Quick question regarding which Uni

[vilamoura2003]

I never went to Uni so I am finding it a bit of a minefield with helping DD with looking at Uni for 23/24 intake.

DD is interested in a primary teaching QTS 5 - 11 degree which does make it easier as some universities only offer a BA in Education (without the QTS).

Can I ask, aside from the Russell group universities, is there a hierarchy in the non-Russell Group universities. I've seen some where the entry requirements are 112 ucas points - and then another where the entry requirement was really low like CCD A-levels. Would this mean when going for a job, a degree from the CCD uni would be a disadvantage to a degree from the 112 ucas points uni and not as favourable?

I've seen online a university I've never heard of - Bishop Grosseteste in Lincoln, it offers the course that she is interested in, how do you know if this is a good university that a degree from will be well regarded?

Feeling out of my depth lol!

It is great that your DD wants to be a teacher as we definitely need more teachers. At the moment there’s such a dearth of entrants to the profession that where she studies probably won’t impact on her future career too much as there is a crisis in teacher supply and recruitment. The entry criteria for the course do give an indication of the institution rankings. Bishop Grosseteste is quite an old teacher training college I think.

However, it may be wiser for her to study a specific subject discipline as an undergrad and then do a year post grad training, she may feel differently about teaching as a 21 year old and a primary ed degree is probably more limiting if she has a change of heart about her career.

I can’t help at all but just wondered if the university arrange the placements and if that would need to be factored into your DDs decision making?

Historically, the B.Eds and teacher training courses from Polytechnics and Teacher Training colleges produced far better teachers than other routes - particularly for Primary teaching. They she says, generalising offer more time in schools, and more placements - and teaching is definitely a thing you learn by doing rather than by sitting in lecture theatres.

To answer NotDonna 's question - yes, the universities arrange the placements.
That might be something worth taking into account - you are likely to get a much wider experience in a larger City, and increase your breadth of knowledge, if that isn't too overwhelming.

Oh, and if you want to ask anything about University from courses to experience to finance then join WIWIKAU (What I Wish I Knew About University) on Facebook. They have a website too, but the traffic on the FB page is immense.
Remember you can search the site and will find most questions have been asked previously.

"I've seen online a university I've never heard of - Bishop Grosseteste in Lincoln, it offers the course that she is interested in, how do you know if this is a good university that a degree from will be well regarded?"

Used to live in Lincoln years ago, and Bishop Grot always was a teacher training college. It used to have a good reputation.

Ofsted tend to review teacher training courses, so have a look at those,or if your daughter is volunteering at a primary school, talk to the teachers about unis with good reputations. If your daughter's not currently volunteering in a school - try to get her in one soon, it will help with her teaching interviews.

I went to Bishop Grosseteste many moons ago and have spent the last 30 years as a primary school teacher. Bishop Grot has an excellent reputation and many schools actively seek BG students. Many of my peers got headships very early in their careers, some went on to specialist advisory roles and some, like myself, have stayed in the classroom albeit in a senior leadership role.

When I was there, it was a 4 year couse with QTS. The second year was spent at the University of Hull doing the specialist subject. I believe it is all at the Lincoln campus now and a 3 year course. When we graduated we all felt very well-prepared for the classroom and the training was excellent, rigorous and fun; 9-5 everyday in specialist teaching bases in the college. It is a small tight-knit community and everything is geared to training the best classroom practitioners. We were out in schools observing and doing teaching practices from the very first term of our course. We had a good mix of schools from deprived areas of Scunthorpe, rural Lincolnshire village schools to affluent schools in the suburbs.

I don’t want to be negative but please be aware there is no shortage of primary school teachers, as has been stated above.

Bishop Groseteste used to be a specialist teacher training college. It has always a good reputation for teaching.