Open University Marking Boycott and PGCE

[DefyingHamilton]

Hi everyone, I really hope some of you can offer some advice. I have this year completed a degree in Economics and Mathematical Sciences with the OU after seven grueling years with the hope of doing a PGCE. I quit my job, with the promise of a bursary and maintenance loan to tide me over for this year and I am now left without results and a very good chance I won't get on the PGCE course. The provider needs confirmation of a degree, the OU keep fobbing me off. I am on hold to them right now. I have been on the phone numerous times and for over two hours today. This is all down to the marking boycott. I completely understand things from the tutors POV however this is meant to inconvenience the university, not me! I am left without any income, unable to pay my mortgage and needing to go and find a job unless the results come through by Monday. Being that this is a bank holiday, I need them by the end of the day tomorrow! Has anyone else seen this kind of situation and has any advice? I am stressed to the max and really worried for my future.

I would speak to the PGCE provider again- in a lot of cases, they will allow you to start the course even if you haven't quite met the requirements yet. If they know your degree certificate is coming eventually, they'll very likely let you start the course.

Does the provider need confirmation? I thought government had relaxed rules for the marking ban.

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/14/ucu-marking-and-assessment-boycott-and-teacher-training-what-you-need-to-know/

I thought providers just looked at transcripts with marks to date (and anything else uni provides eg certificate of completion giving a best estimate of degree result) to make the decision to offer PGCE. If you were teaching maths I would have thought provider would bite your hands off. How many modules do you have unmarked?

Just one left unmarked. The provider seem
Intent on me needing the classification, however I will read through the information you have sent, thank you!

I think many providers are allowing people to start, with the proviso that if they turn out to have failed their degree, they'll have to drop out then.
Are you at all likely to have failed the module? You can presumably tell them what classification you will get depending on what you get for the module - the chances are that there are only two possibilities, as your last module only accounts for a third of your overall tally (assuming it's the 60 credit module, not one of the 30s).

My DD is in a similar situation. No degree classification and starting PGCE next month.
Her PGCE provider has agreed to take her on based on her previous 2 years.
They are crying out for teachers so I would push...
She has been told her 3rd year and therefore degree classification will be marked by Oct/Nov this year, not helpful for you, I realise, but do pursue your PGCE provider.
All the best and much sympathy.

My son's degree is still not marked. Luckily he already has a job which he will get fired from if he doesn't end up meeting the requirements! I personally think it's disgraceful that after spending so much money and worked so hard that this has happened.