PGCE and Part Time Job

[thismanythoughts]

Hi

For some context I'm 21 live my parents, I'm starting a PGCE soon, My Mum has occasionally asked over the summer if I'm looking for a part time job and obviously now it's too late to get one just for the summer. I'm pretty sure it's not recommended to work alongside doing a PGCE, what's the best way to make it clear to her that I'm not getting a part time job?

‘Don’t worry, mum. I can afford to support myself and pay you rent’.

I really really wouldn’t recommend a part time job alongside a PGCE unless you physically need the money to survive. It will be very intense and you just won’t have time. I know people train whilst raising children but they really struggle and are permanently exhausted. Just say to your parents that it is very intense and you will be on placements and it isn’t recommended to get a job alongside training.

It would be virtually impossible whilst do your PGCE! I did one and it's great, but all of your free time will be spent doing planning and coursework, it really is very intense. Often you will be working on planning until late evening and most of the weekend so really there wouldn't be much chance to work.

Ignore the first poster BTW, they clearly have no idea. Most people use their student loan to support them through.

Does she understand the nature of the PGCE and how you are expected to treat your placements like a full time job and go above and beyond? You’re only ‘in uni’ for a few weeks.

I did a part time job and a PGCE, about 16 hours outside of work in the service industry. Worst year of my life, but I had to do it support myself as my loan wasn’t enough.

It’s very hard to get a job whilst doing PGCE as others have said. It might be ok when you’re in uni but on placement you really need to focus on your planning and learning to be a teacher.

Presumably you will be entitled to a student loan, though at your age it will likely be tied to your parents income (even if you don’t live with them), with the expectation that your parents will support you if they earn well. When I did my PGCE there was a grant/bursary given regardless of income - I got about £4K but some secondary subjects got £9k. Is this still a thing?

There was absolutely no way that I could’ve handled a job alongside my PGCE. I found it utterly exhausting. However, I worked every hour that I could in the summer beforehand in order to save money. Is there a reason why you can’t work over the summer?

@HappyTimeTunnelDinosaur

Ignore the first poster BTW, they clearly have no idea. Most people use their student loan to support them through.

Actually, as a teacher, I have a very good idea.

It is possible to do part time work alongside a PGCE but it really isn’t recommended. A PGCE is all consuming. It will suck up as much time as you can give to it and then some. Most people use savings and the bursary to support themselves.

The OP’s mum might thing her daughter is being a lazy bugger by not working and saving before starting. She might be right or she might be wrong. However, knowing that the OP has a plan and a budget might allay her fears.

Not many 21 year olds get to live rent free and board free so I am assuming that the OP is paying something, even a token amount, to her parents. If her mother is satisfied that will continue, she might stop asking about her plans to find a job.

*I said bursary, I meant bursary or a student loan

I agree with people above, it’s a full time course.

But maybe your Mum just needs some acknowledgment and a thank you. And that it will be worth it in the long run.

Good luck!!

It’s odd you’ve not worked all summer though? Presumably Uni finished May ish. I never worked term time but worked every hols to build up a buffer. You’ve got at least 3 weeks before Uni starts you could probably get work through an agency starting tomorrow. I always did factory work.
I can understand Mum being a bit bemused if you have had 12 weeks off doing nothing.
Do you pay her board?

It is odd you haven’t worked as pp have said- I imagine your mum is just venting her frustration.

You will be getting a grant and you will have a loan- you will be giving her some of that for board aren’t you? A couple of 100 a month?

I had 2 weekend part time jobs when I did my PGCE. I worked in a bar late nights on Friday and Saturday and I worked in a clothes shop all day Saturday and Sunday. I gave up the bar job in February or March but kept the shop job all year. It was fine.

I’m a teacher and you can for sure get a part time Job with a Pgce. Many on your course will. I worked full time and did my ma full time in the evenings. It’s possible.

It’s up to you though, sounds like your mum isn’t happy to support you. Maybe address that.

What have you been doing up to now? I’m assuming since you’ve been at home not working you’ve been doing all the cooking and cleaning? Or have you been bumming around? There are still 4 weeks until the start of term - you could work in a cafe or similar until then.

When I did my PGCE it was work all day, work all evening. I barely went out that year. When on placement, I worked from 8am - 11pm most days and I couldn't have completed the course without doing this.
It's possible you might be able to get a weekend job, but I had to work for my PGCE at the weekend as well. Actual teaching is a bit easier (and much easier after you've been doing it for a couple of years).

I did a 4 year undergrad (including the same amount of placement in 4th year that’s included in PGCE) while raising a child and working 20-25hrs a week. It wasn’t easily but was certainly doable. Yes it’s tough but it’s literally 9/10 months in the grand scheme of things

If you can’t afford to live off the bursary/loans for a year, can you defer? Maybe do two jobs for a year and save like mad, then next year you can do your PGCE without the distractions.

Why no summer job? I worked whilst doing pgce. Its doable

My DS did a PGCE while living at home. While he could certainly do some work in the summer holidays it couldn't carry on once he started training. He was essentially working full time, in school all day, every day and working every evening as well.
He did get a student loan which he saved and moved out once he started work.
It's too late now for a summer job as I presume you are in school from September.

I had an interview for a Job in June which unfortunately I did not get, I then went on holiday and then when I got back of holiday started worrying that I've left it too late. I do have enough savings to live off plus my loan for the next year.

Evening Babysitting would be another possibility for an easy job if you need income whilst on course. There was a thread recently about high rates teens were charging. Pgce student will dbs shouldn’t have any issues picking up work either direct or via agency.

I was 28 when I did my PGCE. I had a house and bills so i had to do some part time work. My lovely parents paid my rent and I worked a Saturday and two evenings a week at my old job. It’s hard but not impossible.

Are your parents in financial difficulties? Because if not there is no moral necessity for you to work just because others may have had to.
Have a discussion with your mum about what she expects from you once you start, if they are really struggling then you shoul give them some of your student loan.

You could, but you’ll have a large workload from uni and may struggle to find hours that will work around your placements. Weekend work perhaps? I worked in a local restaurant two evenings in the week then a lunch and evening on the Saturday. I wish I’d actually dropped one or two shifts, but wasn’t living at home and needed the money!