PCGE Please tell what is involved

[hotcrosspurepurple]

I am a nursery nurse with 20 years experience. I have just started a foundation degree and plan to do the top up to a BA.
The plan was to gain EYPS but I've had a rethink and I am now considering the PCGE instead as EYPS seems just a made up title that won't get me a better job or more money (not that I do my job for the money anyway, but it would be nice to earn a bit more)

Please tell me your views/experiences

VERY hard work it was when I did it and am sure it still is. You have to grit your teeth and hang on for grim death for 9 months, and then they let you loose on real classes. It is quick, so well worth it if you aren't afraid of 60-70 hour weeks for a year. You can also do GTS- on the job training, which might possibly be better for you since you have experience of working with children already and wouldn't find a half timetable in your training year so much of a struggle.

It's PGCE - Post Graduate Certificate in Eucation. It lasts a year and involves study in university and placements in schools. It is hard work but worth it!

oh I've got the letters round the wrong way
not a good start is it?

Loads of work - I was generally working from 8.30am to 11pm every day during term time and then just 9-5 ish on hols - it was pre children. There were severla mums on the course - all but one completed it.

You have to look up the website of the possible training providers for you. They should give details of the structure of their particular courses.

When I did my PGCE, the course run from October to June, with periods in University and partner schools. The main school placement for me was 12 weeks fulltime, teaching a 50% timetable. The other school placesments were part-time (2 days in Uni, 3 days in school).

The assessment is all about gathering evidence for a hundred or so standards/competencies and getting your tutors to sign these off by the end of the year.

I found it pretty easy coming out of industry.

so it is a full time course then?
with placements
ok thanks

There are various routes into teaching nowadays, and they are generally far more flexible than they were ten years ago. Beware though some routes are less thorough than others.

Also, in many areas there are surpluses of primary school teachers. So getting the qualification does not guarantee you the job.

At our school a very very experienced Reception TA did a part-time BA degree in Early Years. When she was finishing, there was a vacancy in Reception. The Head/Governors decided to appoint her, and offer her additional training opportunities. They thought it was unnecessary to insist she jump through hoops doing a PGCE or GTP before gaining QTS.

This was a couple of years ago, so she's passed her NQT year, and she has proved to be a fantastic teacher.

I've been looking into this too and have found somewhere (Canterbury) that offers a part-time course starting in April for 20 months. I'm sure other providers offer flexible or part time training if that's what you'd prefer.

The course I was on involved 4 weeks in Uni doing theory (full time) then 3 months school placement (with occasional essays and assignments due in as well) teaching between 5 and 10 hour-long lessons a fortnight, observing other lessons and working with mentors. Followed by a further 6 weeks in Uni after Christmas (more essays) and then a final 12 weeks in another school teaching between 50 and 75% of the full timetable.

Very intensive, lots of hard work.

(don't do what I did and get pregnant and have to defer halfway through )

Hey crunchie - I did that too! Don't know how I ever had time to get pregnant!

I'm the same as you purple. Am starting BA year in September having just completed the FD. I am really looking forward to PGCE but as others have said, there are alternative routes. One I looked into was the RTP which you can do once you have completed the FD. You train as an unqualified teacher, making your FD up to BA hons level on the job. Sounds a bit NVQ for teachers, or there is the GTP which a friend of mine is doing from September but you have to apply a year in advance for that.

I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT THE ROUTE INTO TEACHING. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO START. DOES THE SAME ROUTE APPLY FOR TEACHING SPANISH?? AND IS THERE AN EASY WAY TO STUDY BEIN THAT IM A MUM TO A 2YEAR OLD AND OBVIOUSLY CANT STUDY 24H.

For most candidates it is very hard work, I certainly worked on average 70 hours a week, although 7 years later I still do so I may not be the best person to give advice in that. ( I am just finishing now and about to crawl to bed)

In my experience almost every other year my faculty will lose a student teacher as they are shocked at the workload.

BUT and it is a big but my PGCE was utterly fantastic and once your PGCE and NQT year are over you can cut your hours if you want to. I cannot think of another job that I would enjoy as much. If you are like me and work long hours you do get the fabulous holidays and guaranteed weekends at home.

You send time in college and then usually go into your first placement .You will start by observing, then doing perhaps starters and plenaries before gradually doing full lessons. Second placement you should go into teaching full lessons much quicker and more is expected of you.

There is much more gathering of evidence than when I did my PGCE, you need to be quite organised and students who aren't can get themsleves in a complete state about their folders. You also need to pass numeracy, literacy and ICT tests.

Same route for teaching Spanish!

My sister is about to start her teacher training and I think she is about to do the on the job training. So that it a possibility.

my pgce started in sep, then from jan to may we were in school full time. the school i was in had the attitude that 'you may as well get stuck in' and they were short of teachers, wo i was given a 75% timitable, working up to 90% of a ft teacher's timetable. then we were in college during feb & may half term, then another 6 weeks of ft teaching before finishing in july.
BOTH my placement schools were an hour's drive away, and i spent all day sunday working, as well as doing 12/13 hours days mon-fri.
having said that, it was good, and teaching was a good career for 12 years. but it can be a killer.

you need a degree to do the pgce. google local colleges to see what their entrie requirements are.

how much does the course cost more or less and for how long do you have to study? once you start teaching in the schools as training, do they pay you or is it seen as just part of the course.

You don't pay for the course at least I don't think so but you dont get paid while you are doing the PGCE.

I am wondering if the course is fee free, and I may be wrong, is the reason why IMO the standard of trainee teachers is falling.

it will prob be the hardest year of your life and have to take all your focus. we were in school every week + lectures = essays and had to write a 10 000 word dissertation as well!! it also takes a long time to get the hang of lesson planning at first and used to take hours even when qualified. however it does get easier with experience. worth considering what your circumstances are and if you can devote the time required and have family life. sorry to sound negative but it really is time consuming.