Teacher Training Application

[tonyharrisonboosh]

Hello,

I hope I have posted this in the correct forum.

I am in the process of applying for teacher training and am struggling a bit with references. I graduated 15 years ago so don't have an educational reference to put forward.

I am currently employed and haven't formally announced my intention to change careers for obvious reasons. I have however, confided in senior member of the team and they have agreed to provide a reference. They have very supportive of my teaching dream. I can potentially approach another senior member of my team, but I haven't decided yet.

Aside from that, I'm not sure who I could ask that isn't considered a friend. I did think about asking the manager of my son's nursery. Although, she doesn't know me personally, I have had some form of relationship with her for the four years my son has attended nursery.

Does anyone have any other suggestions as to who I can approach. I really want to do the best I can with my application!

I would ring the admissions office and ask who would be suitable.

Hello,

Yes I have spoken to my teaching advisor through the government train to teach website he said it should be someone from work for at least one and no friends or family. I have the one, possibly two work references but was just hoping I could put more down as this is advised.

Have you volunteered anywhere?

I know it’s tricky because of COVID, but when I applied I volunteered at my local school one day a week. Anything similar? Brownies, Cubs etc?

@MazDazzle

Have you volunteered anywhere?

I know it’s tricky because of COVID, but when I applied I volunteered at my local school one day a week. Anything similar? Brownies, Cubs etc?

I work full time unfortunately but I have applied to attend a teaching taster workshop in a local school, once they open in September. Covid-19 permitting of course. I can certainly look into Brownies and Cubs though. Thank you for the idea.

I've just submitted a form to volunteer with my local Brownie group!

OP what sort of teaching do you plan to do? Do you have any direct experience of it?

TBH I am surprised if you would be allowed on to a PGCE course without some classroom experience. Can you not take a fortnight off work and volunteer in a school? I hate to be a doomsayer and we certainly need people to become teachers, but if you have no direct experience the reality may be a shock.

@clary

OP what sort of teaching do you plan to do? Do you have any direct experience of it?

TBH I am surprised if you would be allowed on to a PGCE course without some classroom experience. Can you not take a fortnight off work and volunteer in a school? I hate to be a doomsayer and we certainly need people to become teachers, but if you have no direct experience the reality may be a shock.

Hi Clary,

That's not the case, at least not according to the adviser on the Train to Teach programme. I have researched everything very thoroughly and have been honest about my with advisors from Get Into Teaching.
If I was to apply for a salaried trainee position it is unlikely I would get a place as that route is best for people that already have experience or work in a school. The PGCE route is open to recent graduates and people that may want a change of career.
As long as you complete the application, have transferable skills, and have the correct qualifications, you can apply for a PGCE place.
If my application is successful I will be required school and do a full interview including a mini teaching session. I'm certainly not going to quit my job one week and rock up at school thinking I know it all.
I do intend to do some volunteering but at the moment, I just asking for advice on a second reference.

Do you have a fried who's a teacher who could write about you in a professional capacity? I recently did this for someone who's just successfully qualified and also left school about 15 years ago.

Friend even. You wouldn't think I taught English ;)

I was told it had to be an academic reference to show you could cope with the academic rigours of the course. I thought that was stupid as surely my first class degree would show that! I was 6 years out of uni and luckily could contact a lecturer I knew well but I remember thinking most people on my 300 people, low contact undergraduate course wouldn't be remembered by anyone. For what it's worth, I took annual leave from work and volunteered in various schools before applying - about 10 days worth, across 4 schools.

@gwilt

Do you have a fried who's a teacher who could write about you in a professional capacity? I recently did this for someone who's just successfully qualified and also left school about 15 years ago.

I have a few friends that are teachers so that would be amazing if I can use them. I will put the feelers out and I might just include them anyway. The application advises to put more than you think you need just in case some are slow to complete the reference form.

Thank you for that

@JaggedLittlePilI

I was told it had to be an academic reference to show you could cope with the academic rigours of the course. I thought that was stupid as surely my first class degree would show that! I was 6 years out of uni and luckily could contact a lecturer I knew well but I remember thinking most people on my 300 people, low contact undergraduate course wouldn't be remembered by anyone. For what it's worth, I took annual leave from work and volunteered in various schools before applying - about 10 days worth, across 4 schools.

Hello,

It now says that if you graduated more than 5 years ago, you don't have to have an academic reference. The application for next year has changed quite a bit as I believe you sued to apply through UCAS but now there is a purpose built government site for applying. I definitely want to organise some volunteering and have applied to a few local schools, but they are closed for the holidays at the moment. I'm hoping I can get a couple of weeks in October/November.

Well it may have changed but when I was applying for primary PGCE I needed a week's experience. I wasn't suggesting you would think you knew it all - but some experience of the reality of working in a school is helpful IME. It might be very different from what you imagine.

Are you planning to teach primary or secondary?

That sounds sensible that it's changed. Do follow up with the schools when they reopen - several just agreed to have me over the phone. Good luck.

@clary

Well it may have changed but when I was applying for primary PGCE I needed a week's experience. I wasn't suggesting you would think you knew it all - but some experience of the reality of working in a school is helpful IME. It might be very different from what you imagine.

Are you planning to teach primary or secondary?

I'm hoping to teach primary. I agree with you that experience will be beneficial. I've applied to gain some experience at a local primary school through the application service, but due to the holidays they won't come back to me until September. Hopefully that will give me something concrete. If not I will give my local primary schools a call and see of they would have me volunteer.

I do wonder that the people that were applying during the covid lockdown did about getting experience when schools were only open to key workers. That must have been tough to build an application without being able to get any experience.

@JaggedLittlePilI

That sounds sensible that it's changed. Do follow up with the schools when they reopen - several just agreed to have me over the phone. Good luck.

Thank you. I will definitely ring round when they open.