Calling all teachers - does it matter where you do yr PGCE?

[wheelsonthebus]

A very few - like London South Bank Uni - still have vacancies for Sept 2011. What would that say to you?

I'm pretty sure the courses are the same more or less wherever you go, but some institutions might struggle with placements - I've heard of courses where there weren't enough placements to go round! This is quite rare but do a bit of research first and also think about where those placements might be - are you going to be sent to the type of schools you're interested in working in? The TES forums are good for this kind of information.

I applied for my PGCE mid July and started it in September 01....made no difference to my ability to get a job, and I was bound geographically by school pick ups and drop offs.

wheels - don't think it really matters at all as they all have to meet the same standards with the teacher training agency. I did my PGCE at South Bank uni - was a good course and had lots of job offers at end including at 2 of my placement schools. Think it is good to do it there if you are thinking of teaching in London or other inner city schools as if you can make it there you can make it anywhere! They did struggle a bit getting placements for everyone though everyone got placements in the end (though this was 2003 so may have changed a lot since then). My placements were in Peckham/ Camberwell, but they try to match them as close to where you live as possible. Good luck!

Thanks v much

I think there is a league table somewhere for employability at 6m. I would look for that.

They are also ofsted inspected so you miht be able to find info from that (I think it is justa grade rather than all the 20 page report you get for a school).

I am signed up to one of the top 10 universities for PGCE (according to the league table) and they still have places for next year, but they are not London.

The ubject also makes a HUGE difference. I would expect things like PE and hostory to be full/getting full. Science and maths less so.

ofsted reports

Courses vary greatly if you talk to teachers about their experiences.

ranking although this isn't the one I was thinking of as I know I have seen actual percentages and broken down by subject...will keep looking

final link this is where you can get specific info on emplyability by subject etc.

As ever...league tables are only part of the decision making process.

Ask about placements. I did my PGCE in Bristol - and was sent to Wales for both placements. The second one was so far away that I couldn't commute and had to lodge with a mad old lady during the week.

I have had some great students from southbank. And some not so hot ones. Same from the Institute and Goldsmiths which have more cachet, but don't necessarily produce better students

Where do you live - would Southbank be convenient? I think placements generally tend to be south of the river too.

Not a problem when looking at teachers from an employer's perspective. The only universities that I've ever noticed when looking over the application forms are when the teacher has been to Oxford or Cambridge to do their PGCE, but that's just snob value and because you're always impressed by those unis.
The university that you went to for your undergrad does tend to be noticed, however.

It really depends on subject. One of the people only course rang ip in the September to find out how to apply fir the following tear and was told she could start in 3 weeks time! That was for maths. I would say go for it if it is a shortage subject. Schools are desperate for Maths and physics especially. I have spent 11 years teachingand we have always had someone who isn't really up to it but is the best we can get!

I suppose one of the advantages of jumping in in 2011 is that the fees are still £3500 or so, as opposed to double that in 2012? Or am I not understanding how the tuition fees increase works

It only matters for the first teaching job, and then if it does.

I went to a good teacher training college for my PGCE (as was back then), and got my first job on the basis of where I trained. Indeed, lots of schools sent adverts to our college to attract NQTs, but that was back in the day.

Since then, it hasn't made one iota to jobs. That said, I did have a great PGCE with some fab things going on in it, like voice training classes and actually some great lessons on Differentiation. I did find those things really useful in the first few years, and having mentored students for a range of institutions since I do think, like all things, that PGCEs can really vary in quality.

I did my PGCE at Liverpool Hope and thought it was awful - everything useful that I picked up, I learned during my placements.

Can't you do PGCEs in school nowadays? Most of the teachers I know think this would be a better option.

that would be SCITT or GTP

I think its difficult to find a school who would take you on, unless you were already a TA there or they knew you in another capacity. Agree its a better option though...

we have two volunteers who help in school once a week who are both starting GTPs in September at other schools ...

I did my PGCE at Cambridge and I think this certainly helped when applying for jobs.

I think the quality of the providers does vary. We deal with two, plus a GTP partnership, and one is significantly worse than the other two. That doesn't mean the trainees are of significantly worse calibre themselves, but the support they, and we, get from their provider is pretty poor.

I did my PGCE at Cambridge, and now mentor students from local Uni. It is so different. Local uni are obsessed with the paper work, and I feel sometimes do not encourage creativity in students. But I have had some excellent ones from there.

From the point of view of shortlisting for jobs, I have never taken much notice of PGCE place, first degree institution has much more importance.

It depends on the people doing the short listing. Some will be impressed and others will take a more balanced view.