To be gutted I got turned down by OU to study PGCE

[MrsDontDoMuch]

I’m just a bit upset, and wondered if anyone had any experience of being rejected by OU?

I work as a class room assistant and have over twenty years experience of working in schools. I have GCSE’s, A levels, a degree, and diploma in performance (ABRSM piano). I recently applied to OU to study a PGCE. I wrote what I thought was a good application and personal statement.

I’ve just received feedback that I was rejected because I did not ‘demonstrate a clear understanding of curriculum reforms’ and ‘maybe I should work on improving my GCSE grades’. I did get a C in maths and English amongst several other subjects but a D in science (my mum died when I was doing my GCSE’s) and I would have thought A levels and a degree would outweigh my GCSE grades?

AIBU to think this is just patronising feedback? I’m thinking it’s because I’m in my early 50’s and maybe they think I’m just too old? I just can’t stop crying, I really wanted to be a primary school teacher.

Ok thanks everyone for your encouraging comments. I guess I need to up my game especially in science. I also maybe need to re think my personal statement. I think my colleagues were all so nice and supportive maybe it gave me a false sense of confidence with being accepted, they’d say things like ‘you can do it standing on your head’ and ‘you’ll walk the application process’. They obviously didn’t know how rubbish I was at science! Feeling better now thank you 😊

It's probably the C-D grades. There were likely many others applying with A-C grades.

That's probably all it is.

@Piggywaspushed

Why do you want to be a primary teacher? What are your A levels and degree in?

I just really enjoy working with primary aged children, my A levels are Music, RS (don’t ask lol) and art. Degree is in music

@KirstyHasLeft

I think it's awful that something you were not great at when you were 16, can hold you back your whole life. I didn't do great at school. Lied about my grades to get into an Access course. Then did a degree and got a 1st. Just because, for whatever reasons, you didn't do your best when you were a teenager, doesn't mean you can't do great now. Also - how can one know about curriculum reforms before one becomes a teacher?

You read education articles, research papers, ask questions of the teachers you are supporting as a ta - just like you would research a company before applying for a job. You have to show interest and general awareness about teaching in your application, not just why you want to be a teacher.

I guess it's the C in Science. To be honest I think the British primary system where one teacher teaches the whole curriculum is a bit silly, as even many teachers who got a GCSE A/B in Maths and Science dont have much love for them.

The OU page on doing a PGCE states that you need a C at science for primary and a B is preferred in English and Maths but C grade would be considered in exceptional circumstances. The 60 seconds it took me to find that out is probably why they've turned you down but it's hopeful that working on your GCSe grades might lead to success if you applied again.

I should perhaps add a disclaimer that I have done some OU study and work in a school so the thread title caught my interest

If you applied for secondary music you wouldn't need the science. Do you live in an area with middle schools at all?

That's a pity, I was rejected ten years ago by uni. I had quite a lot of questions on pedagogy in my interview which totally threw me.
I went into another role in education but I've never rules out primary teaching. I think I'd do an in school training placement if I was to go for it.

@ChocolateCuddle

It's probably the C-D grades. There were likely many others applying with A-C grades.

That's probably all it is.

No it isn’t. You have to have grade C or equivalent in science (and in English and maths) for primary teacher training. For secondary you need C or equivalent in just English and maths.

I think it’s the science. I’m sure when I applied you required at least a C in English, maths and science for any primary course - it’s a government minimum requirement. And rightly so, in my opinion, some year 5/6 science is HARD now, lots of it is stuff I learned in year 9/10 I’m sure - detailed knowledge of how the heart works, evolution, inheritance, nutrient and water transport spring to mind. I have science a levels but have had to read up before teaching certain things!

OP, I’m sure if you got a D in horrible circumstances you could get a C (or a 4/5 or whatever it is now) in the next year and reapply 🙂

It’s tough when your colleagues have given you the impression you’ll walk something and then you don’t. From what they’ve said it sounds like you’d be a fab teacher, and the feedback from the uni suggests you can fix your application quite easily 🙂 good luck.

I did mine with universCanterbury through grad professional route www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/education-and-training..

If you have a degree already, is this is the route for you?

I needed a C in science when I studied, but I think the official cut off, was being born after 1979. If you were born before that date you didn’t need it.

Your A levels would only supersede GCSEs, if they were in English or Maths or Science. SCITT courses might differ.

I'm being picky, but if you are early 50s then you would have O levels or CSEs. Appreciate you may have changed some details for anonymity, but if it's ad you've posted, it doesn't add up.

I think they'd also expect you to know about curriculum reforms if you're already a TA - you'd have conversations with class teachers about basic changes at least and be aware of these? Secondary TAs that I've worked with would be aware of our exam changes and so on, even if they dont know very specific details?

Is there no allowance made for when you got those grades? Seems ridiculous that the grade for an exam sat 35 years ago can count that much.

I'm only 25 years on from my GCSEs and pretty sure I could not pass them now even though I got A* at the time so the idea they'd qualify me for anything at this point in my life seems a nonsense

It is definitely not due to your age

I did a secondary PGCE at a real university and would really recommend it. I don’t know much about the primary one but it seemed good too. I know with secondary you can do an ITT where you work in the school and train at the same time which might suit you better.

Please don’t give up OP you seem the perfect person to do it.

Wouldn't you have done O levels rather than GCSEs, and separate sciences (if any)? (Not everyone your age would even have done sciences. I'm 50 and didn't do any sciences at O level.)

@PurpleWh1teGreen

I'm being picky, but if you are early 50s then you would have O levels or CSEs. Appreciate you may have changed some details for anonymity, but if it's ad you've posted, it doesn't add up.

I was first year of GCSE changing from O level

Have a look at the Assessment Only/Straight to Teaching route with your experience and the fact you already have a degree, you would be a good candidate.

@Ellmau

Wouldn't you have done O levels rather than GCSEs, and separate sciences (if any)? (Not everyone your age would even have done sciences. I'm 50 and didn't do any sciences at O level.)

I did GCSE physics, biology & chemistry

Take a look at Access courses to higher education - one year course and then straight into the pgce

Have you looked into the school direct or SCITT pathway as you have good classroom experience you would suit this pathway well? Also would you consider secondary music as this doesn't usually require a c in science only maths and English unlike primary.