PGCE Cambridge - anyone did it? Where did you end up for teaching practice?

[Nickname1980]

I would like to do the early years PGCE at Cambridge. But I have a young family and I don't live in Cambridge, I live about an hour away. I have spoken to them about this, and there are special allowances for people who aren't local sometimes. So the fact that I'm not local doesn't mean an absolute no.

After posting another thread about PGCE hours a year ago, I decided to wait until my kids were older as the hours seem too crazy and I don't want to miss out on my kids when they're little.

But, if you did one (especially interested to hear the primary / early years people's experiences), what were your hours like? And where did you do your teaching practice? Do they partner with any London schools? II really want to go there (if I get in anyway!) above anywhere else I've seen because I was really inspired by the set up and the staff.

[goingmadinthecountry]

I went about a million years ago. My school was Manor Community College, a local housing estate comprehensive. Set me up well for my first couple of jobs. Others were all over the place from village colleges in leafy villages to Saffron Walden and St Ives. No-one I knew was placed as far away as London. As I said, it was many years ago!

[goingmadinthecountry]

Was secondary then btw. Have now made the move to primary and love it!

[Ilikesweetpeas]

I think Harlow in Essex was the furthest when I was there. I was at cherry Hinton and a few in Cambridge itself.

[WaitingInTheSky]

I did one teaching practice in St Ives, one in March and one in Cambridge itself, on the housing estate by the airport.

I seem to remember them being quite accommodating when finding placements for people. It was a very long time ago though.

[spike1709]

I did a secondary pgce there 5 years ago. I l wanted to live at home (about an hour away in herts) and they were really helpful about placing me at schools in hertfordshire. I suppose it depends if they have any partnership schools near where you live. I just applied and the brought it up at interview.

[Nickname1980]

Thanks everyone! This is super useful info! I'd be looking for partner schools in London (if they have any) which is much further away...