Teaching placement advice please

busiscoming2

Hi
I am after some help please. My ds1 is just starting his final year of an International Poliitics degree, he has decided he will then apply to do a PGCE to enable him to teach in a secondary school.

He is going to write to his former school to see if he can do some work experience there. Could anyone please give us any advice as to what to include in this letter. I know he obviously needs to state his degree and intentions, but wasn't sure whether to attach a CV (only had one Saturday job before uni) or tell them about hobbies etc?

Any help gratefully received.

Oh and anything not to mention!!

MrsManda

Are any of the teachers who taught your son still at the school? If so it may be worth calling the school or actually visiting in order to establish some personal contact as presumably the reason he's applying to his old school is due to personal history?
I'd definately mention that I'd attended the school during X dates and as he would like to become a teacher himself he'd be grateful if the school would allow him to undertake couple of weeks work experience so he can observe and help out in classes

minimoneysaver

Does he have any experience with children? He really needs to be putting that sort of thing on his CV.

busiscoming2

MrsManda wrote: »

Are any of the teachers who taught your son still at the school? If so it may be worth calling the school or actually visiting in order to establish some personal contact as presumably the reason he's applying to his old school is due to personal history?
I'd definately mention that I'd attended the school during X dates and as he would like to become a teacher himself he'd be grateful if the school would allow him to undertake couple of weeks work experience so he can observe and help out in classes

Thanks, and yes there is one teacher in particular he had thought of talking to first, but he isnt sure whether to write to her or phone or just send his letter to the head.

busiscoming2

minimoneysaver wrote: »

Does he have any experience with children? He really needs to be putting that sort of thing on his CV.

No he hasnt.

MaidMarianofNottingham

It would look better on his PGCE application if he had work experience at a different school and not the one he attended.
Can he network among his former teachers for possible contacts at other schools?

weanie

Experience of a school environment as a volunteer or as a paid worker such as a support assistant is usually a vital part of a PGCE application. I would suggest that the best school to approach is the one where your son has been a pupil. Schools like to track successful ex pupils. I would advise your son to approach a selected teacher face to face. This teacher can advise how to approach Senior Management. It is quite a big time commitment to to take someone into the classroom and into the life of the school and it may be dismissed as a simple letter. There are cost implications for the school too - they will need to pay for your son to be CRB checked and they will need to provide someone to induct him and mentor him and to generally organise what he does and when. This person may well also be the one who he will ask to support his application with a reference for the PGCE application.
When he begins - tell him to be better than punctual always, to never chew gum, to adhere to the dress code, to be mindful of confidentiality, to arrive with a notebook and pencil, to make a daily diary to assist his interview for PGCE, to read and become familiar with any documents [school policies/department policies] that he may be given, to seek out opportunities to offer assistance instead of waiting to be directed, to speak only positively about other staff and most importantly leave a big box of biscuits and a nice card in the staff room when he leaves!
Good luck.

lucylollipop

A lot of schools won't ask to see his CV to do observation work or voluntary work - as long as he explains to them that he is looking to go onto a PGCE, many schools will be willing to let him come in for a couple of days to see how it all works. He'll also want to be trying to do observation work in more than one school if possible - preferably different types/standards of school, if that's possible.

As he's still at uni, he may be worth going along to his careers department (probably part of Student Services), and ask them to help him out, they'll probably know which local schools support this kind of work, and may be able to point him in the direction of some voluntary placements working with children, either in or out of school. They'll also help with his application, which, if he wants to start his PGCE next September, he needs to be starting work on very soon! Even though uni probably hasn't started back yet, he will most likely be able to email the careers department, and get an appointment booked with them for early in the term, and they may be able to help him out before term starts.


Good luck to him

payless

http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/experienceteaching/jointhestudentassociatesscheme.aspx

a scheme aimed at undergrads to get experience in schools prior to a PGCE.. and it pays as well

busiscoming2

Thanks for your help, I shall pass it on to my ds.

Oldernotwiser

What subject is he planning to teach? International Politics isn't going to be an appropriate subject to offer.