Thinking of doing my PGCE - any experiences of SCITT out there?

[NotaStepfordWife]

So, teaching is something I have always wanted to do but got distracted by the lucrative salaries a career in marketing when I graduated. After 17 years I am re-evaluating and have decided to start again and do what i really want to do. Apart from feeling quite terrified about the whole thing (!); I'm struggling to decide the best way to train.

I could go the traditional route, and enrol at my local uni to do a PGCE, but the commute would be longer and it seems a more academic approach. Alternatively, my local college runs a SCITT training scheme in my preferred subject (science). However, I'm a bit concerned about subject knowledge - I've not done science for eons now, so will be very rusty! Does anyone have any experiences of SCITT - either as mentors or students? Should I be concerned about subject knowledge, or is this a red herring?

Hi NASW,

I am a science teacher and did a PGCE when I was 30 after a good few years in industry.

You don't really have to worry about subject knowledge as it will all come flooding back to you. You only need to be one step ahead of the pupils, unless you are doing A-level, the a few more steps ahead.

I did a traditional PGCE with two main school placements. I think a PGCE is a much safer route to go, as the GTP experience can vary hugely from school to school, and you don't know if you are in a good one until you get there.

You don't really go to the university that much, so should put the commute into perspective. They will try to place you in schools within a reasonable commute.

I've done a PGCE so can't comment much on SCITT. I also had a commute to my nearest uni and it was tough but the way I looked at it was that it was only for a year.

I was very glad that I chose the route I did. I needed that gradual introduction to teaching rather than being thrown in at the deep end.

I did look at a GTP and I still would have had to do the academic work and infact I would have had to do two evenings a week at uni on top of school every day. I didn't have that with the PGCE.

One thing to think about is where you want to teach. With a GTP you can only teach in England and Wales. I'm not sure what the case is with SCITT but it would be worth looking into.

I also got 60 credits towards a Masters with the PGCE and as the government wants all teachers to eventually have a Masters then this is valuable.

Thank you both. It's an interesting point about quality of placements. Though isn't that also the case on a traditional PGCE course - can't the quality of placements vary tremendously? Although of course the whole of the SCITT is spent in the placement schools, so the quality impacts the whole experience, instead of just one placement I guess.

AMS; how did you find going into teaching after a few years in industry (and have you ever regretted it?!)? I wonder whether I will find it to be an enormous culture shock!? I am very excited though - it feels like I am finally heading in the right direction after years of the corporate treadmill

I know I'm not AMS but I did my PGCE after working for 15 years. I don't regret it one bit and actually have a job I now enjoy

I know I won't be popular with teachers for admitting this, but I found doing a PGCE and then actual teaching to be quite easy after life on the greasy pole. I think I was particularly well equipped in terms of time management, and general communication skills (with adults).

But there were other things I found difficult, particularly discipline in the classroom, and getting by on shoestring budgets.

I really enjoy my job now but I am in a school that really suits me.

As for the ITT, I think with the PGCE, there is a lot more accountability on the part of the school, and greater access to 'theory'.

There are many misconceptions about SCITT out there...some voiced on here too! SCITT is school centred ITT, it is NOT the same as GTP and is usually much better supported by central training - sort of half way between uni based PGCE and the GTP. Usually it comes with the benefit of still getting the PGCE qualification rather than just QTS but training is from school or LA staff not Uni staff. If SK is an issue there are enhancement courses. The other thing to be aware of is that the TDA has just reduced bursaries in general science and biology, from 9k to 6k, so do Chem or Physics if you can!

Hmmm... discipline. One of my biggest worries. Though teachers I know say that any school I teach in should have discipline policies in place and the support to deal with it should therefore be there... is this a naive view for me to have?!

That's interesting though... I do wonder whether anything can be as hard as my current job - the pressure and hours worked are relentless; and as you say, time management and comms skills have been finely tuned over the last decade and a half!

It's fairly naive, lol.

All schools have discipline policies, sanctions pathways and support structures. However, in practice, you have to put up with a lot of 'low level disruption' before you take advantage for the support.

If you ask for support too often, you are branded a weak teacher.

Low-level disruption adds stress and generally takes away any pleasure from the job.

The difference between a great and a mediocre school is that you will genuinely feel that you are proactively supported by all your colleagues.

If you haven't been in a school for over 20 years, I think you will be genuinely shocked at the deterioration in behaviour standards.

Have you had any taster days yet? You really need to organise a few of these in a variety of schools.

LOL - I thought it might be a little optimistic... I am arranging a few days in a couple of schools across a couple of year groups which will probably open my eyes wide! I sway from feeling completely terrified to very excited. Do you teach secondary? I can imagine that the low level disruption would be frustrating; but I guess there are downsides to every job - there are certainly many in mine unfortunately. I'm on maternity leave at the moment, and the thought of going back to my old role almost brings me out in a cold sweat!

I'm doing a PGCE right now and I'm finding it pretty tough. I've actually been doing really well in terms of feedback from my mentor and gradings on my observations.

It's the constant pressure and judgement I find difficult. I'm hoping I develop a thicker skin over time.

In any type of ITT, support and the type of experience you have vary SO SO wildly. I've friends who have been handed lessons and told to teach them, others who have been given schemes of work, and then others like me who have 'made up' their lessons and SoWs from scratch.

You mention that the low level disruption 'would be frustrating', but I think perhaps you are underestimating it a bit. In some (definitely NOT all) of the classes I teach LLD is severe enough to seriously hinder teaching and learning. Lovingly planned lessons crumble to nothing, pupils openly ignore you/talk over you, even actively insult your lessons. Depending on what industry you've been in, you might be used to that level of hindrance and criticism. It was quite a shock for me!

I've got a place to do a PGCE teaching secondary school physics next year.

Once on the course they put you forward for what's called a Physics Enhancement Course - six months of subject knowledge.

Starting that in Jan. DS will be seven months. Will have to go to nursery. Poor little mite.

Yes duckyfuzz, I would get a PGCE as part of the SCITT, not just QTS. The SCITT I would enrol in is associated with my local uni, and as well as my mentors in the placement school, I think I would also have academic support from the uni, so like you say, a bit of both.

I am a biological science graduate though, and would like to teach up to 'a' level, so physics and chemistry probably not an option for me... if I thought I was rusty in Bioscience, physics and chemistry will be 10x worse! So the bursary will be £6k for me - though in my area there is a £5k golden hello for science teachers graduating from the SCITT.