Secondary PGCE/elearnITT? Can any student secondary teachers help?

[anchovies]

I have a 2:2 in Materials Science and Engineering so could teach physics or chemistry (I prefer chemistry I think) and have been looking at applying for the part time elearnITT at Hibernia for the July intake.

Have just arranged my week of secondary experience. Am now wondering whether I should just bite the bullet and apply for the PGCE and get it done in a year. I have a part time job that I would have to give up and 3 dc's (8,6 and 3 - youngest in nursery 2.5 days) but I would get the TDA bursary over 1 year instead of 2 so could prob afford it. Has anyone go any thoughts? Is the PGCE as hard to juggle as I am imagining?

Hi, I am coming into the final term of the PGCE now (Secondary English). I have 7 children ranging from 15 to 2 years old, and I can honestly say it hasn't been as bad as I expected. It is bloody hard work, yes, but I think having kids makes you more focused and just tougher in general. I'm loving it, and have a job lined up for the end of the course (yay!). Chemists and physicists are in demand, so go for it!

I'm in the same boat as cherry. I only have one ds though, 2 years old. I've found that I can do my work much quicker because I don't faff around being a perfectionist. I have to prioritise my time and don't even bother thinking about work when I'm looking after Ds on my own because its just not going to happen. As a result i'm not as stressed out as some of the others who think about it 24/7 and spend hours on their work. And i'm doing just as well as everyone else.

Well done on securing a job Cherry! I'm still applying.