Studying with the Open University...

OoOGazOoO

Hi all i just wondered if any of you could help me with some quieries please.

I want to do a degree with the OU whilst working at the same time.

I want to become a PE teacher for a secondary school, so i need something to be relative to being a PE teacher or Science based, when choosing the course, according to the OU.

I realise there is the PGCE to complete afterwards, but that is fine.

Has anyone here gone down the same route to become a PE teacher, and if so, what course did you choose? ? ?

Many thanks.

Oldernotwiser

I would be interested to hear if anyonehas gone down this route for Secondary PE teaching as I can't see that many OU courses would be appropriate for it, unfortunately. The Science Foundation would certainly be the place to start, but I can't really see what you'd study after that.

morg_monster

Found a list here
http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/search/showmeDegreesquals.shtm
And these are the things my naive mind thinks may possibly qualify:
child and youth studies (well you'll be working with kids...)
health studies (sciency maybe but specific to the human body i guess)
life science (seems very general and there'd be some biology in)

Apart from that, the only thing I can think of that is even slightly relevant would be something related to food - HE, food technology, even dietetics or something like that... but there's nothing like that on the list. Guess its too practical for the OU.
There's also a foundation degree in sport, fitness and health - but not a full degree.

Oldernotwiser

The foundation degree seems the most suitable and you can top it up with relevant units. Most PGCE courses say that your first degree should be at least 50% in sport related studies although there can be some flexibility for those who themselves play a sport at a high level.

I would suggest that you look to the future and contact the university where you think you'll be likely to do your PGCE. They'll be able to advise you on their entry requirements and suitable subject areas with the OU, after all, they're the ones you're going to have to satisfy eventually.

By the way, you do already hold GCSE (Grade C or better) in English and Maths,don't you.

OoOGazOoO

Thanks for the advice all.

The foundation course seems similar to a personal training course i have already done. I do hold GCSEs in English, Maths and Science to C grade or above, yes.

surfsister

OoOGazOoO wrote: »

Thanks for the advice all.

The foundation course seems similar to a personal training course i have already done. I do hold GCSEs in English, Maths and Science to C grade or above, yes.

would you need the foundation course?

Someone I know just off to do a pe teacher degree and what they wanted was lots of sports instructor type experience as well as Maths/English at GCSE (a definite!) also she did some work in schools to help with experience.

Good luck

Oldernotwiser

surfsister wrote: »

would you need the foundation course?

Someone I know just off to do a pe teacher degree and what they wanted was lots of sports instructor type experience as well as Maths/English at GCSE (a definite!) also she did some work in schools to help with experience.

Good luck

It's not a foundation course, it's a Foundation Degree! Perhaps helpful to think of as being similar to an HND, a valid course in its own right but possible to "top up" to a full academic degree by extra study.

Oldernotwiser

OoOGazOoO wrote: »

Thanks for the advice all.

The foundation course seems similar to a personal training course i have already done. I do hold GCSEs in English, Maths and Science to C grade or above, yes.

Having read surfsister's post, I wonder if you are also confused as to the difference between a foundation course and a Foundation Degree? If you have a look at www.findfoundationdegree.co.uk you'll find a full description about the purpose and validity of these courses and how you can "top up" one of them to the academic degree you'll need for teaching.

surfsister

well the lady I know is off to a London uni to do her pcge Pe teacher degree i thought you meant to get on the pcge course what was the best to do? Hope it all works out for you, yes I know foundation degrees myself as they do them at my uni for people who can't get onto a full degree course, mostly quite easy.

Oldernotwiser

surfsister wrote: »

well the lady I know is off to a London uni to do her pcge Pe teacher degree i thought you meant to get on the pcge course what was the best to do? Hope it all works out for you, yes I know foundation degrees myself as they do them at my uni for people who can't get onto a full degree course, mostly quite easy.

Your last point displays as much ignorance as your first. "Her pcge Pe teacher degree" Now that's a new one!