to wonder how the hell i am going to get some classroom experience? help me teachers!

[bejeezus]

I am going to apply for a secondary PGCE place for next September. I have contacted 3 local schools to see if I could spend some time in the class room-all have said no!

I asked to go in 1 or 2 days a week for as long as they could accomodate me (thinking I might actually become useful to them in that time?)

What should I say in a letter that will make them say yes?! is there thing I might have said that would put them off?

Im a bit stuck now, as other schools are further away, which is going to be tricky with childcare and my own school runs to do

Is this for 2013? I'm hoping to do the same, so will lurk with interest.

I've been meaning to speak to a mum at my DC's school who is a secondary teacher and ask her advice. If I see her at home time I will get some information and post later.

We always allow visits, but you wont be allowed to teach if that's what you were asking for.

Have they given a reason as to why.

I have found special schools very welcoming to volunteers, not sure if that would be the kind of experience they would look for in a candidate though.

Alternatively are you religious? I teach at madressa and a friend at jewish sunday school, we both used these as examples of experience working with children when appplying for a uni course.

You might get more luck asking in September, the schools may just not want to take anything on this close to the end of term

Does it need to be in a secondary school? I have had more luck with primary schools, seem to appreciate the help a bit more. Maybe try a year 6 class?

imnotmymum they have all said 'they cant accomodate me'
LWL Good God no, I didnt ask if I could teach!....just observe

Mogwi yes 2013..Oooo,,,yes, let me know how you get on

Rain i wonder if primary school would be ok...its better than nothing at all? I want to do science, so I would like to observe at secondary level with the labs an all

littleducks thanks, thats a good idea, Ill look into that

I would write to the head teacher of all your local, secondary schools, state, private and academies, and follow it up with a telephone call asking if you could come in to discuss the situation. Don't be fobbed off, your determination will show that you are a serious candidate.

If you know where you would like to apply for the PGCE, contact the admissions tutor/head of specific subject course and explain your predicament. They will have partnership schools (where you will do your PGCE teaching practice) that are used to having people observing etc. They will also have a member of staff who is already a contact point with the university. Those schools might be more amenable.

If you can get in sharpish, now might be a good time of year as with exam classes gone, they may have more time.

Are you offering to volunteer, doing whatever they need (whether that is washing up paint pots, reading practice, etc.) or are you asking for 'work experience' or 'work shadow'?

If you are asking for the former, they should be more than willing. Once they see your willingness to do anything, they'll ask you to do more things involved with the children.

mollymole I have really pestered the closest school-honest-emails and phone calls-no joy. Serious candidtae vs PITA, is that a fine line?!

Thanks betswy ill do that-do you think i need to wait until after septemebr, when this years bunch of PGCE people have already started??

Actually we don't allow volunteers, just visits so she would get better response at my school if she just asked for a one day visit. And sent the request the appropriate head of department.

No, I'd do it now if I were you. If they don't get back to you you can always contact them again later on this Autumn. September is always frantic as they'll have new students starting and will be teaching them 4 or 5 days a week before they go into their placements.

Good luck!

lougle i think I asked to 'observe'

shall i launch a second wave of enthusiasm on them, do you think?

got latest rejection yesterday (sunday?!) so i will be fresh in their in-boxes

I know 2 people who have recently had to do this for primary PGCEs. They both had to try quite a lot of schools (I think they needed 2 weeks observation each) before they got lucky. One had a lot of luck through knowing children at a certain school whose parents knew a teacher there.

Any family members/neighbours/friends who have any connections with secondary schools?

Also, maybe this is a bad time to be asking. Quite a busy time of term, school trips etc so normal timetables not being stuck to? Possibly you'd have a better response in September.

we don't take cold callers because we get so many, only people known to us. and those with recent crb checks.
the chances of your being useful are limited!
there are only three weeks to the end of term and its a very hectic time.
what other voluntary experience do you have? you might be able to get your background check and experience by working on a playscheme in the summer. that would put you in a good position for asking for workshadow in the autumn.
what area are you in? do you know anyone in a secondary who could get you in for a day? observation has to be arranged through leadership - it isn't a casual thing.
schools are over-run with 'wannabes'. we have associate students, observation days, ITT trainees, our own NQTs (a bit like giving a toddler a timetable - they scream, they cry, they stamp their little feet) and the RQTs (who are finally becoming useful to have around).
i would totally disagree with those who say 'pester the schools until you get what you want'. we're professionals and we are working. we don't need to be badgered by anyone. imagine being given a school on a training placement and find that your leader says 'oh, no, we won't take her, she pestered us for ages - a right pain in the bum!'

that would be 'finding'. not find.

I got my days through the school experience programme but I think it is now closed until September. I also got some days just through emailing every local secondary school (department heads not general email addresses) but I only gave the impression I wanted a day or two as without a CRB I would have needed to be accompanied which is a pain for them. Do you know any teachers? Much easier if you know someone who can help you sort it out.

In the meantime you could volunteer with reading etc at primary school, volunteer at cubs/brownies/scouting etc, at a local youth centre or with young people in your area with disabilities.

Oh and include a bit of detail in your email (cv etc) and say where and when you are applying for the PGCE so they know you are serious.

When I was looking at teaching I was working in a special school and told I had to have mainstream experience as SS didn't count so check with the course provider first.

hmm...werent you ever a NQT lovebunny?

to pester or not to pester???

its hard to do stuff in the holidays, as I work and have kids...but am thinking could pay for some extra child care and spend 1/2 day/ week in dd1s primary school

will primary school experience really help me get on PGCE/ get a way in to secondary school observation?

and harriet

I've been in this position and all the schools were more than happy for me to go in and observe. However, it was in January, February time if I remember correctly.
I do actually think it's a bit unprofessional, if that's the right word, of schools to refuse. After all, we are all learners. How else are we supposed to learn?

Primary experience won't go against you, but in addition to Secondary, not instead of.

I think it might be the asking to 'observe'. Volunteer or work experience sounds a bit better, somehow.

What area of science are you interested in? The Institute of Physics can help arrange school experience here. I would think that there are similar schemes through other science bodies as well. The IOP do teacher training scholarships too, worth looking at if you're eligible.

edu i assumed they would know what I was after?--the experience necessary for PGCE

cardreader I AM interested in Physics-excellent, thankyou-i will have a look at that. I was suprised that they turned me down, because I thought physics teachers were in very short supply and I that they would snaffle up people who want to teach it?