In pursuit of Health, Wealth and Happiness

archersluck

Ooh Tete that's so exciting, so pleased you might be able to find something which uses your languages I'll be following your diary x

Tete_en_l'Air

Thanks Archers!

Kittikins

Hello Tete, great start to a diary and wow! We're pretty similar......I'm going to be applying for Primary PGCE with MFL to start in 2013 as well!

As I've got a 2:2, sadly I won't be able to get a bursary for 2013 entry for Primary courses and as I won't have a job after the end of October due to redundancy, it's going to be tricky, but I'm up for the challenge

This bit really resonated with me: "And as I said, it's something I always said I'd never do so it's taken a lot of thought to come to the conclusion that I actually think I might enjoy it. It's funny as teaching seems to be seen as something you've either always wanted to do or something people do as a back-up ... but I'm sure plenty of people like me realise as they grow older that it's something they feel they could be good at."

Dinah93

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Ah Dinah you sweetheart :kisses3:

There are some primary PGCEs tailored to languages but not everywhere does them. I'm not sure yet which uni I'll apply to as you only have two options (it's a bit like UCAS - you get a first and second choice) and I need to research which I feel I have a better chance of getting into.

I actually have your Mum down on my list of Teachers I Know (:o - you know I love a good list!) but I didn't realise she was a deputy head. I will certainly bear her in mind as I need some classroom time - do you think that would be possible?

As for Mr Right - I've actually not been hunting for a while, and I feel more relaxed about the situation at the moment. A couple of my friends have fallen pregnant a few months after having a baby and it's reassured me how quickly a family can happen and I'm not actually that old! Tell me more about your friend.

I'm not actually that fit anymore, plagued with running injuries but hoping level one will be OK! How's the blog going?

Are you looking at uni's in commuting distance or moving away to study? Spoke to mum, and she says yes it's very possible, if at any point you want some work experience I can give you her phone number, or she's on facebook.

My friend is I think, a perfect for you. 30 (I think, may be 31), a complete gentleman - always open your car door, ask what he can do for you etc, cultured (last time I went to see him we went to the Baltic and for dinner) but he's in no way stuffy, he's very sharp and has a very quick wit. He will have you in stitches and wondering where the evening went. He likes to walk, paid up member of the national trust. He's very sociable and well liked, but he doesn't like drinking to excess, clubbing etc, just always out round his mates (who are all married with kids so he once joked he's always the godfather never the father). He wants to be married, settled down etc, but he won't settle for the wrong fit. He writes short stories, and quit his job in 2010 to spend a year writting to see if he could get anywhere with them. Unfortunately he got a few published, but not enough to make a living out of, so he went back to being an advertising manager. Lives at home with his mum who he's extremely close to, and who is currently battling breast cancer, his dad lives in Darlington and is recovering from cancer (I think, certainly serious illness). Downside is he's 5"11 (possibly even 5"10), appears to have forgotten to eat since his mam was diagnosed where he used to be a very healthy build, and lives in Newcastle.

Pleased with the blog, hoping to write up my first recipe tonight or tomorrow, but I feel so rubbish it may not happen.

Tete_en_l'Air

Hi Kittikins! Wow, great to hear from someone in the same boat - but gah! I have a 2:2 too - so I guess no bursary for 2013 then? So annoying, wish I'd done an easier degree, honestly I know people who can barely string a sentence together who have a 'better' degree than me! Well I was kind of prepared for that. I guess I'll look into finance options then, not sure I can get s tudent loan as it's not an UG qualification - basically everything is going against me. Oh well - I'm still smiling I read on someone's sig on here that if you want to do something you'll find a way, if you don't you'll find excuses. So what stage are you at with your application? Have you any classroom experience? I really am at square one!

Dinah, yes I was hoping to stay at home - the two I'm sort of looking at are Newcastle and York but someone told me that they want you to live within 20 miles so that you can ensure you'll be able to get to the placement schools. I was always under the impression that you could choose your placement schools, so I could commute to a semi-far uni for the few weeks they have taught lessons, then work at a school closer to home. Again something I need to look at more closely.

Alternatively there's the on-the-job training scheme being brought in for people who graduated more than 3 years ago, it's new so details are sketchy but they pay you £15k to work as a TA whilst studying, I think it takes a bit longer, but you still come out with QTS and if you're being paid then duration shouldn't matter too much... Lots to think about.

What does your friend think about you trying to set him up with random girls off the internet??

Igamogam

*de lurking*

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Hi Kittikins! Wow, great to hear from someone in the same boat - but gah! I have a 2:2 too - so I guess no bursary for 2013 then? So annoying, wish I'd done an easier degree, honestly I know people who can barely string a sentence together who have a 'better' degree than me! Well I was kind of prepared for that. I guess I'll look into finance options then, not sure I can get s tudent loan as it's not an UG qualification - basically everything is going against me. Oh well - I'm still smiling I read on someone's sig on here that if you want to do something you'll find a way, if you don't you'll find excuses. So what stage are you at with your application? Have you any classroom experience? I really am at square one!

As far as I know you can get a student loan for a PGCE. There is talk of PGCEs going to to 2 year courses after 2013 - well in my home town university thats the talk - inside knowledge;)



Alternatively there's the on-the-job training scheme being brought in for people who graduated more than 3 years ago, it's new so details are sketchy but they pay you £15k to work as a TA whilst studying, I think it takes a bit longer, but you still come out with QTS and if you're being paid then duration shouldn't matter too much... Lots to think about.
Graduate Training Programme. You need to find a university that will supervise it and a school that will take you on. My TA has taken this route and starts in Sept but she aint working as a TA.... she is right in at the deep end with her own class and one day a week in university but yes getting the 15k non qualified teacher pay

* back to lurking*

N.I.M

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

I have a 2:2 too - so I guess no bursary for 2013 then? So annoying, wish I'd done an easier degree, honestly I know people who can barely string a sentence together who have a 'better' degree than me! Well I was kind of prepared for that. I guess I'll look into finance options then, not sure I can get s tudent loan as it's not an UG qualification - basically everything is going against me.

Tete I'm kinda sorta in a similarish position, crappy degree and considering retraining at the moment, I've possibly found a back door or two in terms of funding etc so don't be too disheartened just yet. Bad news will knock you back and I've had a few doors shut in my face but I pick myself back up and go at it again...and it seems to be working.

Sorry to be kinda vague at the moment but I don't want to jinx things before they start happening.

And just fyi on this friend of D's, I get a lil nervous when she goes to see him cause I'm worried he'll manage to sweep her off her feet and steal her from me. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Except he's not like that, too nice and genuine.

Dinah93

I've a friend who just finished a primary PGCE in York in July, I'm sure he'd be happy to chat with you about how he found the course. I know for a fact he got a student loan or grant or something, as his wife only earns about £14,000-£15,000 and they wouldn't have been able to pay the mortgage, bills, her commute etc if he hadn't.

I'd say it's a bit daft if you have to live within 20 miles, trains are pretty good at running in all weathers, and it's been a rare day when the A19 or M1 is impassable due to snowfall. Plus a lot of placement schools are all over the place, I know my friend's new job is at one of his placement schools and that's an hour and a quarter from his house. I would think it's a lot harder to get to village schools in bad weather than the centre of York or Newcastle. Besides apply from your own address, get in, they're not about to kick you out because you can't 'sell your house' or 'dad needs me at home for health reasons' - I think it's possible your friend may have misunderstood somewhere.

Ah he trusts my judgement, although he has been a bit resilient in the past to the notion of blind dates - I pointed out to him that if he doesn't go anywhere other than friends houses for dinner/christenings/weddings/work/night class he's unlikely to meet miss right if he hasn't already and will never get to have one of those weddings or christenings as his own.

Tete_en_l'Air

Hi Igamogam (where did THAT username come from?!) - what I'm talking about is SchoolDirect which I think is the new version of the GTP - more details are going to be available October, so the aim for September is to find out more about the PGCE route - applications need to be more or less in by mid-November for that anyway. Don't lurk too much you sound like you know a lot - are you a teacher?

NIM - intriguing, I'm sure your blarney charm will see you ok soon tho (and, you know, intellect and skillz)! This is just what I've been talking about though - if it was just something I was toying with I'd probably already have given up because it's not easy (certainly not as easy as it was 5-10 years ago) but because you know what you want, you try to find alternative options.

Yeah D it's annoying about the 20-mile thing but it might not be a widespread rule (it was the careers advisor that said it actually!). A friend of mine did hers at Durham years ago and got both placements here - but now Durham are insisting on a 2:1 (she only had a 2:2 -languages again!- for a secondary PGCE) so it doesn't look like an option.

Maybe this fella is one to think on then...

Dinah93

No rush, if you want to meet him at some point just give me a yell.