for.

Between playing rugby at the highest level, coaching on the side, and starting a degree it’s been a busy year, but it’s worked, and that’s mainly down to how the course is delivered.

A Day in The Life of a Student Athlete 

A Recap on First Year

We covered six modules in Year 1:

● Applied Pedagogy 1
● Contemporary Issues in PE
● Professional Practice in PE
● Physiology
● Psychology
● Human Movement 1

Each module had a bit of a different feel. I enjoyed the Psychology and Physiology ones a
lot, probably because they linked closely to what I already deal with in high-performance
sport.

Pedagogy and Professional Practice were also interesting, especially from a coaching
perspective.

They got me thinking about how to teach better, not just how to coach.

Blended learning means most of your classes are delivered during evenings and weekends and recorded if you need to catch up later.

For my degree, some practical classes are mandatory to attend in Dublin, these prepare you for your work placement and gave me a chance to spend time with my classmates in person which I really enjoyed!

You know about these in-person days in advance so you can plan to fit them into a busy schedule.

My School Placement Experience

One of the highlights of the year for me was completing my first school placement, which is part of the course requirement.

We had to do 20 hours across a full week, and I spent mine teaching PE at Sacred Heart School in Tullamore, an all-girls school that’s close to home and even more special because my two little sisters go there.

I got the chance to teach classes myself, which was a big step but one I really enjoyed.

It gave me a real taste of what it’s like to manage a group, plan a session, and adapt on the
spot depending on the energy in the room or the space available.

I also got to shadow Ms. Bryant, one of the PE teachers there, who was amazing to learn from. Just watching how she handled different situations, built a rapport with the students, and kept things flowing smoothly taught me a lot.

What stood out to me was how much the girls engaged with PE when the lessons were
well-structured but still fun.

It reminded me why I want to go down this path in the first place - to make sport and movement something young people enjoy, not dread.

By the end of the week, I felt way more confident in my ability to stand in front of a class and lead.

It confirmed for me that teaching is something I definitely want to pursue long term. I’m
already looking forward to the next placement and building on what I learned.

Study, Sport, and Staying Organised

Fitting in study around rugby and coaching wasn’t always easy, but it was manageable. The
course layout helped a lot.

Lectures were recorded, deadlines were clear, and I could plan ahead when I had matches or travel coming up.

The tutors have been really approachable too, they are quick to reply and genuinely helpful.

One of the best things this year has been our class group chat. It’s been a lifeline at times - whether it’s checking something about an assignment, sharing notes, or just encouraging each other.

Everyone’s in the same boat, and we all want to do well, so it’s a supportive group.
Even though it’s mostly online, we’ve built a great connection.

The class is full of like-minded people, most of us are involved in sport in some way, and we all want to pursue postgraduate studies to go into PE teaching or coaching.

I’ve made proper friends through the course, which has made the whole thing way more enjoyable.

Looking Ahead to Second Year

Now that first year is done, I’m confident I’ve chosen the right path.

In Year 2 I'll be studying these modules:

• Curriculum Models 1
• Professional Practice in PE 2
• Physical Education Teacher Education 1
• Research Design
• Human Movement 2
• Principles of Applied Sport and Exercise

I'm excited to learn even more about physical education and deepen my knowledge.

The degree gives us a solid foundation to apply for post grad PE teaching qualifications in Ireland or the UK, or even continue with further study. It’s also awarded by Liverpool John Moores University, which gives it real weight.

I’m looking forward to second year already. I’ll still be juggling rugby along with my studies but I
know I can make it work, and I’ve got the right support around me to do it.

If you’re thinking about studying PE and need something flexible that still challenges you, I’d definitely recommend checking out what Portobello Institute offers. It’s been a great fit for me so far.

Follow @leahtarpey_ and @portobelloinstitute on Instagram and @leahtarpey__ and @portobelloinstitute on TikTok to follow my progress!