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.

Op look at other ways into teaching - with your level of experience a pgce prob isn't the best use of your time. There is assessment only routes that your experience would be ideal for, also look at subject knowledge enhancement courses you can do as cpd!

Speak to your schools about doing supply as unqualified teacher

@memberofthewedding not in education, you have to produce all your certificates as part of the Safer Recruitment vetting process before you start. It's a bloody pain when you don't move job very often and have to remember where they are within the loft.

It’s also attention to detail- you missed out an obvious statement on their acceptance page, which could make them question your ability. Sorry if that sounds harsh.

Even for Assessment Only, the OP needs to meet the entry requirements which are common to all routes.
Suggesting ways round it is kind but really not helpful.

@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 thought the same I’m 50 and my school year was the last to do cse/gce and O Levels.

There is not a Science requirement for the Scottish primary PGCE. I looked into this last year, as I also have the English and Maths marks that I need, but not the Science marks.

Brush up on what you need and apply again next year!

OP you seem to have a romantic view of what it's going to be like being a teacher, if you can't even get the application form right!

www.gov.uk/find-postgraduate-teacher-training-courses
It looks like you can ask for ways to provide equivalent qualifications to a C in GCSE Science.

This is bizarre.

You have a year before you can apply again.

So either sit the Science GCSE again, and apply in England again.

Or apply to do the PGCE in a UNI in Scotland, where you need your English and Maths GCSE's, but the Science GCSE is not asked for at all.

If you really want it, try again!

OP, did you do any research before applying?

@JingleCatJingle

www.gov.uk/find-postgraduate-teacher-training-courses It looks like you can ask for ways to provide equivalent qualifications to a C in GCSE Science.

This is bizarre.

It's all there in black and white, OP. I'm really puzzled as to how you could get such an important thing wrong.

*Primary and secondary postgraduate teacher training
You’ll need the following or equivalents:

a degree
grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths GCSEs
grade 4 (C) or above in GCSE science if you want to teach primary
If you do not have GCSE grade 4 (C), you’ll need to show that you can meet an equivalent level. The training provider may ask you to take an equivalence test or show other evidence of your ability*

How on earth did you not notice this?

I was nearly going to apply to do a PGCE, but I heard about how hard the career was, and I was unsure.

Umbivalent, I think that Scotland don't ask for a GCSE grade in Science at all, to apply for primary. Only English and Maths. Isn't it interesting how they are different that way,

Has anyone on here done the PGCE? What was it like?

@Sarahtrue11

Umbivalent, I think that Scotland don't ask for a GCSE grade in Science at all, to apply for primary. Only English and Maths. Isn't it interesting how they are different that way,

But presumably OP is applying in England. And yet somehow thought the required grade was a D?

@umbivalent.

Yes, more research would have helped her.

I have. I have also run teacher training courses for a SCITT and a university, and mentor trainees in school.
It's bloody hard work to train and to teach. But it's the best job in the world.

I do remember checking the grades carefully when I was thinking of applying, but I can see how the process might be confusing, if you are going back to education after a long time

I applied to do a PGCE after graduating from a good university, I have 9 GCSEs grades A-C, 3 A-levels at ABB and an A/S level grade A, also grade 8 piano. I was turned down because I have C in GCSE Maths and B in English - they wanted them the other way round! I was also really upset, I understand how you feel. It was a long time ago now - I'm 44 now, and I didn't do anything about retaking my maths GCSE.

So go and up you science grade and apply again.

@Sarahtrue11

You have a year before you can apply again.

So either sit the Science GCSE again, and apply in England again.

Or apply to do the PGCE in a UNI in Scotland, where you need your English and Maths GCSE's, but the Science GCSE is not asked for at all.

If you really want it, try again!

But I don’t know if Scottish teaching qualifications are transferable from Scotland to England. I know my English qualification isn’t.

@MrsHamlet I am glad you are enjoying it! I nearly applied for a PGCE, but then lots of horror stories about teaching put me off. I thought, would I be able to do it. But I suppose if I had been really committed to the career, I wouldn't have let the stories put me off. I guess it is not meant for me.

Wow, that’s harsh @Glitterblue

@EastWestWhosBest I don't know about transferring the PGCE from Scotland to England,

But I do know many people personally, who have done the PGCE primary in Scotland, and who then went back to Ireland to work as primary teachers, so it was transferable between countries.