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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my sister should get a refund?

176 replies

dinglisert · 04/06/2022 17:31

So my Sister did a PGCE last year, she failed her second placement and had to undertake and additional placement the following Autumn which she also failed. Therefore a lot a money was spent on a qualification which she did not receive. Who decides to complete a PGCE and not receive a teaching qualification in the end. Just so you know my sister worked very hard and has ASD and Dyspraxia, she isn't lazy as some people might think she is due to her not passing.

AIBU to think DS sister should get given a refund, maybe not the whole amount as she did pass her uni assignments so she got awarded a PGCE but without QTS. But seriously, a PGCE with no QTS? You have to be honest it is a pointless award which no one will take seriously, in other words its worthless.

OP posts:
MakeMineALarge1 · 04/06/2022 17:35

She paid to go on a course, she didn't pay to be awarded the qualification!

She has failed placement twice, why do you think she should be awarded qualification?

Nimo12 · 04/06/2022 17:35

I don't believe she should be refunded. She failed.

Confuzzlediddled · 04/06/2022 17:35

Was her failing due to a mistake on the university's side? If not then why should she get a refund because she wasn't able to pass? You don't get a refund if you fail your driving test as an example, so why would you on a PGCE?

Tania64 · 04/06/2022 17:36

Is this different to say taking driving lessons & then taking the driving test & failing it? You wouldn't get a refund for your lessons.

comealongponds · 04/06/2022 17:36

YABU

im sorry she failed but unless there was some major failing on the part of the course provider which you haven’t mentioned, not sure why you think she should get a refund. They provided the course as promised. She failed it. That’s not their fault.

Mosaic123 · 04/06/2022 17:37

What a shame for your sister. Did the Uni know about her ASD and Dyspraxia? If not maybe she can tell them?

ChessieFL · 04/06/2022 17:37

It’s a shame she didn’t pass, but she got what she paid for - the tuition. Universities don’t guarantee a qualification.

Mercurial123 · 04/06/2022 17:37

Why did she fail two times? She should not be refunded for failing. Maybe teaching isn't for her.

Motherchicken · 04/06/2022 17:37

I don’t think QTS is a given. Which is good, you have to demonstrate a certain level to be recommended for QTS. Which is good, you shouldn’t just be given the qualification because you can pay for it. I can’t imagine how the refund would work either. Imagine failing your degree, you wouldn’t get a refund. Or when taking your driving test.

FourEyesGood · 04/06/2022 17:38

YABU. She failed the course. She received the tuition and the mentoring and she - presumably - didn’t respond appropriately to the feedback her mentor gave her. I’ve mentored trainee teachers before and far too many of them don’t act on the advice they’re given following their lessons. The successful ones build on their successes, change their practice based on the constructive feedback, make improvements and pass the course.

If she’d failed her driving test would you expect her to get a refund of the cost of her driving lessons?

Applegreenb · 04/06/2022 17:38

She failed, they provided the services she paid for so I don’t think she should get a refund

Womencanlift · 04/06/2022 17:38

But she didn’t fail due to a lack of service from the university/college. She failed because of her own ability. So what would be the grounds of the refund?

Yes it’s worthless from an employment perspective but to be fair that’s not anyone’s fault apart from her.

If you are going to drop feed to say they didn’t teach her what she needed to know then fair enough but going by what you have written YABU

FourEyesGood · 04/06/2022 17:39

So many of us using the driving lessons analogy! 😂

SaltandPeppasHere · 04/06/2022 17:41

Are you serious?

She failed, of course she’s not entitled to a refund.

YarnHoarder · 04/06/2022 17:41

Exactly, she paid to be taught, take assignments, for them to be marked and all the other things that go along with a course. While it's really sad she didn't pass it's certainly not grounds to be asking for a refund.

I know it's not the same, but a mature student (she was generally hard work and old fashioned in her views) thought she should've received higher (in several assignments but here's one example) so told the lecturer she wanted it remarked. When that was refused as it has been second marked and those grades approved she attempted to take it further. There wasn't grounds for a remark in her case and unless there's something you haven't told us there's no grounds for a partial or full refund here.

Gazelda · 04/06/2022 17:42

I'm afraid she got what she paid for.

Just because she didn't get the qualification, doesn't mean she didn't receive the tutorage and support that was the agreed course content.

What are her plans now?

Bonjovispjs · 04/06/2022 17:42

You're being ridiculous, what if everyone who ever failed at something wanted a refund?

superram · 04/06/2022 17:42

For the first time in my pgce mentoring career I had to fail a student last year-they were offered an extension for free. If they failed that then I’m sorry but teaching isn’t for them, it’s not for everyone. No refund due.

maythe4thbewithme · 04/06/2022 17:43

She failed 🤷🏻‍♀️ that's life. Sometimes In life there are no refunds - I'm uncomfortable with ASD and Dyspraxia being trooped out all the time like it's a pass for everything

Blossomtoes · 04/06/2022 17:44

This is like asking for a refund of your tuition fees because you didn’t get a first. Ridiculous.

Hellocatshome · 04/06/2022 17:44

You dont lay for the qualification you pay for the tutoring and opportunities to sit the exams etc. If you fail you dont get a refund. Imagine how many people would start claiming for refunds on their uni courses or driving lessons if you could do that.

FlissyPaps · 04/06/2022 17:46

It be must be disheartening and disappointing for your sister. I hope she’s okay, and still able to go down the route she wants to in time💐

However, I don’t think she should expect a refund.

alexdgr8 · 04/06/2022 17:46

i think she is lucky to have got the PGCE at all, having failed the placements, twice.
of course she is not due a refund.
did her family encourage her to persist in something that she was not cut out to do.

TigerRag · 04/06/2022 17:46

On what grounds should she get a refund? Can't see how this is the fault of the university.

Hiddenvoice · 04/06/2022 17:48

I’m sorry you’re sister failed but she should be seeking advice and feedback on why she failed. The teaching side of a PGCE and the assignments part are so different. The teaching is full on, hard work and very time consuming. It helps students prepare themselves for what teaching is like. A 3/4 year course can be easier going as it is spread out and the students have more time to develop their style of teaching, managing behaviour and prioritising their workload.
I don’t think your sister should get a refund as she has had the opportunity to pass with a second placement so now she should be asking for feedback on what she needs to develop. Lots of teachers these days have asd. If this was explained properly to the school then they could have supported her more.