Secondary PGCE?

[TheAmyrlin]

I'm considering doing a PGCE and am trying to find the best option. I've noticed Teach First getting bad reviews on another thread. Does anyone know anything about School Direct?

[TheAmyrlin]

Anyone?? I would be doing MFL at secondary, but could also apply for English- the main problem in that would be no bursary! Has anyone any idea which way is best: GTTP, teach first, School Direct or Standard PGCE?

TIA

[Shente]

Schooldirect is the new thing and the idea is that all other options will be phased out. It is run differently by different schools, in some it's almost identical to pgce in others it's more like the old gtp. At the moment not as many schools are involved as had been hoped so you may struggle to find a place, it may also have teething problems being so new so I would choose pgce for a 2014 start. I would definitely avoid teachfirst - does it even exist any more?

[TheAmyrlin]

Thanks for info. I mentioned Teach First as I had seen it on another thread. It will definitely be 2014 start. I've just got to decide whether to take the plunge and leave current employment!

[mumandboys123]

you don't need to leave your employment until you have got on a course, surely?

what is best surely depends on your personal circumstances and what you consider suits you according to your experience and expectations?

Are you wanting to be an English teacher and hedging your bets applying for MFL? I think that might raise a few eyebrows. Could be wrong.

[TheAmyrlin]

I've got an interview next week for a place on a School Direct PGCE. Am excited but also very nervous.
The interview is split into four parts: 1-2-1 interview, group discussion, pupil interaction and written task. Has anyone got any idea what the written task would be?
Thanks

[yangsun]

Perhaps a "what if" scenario or "how would you teach a year 7 group about ..." if your doing mfl it could be a written piece in target language. These things can be just to check you can write correctly and competently. Have you had a chance to spend some time in a couple of different schools? It would give you things to base answers on at interview and different approaches to discuss. Where are you in the country? Good luck

[TheAmyrlin]

Thanks yangsun.

[fourcorneredcircle]

When I did my written task for MFL in 2008 I had to write about what I thought made a good MFL teacher - thus was followed by a target language interview question about Why I would be a good MFL teacher. I would advocate the PGCE route - it is still the course that most people (future employers) understand best and so they will know best what to expect from you as an NQT.

[MrsYoungSalvoMontalbano]

Definitely recommend PCGE over School Direct PCGE. I am doing the latter, and it is a complete shambles. I will complete the year and am on track to get the PCGE qualification and QTS, (and have secured NQT job for September - not with the school I am in, but through normal application process from advertised job on TES) but 'normal PGCE would have been easier. Do you not get a bursary this for MFL? Mine was 20k, this year, but 9k was on fees to the university which did b all...

[TheAmyrlin]

I do, but will have to get a student loan for the fees as the bursary will cover my current wages.
I think the interview was ok....didn't feel like I'd completely screwed up, so just have to wait and see now. Though have just found out I've got an interview for a PGCE at a RG university. Think they might have made a mistake in asking me!!

[MrsYoungSalvoMontalbano]

Go for the PGCE - you will get better value for your fees. Those on my course have not got anywhere near what the PGCE students get for the same money - its almost as if it's a ransom payment that the university extracts to give its stamp of qualification - we are all intending to ask for a partial refund at the end!

[maclover]

To those of you making observations about your university fees: if you are on a Schools Direct programme, a significant portion of those fees goes back to the school. The university will retain a portion (I believe about £4,000 is typical) to cover a variety of costs, including validation but also the cost of processing applications and registration, access to the library, quality assurance etc. The remainder of the fee is paid to the school. The fees are paid to the university in the first instance because of the links with Student finance and student loan companies. Schools cannot engage in this process, so it has to be done through the university. However, they do not get to keep all of the money! Hope that helps.

[MrsYoungSalvoMontalbano]

The University took the money, so that's the entity we will be seeking compensation from. Up to them if/how they claw it back from schools.

[MrsYoungSalvoMontalbano]

The library 'service' is haphazard, and as to 'Quality Assurance' - they've hardly assured that, have they?

[maclover]

I'm not quite sure who you feel is responsible here - You seemed to be affronted that all of your fees have gone to a provider who you feel have not provided a service or value for money. I just wanted to highlight that the university doesn't retain all of the fees, but that the scheme is run like this because of the way that student finance is organised and processed.

I can't speak for your provider - the library 'service' might be haphazard (but the books don't come for free) and I know nothing about their QA. I would be interested to know the grounds on which are you going to seek compensation therefore?!

You seem to suggest that the university has been a poor provider, yet are encouraging other posters to pursue a PGCE as that seems to offer better training. If the training provision has been poor, then surely the main training provider (the school) is responsible, not the university?