Anyone quit a PGCE course recently?

Morata_

I’m seriously considering walking away, just want to understand the £££ involved and how student finance go about getting the debt back?!!

Do you have to go in to Uni and have a formal meeting or am able to leave on with a email?

Thinking of leaving for mainly personal reasons.

Thanks if anyone can help.

MataNui

Can i ask why you are thinking of leaving? It can be a thoroughly miserable time doing a PGCE. I thought of quitting many times. Actually It was more thoughts of a massacre in the staff room but me being pig headed me i stuck it out to the end (Just to complete and qualify. Wouldnt set foot near a school again).


Most of the RE course quit though. Think only 3 or 4 (or some small number compared to the 20+ who started) actually finished.


The main reason it seems was also why i almost went (as did a few others on my course) was bullying. Generally by mentors.


#Edit#
Not meaning anything by asking. Its just that from what i remember of my time doing a PGCE the main reason for people wanting to leave was problems with the schools (generally bullying) though obviously other personal reasons may come into play. If it is an issue with the school then i can guarantee others will be going through similar and may be able to offer some support.

DCFC79

Speak to the uni, explain why you want to leave (dont have to go into detail, just say its for personnal reasons) I suspect SFUK will take the money from you via your monthly wage if you earn a set amount.

Marcon

Have you read the answers already given to your identical question a few days ago: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?p=74826032

Morata_

Yeah, my mother put that thread up, I decided to post myself here.

Personally...

Anxiety is killing me. (Struggling with change, new groups!) I have struggled with and without Drs/medicated help!

Feeling immensely overwhelmed

Lack of motivation around learning the NC which I don’t understand. I was advised to do Primary when I’ve never been in a Primary class before (my choice!!) as advised by plenty that it’s a better career choice!

Feel really unhappy.

Thanks for reading and your suggestions.

(With mortgage and a family, I’m also really concerned about paying the £££ debt back as I’ve heard SFE ask for lump sum!!)

Marcon

Morata_ wrote: »

Yeah, my mother put that thread up, I decided to post myself here.

Personally...

Anxiety is killing me. (Struggling with change, new groups!) I have struggled with and without Drs/medicated help!

Feeling immensely overwhelmed

Lack of motivation around learning the NC which I don’t understand. I was advised to do Primary when I’ve never been in a Primary class before (my choice!!) as advised by plenty that it’s a better career choice!

Feel really unhappy.

Thanks for reading and your suggestions.

(With mortgage and a family, I’m also really concerned about paying the £££ debt back as I’ve heard SFE ask for lump sum!!)

Does sound as if you've let yourself be pushed around and possibly pushed into doing this. You don't sound as if you have a burning ambition to be a primary school teacher!

The other threads posted by your mother have provided the relevant answers on finance and your university could also clarify if you talk to them, so I guess it's now a case of deciding how you want to proceed.

Me2you

You would be better of deferring the course due to mental health issues, which you have, and deciding if you want to do it next term.

System

You can just withdraw from your course. Your tutor will try and keep you on, so it will take a few weeks. You may need to talk to the Dean too - it's all to try and tempt you to stay as a lot of students kick themselves down the line when they've withdrawn. They will possibly want to talk about the support they can offer.



Be careful, the student loans company may ask for your first loan payment back. They are cracking down on fraud now and just wont accept students taking the money and then quitting...this used to happen a lot. Talk to them first to make sure.


Also, this is possibly the last year of funding for HE you are about quit. Everybody gets four years worth of funding (3 for your degree including 1 aborted start - which you have used for your PGCE), so you may never get the chance to study again - worth considering too.

seven-day-weekend

I withdrew from a PGCE course in the 1980s, due to feeling overwhelmed, mentor bullying and choosing the wrong age group. I realised later that teaching was not for me at all.

I had to pay back my student grant, for the term I had not completed (it was paid per term).

I think I just told the Uni it wasn't for me. They suggested changing my school, and other things, but I was adamant I just wanted to leave.

I wish you well in whatever you do.

McBec

Have you thought about seeing if you would prefer secondary teaching?

In general primary teachers will always recommend teaching primary and secondary teachers will always recommend teaching secondary.

Different skills. I have no idea how primary teachers manage all day but then I'm a secondary teacher and have no wish to work with younger students.

It is a big decision to leave. Make sure that you won't have any regrets if you do.

I would speak to your adviser before making the final decision, they will be able to offer advise and it may be that with a bit more support you will feel that this is the correct choice for you.

pinkshoes

I NEARLY quit my PGCE for secondary science.

OMG it was so stressful!! I had such an awful first placement with a mentor that didn't offer much help, and the specialist teachers were part time so too busy to help when they we actually in!! The essays were also challenging given I finished school and uni a long time ago!

I also had a 1 year old to deal with who hated his child minder.

I had to get sleeping tablets, very nearly gave up, but my stubbornness got the better of me and after a much better second placement I completed it.

I am now in my 6th year of teaching, work part time at a relatively nice school, and have a good work life balance (3 kids now!).

Perhaps it would be worth you switching to secondary??

You need to ask yourself why you thought about teaching in the first place.

Yes, it IS a hard job, some kids are just tw*ts, the workload in term time can be immense, but in the long run I get 13 weeks holiday with my kids, and can do planning and marking when my kids sleep.

(Yes, it is friday night, I have a LARGE glass of wine and a pile of marking. But looking forward to playing with the kids tomorrow!)