Pgce

Connologs

In September I am starting my third year of a four year Primary Ed degree.

All I can say to you is to get as much experience as you can do, in as many different age settings and types of school. I am lucky, through the very nature of my course (being four years nsolidly focused on Primary Ed) I am going to experience different settings, but this is going to be limited in your PGCE year as you only have one year in which to do it!

This will also be important for when you come to look for a job, particularly in Primary. Try and get experience in an inner-city school, special school or work with children with SEN or EAL.

In your personal statement, explain why you want to teach. Teaching is a vocation, and I am sure you will have good reasons for wanting to do it. Did teachers inspire you? Why do you want to teach? Ask yourself what makes you different from the other candidates - it is the same as if you were going for a job in a school, you have to make yourself stand out.

I am not up to date with PGCE's, but do they specialise in an age group, such as early years (3-7) or junior years (7-11)? The reason I say this is because it is vital you experience the alternative one as well as doing your PGCE in one of them.

Doing what I am doing in four years in one year obviously means it is all going to be crammed in, and obviously some things won't be covered in as much detail. It is as much about thinking about how you can ultimately get a job as how you can get onto the PGCE programme.

One final point - when you are invited to an interview, don't be shy! Primary school teachers have to be prepared to make fools out of themselves. Put yourself forwards if they ask for a volunteer, or be prepared to speak if they ask for a presentation. I have worked in schools as a TA before starting my degree, and whilst doing this, as well as on teaching practices, I have had to dress in all sorts of funny costumes (sometimes in public! LOL), and generally made a fool of myself - much to the children's delight.

Good luck!

Tom

lucylollipop

Get plenty of practice, keep trying to get more and more classroom experience, and remember that places at a lot of uni's are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis after interviews. It says the closing date is December 1st (that was this years date - it may not be next years!), but the earlier you can get your application in, the better it will be for you - especially with primary, which is incredibly competitive. Same as when you applied for your degree, try to arrange visits to the uni's before interviews take place - even if just for the practical reason that you won't get lost, and therefore be late, on the day!

In your statement, explain why you want to teach, and the qualities you have that you think will make you a good teacher - again, an awful lot like the UCAS applications, it's not about telling your life story, it's all about selling yourself

As you're still at uni, contact their careers office, they should be willing to help you with your application, and read through your statement and help where possible - even though term hasn't started yet, if you find an email address, chances are, someone will reply

Good luck!

ultimatedingbat

Hiya,
Theres a couple of reasons I want to teach:

1) I had some amazing primary and secondary school teachers who got me through some dark days. I was bullied when I was a kid and without them I wouldn't be here. THey made me achieve when I didn't want to

2) I love working with children. It gives me such pleasure to watch them develop and grow.

3) When I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my future, it was working in a school that made me realise you know what I could do this, i love doing this. Yeah i love my degree but i get more enjoyment from working with children than seeing my name in print.

4) I Want to share skills that I feel are dying out like music. So few schools seem to offer singing lessons etc (Something i am organising this year)

Gleeful

If the idea of teaching a group is terrifying to you, are you sure you're on the right career path?!

Anyway, I've just completed my PGCE, in Secondary. I'd say go for it, it's hard work, but worth it. Also, please bear in mind that primary jobs are tough to secure.

Kate78

To the OP - I would post your original question on the TES forums also - https://www.tes.co.uk

Does your Students' Union have a student volunteering section? They sometimes have links with local schools for mentoring schemes which are a good way of getting a flavour of schools.

You will be surprised how some things have changed since you have left school, even if that's only a few years.

PGCEs do tend to specialise in Primary or Seconday (and subject area for secondary) but both confer QTS which qualifies you to teach in either. Anecdotally, it is generally considered easier to move from Primary to Seconday than the other way round.

kajstring24

ultimatedingbat wrote: »

Hey all
I am applying for a PGCE this year, nervous as heck but wanted some advice from someone who's done it before.

Are you applying for the PGCE starting in 2011? Because August is pretty late to apply and you may not get on for this academic year. Anyway, I've just qualified as a teacher after doing my PGCE so I'll just pass on what I've gone through

ultimatedingbat wrote: »

Personal statement - Not sure what to put in this, struggling a little as I have recently changed my career ambitions. SHould I say this in the personal statement?

I can't quite remember what I did for my personal statement, but I am writing supporting statements for jobs right now, and the thing I've learned is to big myself up. It's not in my nature to be big headed, but you need to try and make your application stand out from the rest. Of course, with applying to get onto the course you just need to make sure you detail what you've done in relation to the course, and link it to WHY you'd be a suitable candidate. With regards to the 'change in ambitions', make sure you keep it positive, why did you turn to teaching? What attracted you to the profession? This is quite important, especially if you have little experience and if you get an interview you may be quizzed on this. I often section my letters into the following:
Skills and knowledge
Experience and
Personal qualities.

The personal qualities is a biggie imo - what sort of person are you? Why does that make you a good teacher? Dedication, commitment, organisation - how do you personally demonstrate these? Are you a good communicator? What about social skills? Give the university and idea of the sort of person you are and what you aspire to be, draw on personal experience too.

ultimatedingbat wrote: »

My degree is unrelated as it's in Journalism (this is the career change) but have no qualms admitting while I love my degree the job isn't for me.

I did a PGCE in music with someone who had a degree in English, someone else had done drama, so don't worry too much about that. What I have found is that the university want to make sure you have the skills necessary to fulfill the requirements of the assignments you'll have to do. If you're lacking on any subject areas they may ask you to complete a subject booster course.

If they quiz you on that then it's fine to be honest about why you had a change of heart, a lot of people on my course did the same, just make sure you get across WHY you chose teaching.

ultimatedingbat wrote: »

When do applications open?

Like I say, you may be too late to get onto courses for this academic year. By all means, apply now and you may get on. I applied in July and found that many course were full or had already closed. If you have missed the deadline then apply for next year as early as possible so that you are sorted and super organised for the next year, which will give you the time to swot up on any necessary subject knowledge and the National Curriculum (read it and form your own opinions on what you think works or you might change - critical thinking is a must have skill for the PGCE!).

I hope this helps, I haven't read the whole thread so I may be repeating or contradicting other people, but if you have anymore questions then I'll be happy to help! It's a hard year, but so fulfilling and well worth it, I love teaching now and can't wait to start my NQT year in September!

kajstring24

Gleeful wrote: »

If the idea of teaching a group is terrifying to you, are you sure you're on the right career path?!

Anyway, I've just completed my PGCE, in Secondary. I'd say go for it, it's hard work, but worth it. Also, please bear in mind that primary jobs are tough to secure.

To be fair, I struggled with nerves in the early stages of my PGCE and would get the shakes if I had to teach in front of my fellow students. But by the time I'd finished my 1st placement the nerves had gone and I had no problems. It's just different with everyone, but nerves like that are certainly normal if you ask me, just as long as you can overcome them, which with practice anyone can.

In addition, I'm no expert on Primary PGCEs as I did secondary - I've been told that primary schools will snap your hand off if you have skills in music, it may differ depending on what part of the country you're in, but the OP's grade 5 and GCSE in music will be a huge benefit and should be bigged up.

slummymummyof3

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That's a bit of a generalisation. The general rule for primary teaching is that at least 50% of your degree should be a national curriculum subject and some universities are very inflexible in this respect. Offering substantial experience, as the OP does, can be one way round it but this won't work everywhere.

I was not inferring any degree will get you in to do a PGCE but cannot see a problem with a journalism degree as afterall it covers a multitude of English work.

Not familiar with the general rule for primary being 50% of your degree being a national curriculum subject - perhaps I was an exception to the general rule then when I did my PGCE. I also teach in FE and HE (in addition to primary) and have not found this to be the case with our students.

Oldernotwiser

slummymummyof3 wrote: »

I was not inferring any degree will get you in to do a PGCE but cannot see a problem with a journalism degree as afterall it covers a multitude of English work.

Not familiar with the general rule for primary being 50% of your degree being a national curriculum subject - perhaps I was an exception to the general rule then when I did my PGCE. I also teach in FE and HE (in addition to primary) and have not found this to be the case with our students.

Where I used to work as a Careers Adviser there were two local PGCE providers. One looked carefully at a degree's content before making a decision but would probably have had little problem with the OP's degree. the other was absolutely rigid and wouldn't have considered her. Any institution is perfectly free to make its own policy on issues like these.

Although places no longer state the 50% requirement, it's still usually preferred, although appropriate A levels ( as the OP has) are now considered an acceptable alternative.

Gleeful

kajstring24 wrote: »

To be fair, I struggled with nerves in the early stages of my PGCE and would get the shakes if I had to teach in front of my fellow students. But by the time I'd finished my 1st placement the nerves had gone and I had no problems. It's just different with everyone, but nerves like that are certainly normal if you ask me, just as long as you can overcome them, which with practice anyone can.

In addition, I'm no expert on Primary PGCEs as I did secondary - I've been told that primary schools will snap your hand off if you have skills in music, it may differ depending on what part of the country you're in, but the OP's grade 5 and GCSE in music will be a huge benefit and should be bigged up.

I did Secondary Music too! I did find it's not quite the 'shortage' subject that the TDA would have you believe. I'm one of the lucky 50% of my course who have secured a job.

I loved my interview teaching lesson. I treated the interviewer as I would a pupil, and I think it helped me get onto my course.