Plans to teach been blown out of the water.

[MiaWallace]

I am currently studying on an Access course.

Hoping to go to uni in September to study for a degree in childhood and youth studies.

Was planning to follow this was a PGCE.

I found out today in order to do the PGCE for Key stage 1 and 2, I require at least an A'level in a national curriculum subject.

Seems that my only option is to take an A'level evening class at the same time as studying my degree

Any other suggestion?

you need an Alevel, as well as Access course and degree?

I thought that you just needed a 2.2 or higher in your degree?

I've checked the entry requirements for UWE and Exeter uni's (they are the closest and can't move because of dp's job)

Both require 2:1 and at least an A'level in a national curriculum subject (although they say they prefer you to have a degree in a national curriculum subject)

I don't know if it just at these uni's or across the board.

You may want to contact them directly because there may be different requirements for students who didn't take the A level route or who are over a certain age.

Also, I think I've seen somewhere PGCE courses that will offer extra classes alongside the PGCE if you need to be up to speed in things.

Would you be able to get on a PGCE course with that degree?

The degree is perfect to get on the PGCE. Is one of two that Exeter recommend for going into teaching. The only issue is not having the required A'level in a curriculum subject.

Thanks for the suggestions goblinqueen. I will investigate further.

Yes, I would suggest contacting the uni. As a student from another E.U. country I also had to check what sort of equivalent qualification I needed.
V. strange about needing an A-level and a degree. I would think that somehow the degree would count for a lot more than an A-level. But maybe that's just me.

The need for a 'degree in curriculum subject' rule is often waivered if you can prove that your degree subject is relevant to teaching. For eg, you can get on to a PGCE if you have a business studies degree because it relates to maths etc. I can't see how your subjects could not be relevant to teaching. I know that the degree 'plus A level' rule is definitely not relevant at all universities because I don't have A-levels but I'm a teacher.

I've said this plenty of times on here before, but get yourself over to the staffroom here and I'm sure you'll get loads of really good advice.

Thanks for the advice. I will contact the uni on Monday.

Can I ask you what degree you have schnapps?

By the way that website is great, spent ages browsing through it

Mia im at uwe studying my degree in early childhood studies and its a viable cousre to transfer over to the pgce. I could try to talk to my course leader about what you need for the pgce if that may help, she's bound to know. It'd help me as well as im wanting to go into early years teaching and have never been made aware of this before.

Lwatkins, don't think you need to worry about it if you want to teach early years. The early years PGCE is generic. It's the primary teaching PGCE (key stage 1 and 2) that I'm concerned about.

UWE's website states -

'Applicants should have a good honours degree (normally 2.1). For Primary you are required to have a qualification relevant to the National Curriculum, this could be your degree or an A-Level.'

It all depends what they mean by relevant I suppose. Obviously a degree in childhood and youth studies is going to be relevant to teaching but is it necessarily relevant to the national Curriculum?

If you could find out any information for me though, I would be really grateful.

Thanks

Thanks for the suggestion NurseryJo but I want to teach older children. Early years restricts me to teaching 3-8 year olds. Primary teaching is 5-11.

Mia, my degree is in a curriculum subject, but I know of plenty of people who did not have a curriculum subject for their degree or a-levels. They just had to think of ways of making thier degree sound relevant in the process of application to PGCE.

I'm a primary teacher and I can honestly say that my degree is of absolutely no benefit to my job at all. Degree level qualifications are just not relevant to teaching primary school teaching. I suppose it just comes down to how popular a uni is, and how picky they can be.

Thanks schnapps. I'm feeling more optimistic about it all now.

Mia, I did a PGCE 3 years ago, and my A levels were completely unrelated to the National Curriculum. I also know several others who had unrelated A levels also . Let us know how you get on.

MordecaiAliVanAllenOShea did you do a early years or primary PGCE?

I know that some universities do a generic primary PGCE but the ones local to me don't

I am not exactly sure tbh. I think it was a generic one. I know I am qualified to teach KS1 & 2. I have never been particularly interested in early years so I haven't checked that out.

Just found this quote:

"For those applying to the Primary PGCE course a degree with some national curriculum subject content is desirable but not essential".

on the Birmingham uni website . I know you've applied to a different uni, but at least you know that it is possible at some uni's!

Thanks for that schnapps. Might have to consider looking further afield. Got to get my degree first mind.

Why dont you do the BEd route if you want to be a primary school teacher. It will prepare you better for teaching. The way that uni fees are rising it would probably be a cheaper option for you.

hiya

I am studying for a degree too and was hoping to do PGCE aswell but I don't have higher english which is essential (in Scotland) any advice?

Frances5 - I can't move because of dp's job and the nearest uni's don't run the BEd.

Ev1esmum - Sorry no advice. Have you spoken to your tutors about it?

I haven't even got A levels but I have just completed a degree, for which I got a 2:1. Rather than going straight on to do the PGCE I decided to take a year out ... big mistake - huge mistake.

In October they brought in the new age law so now you have to have GCSE in maths, english and science. I have the maths and english but not the science. Thing is had I applied to do it this year I didn't need to have the science subject.

I have a couple of friends who are doing/have just finished the PGCE for KS 1 & 2 and none of them have an A level in a national curriculum subject - in fact I don't think any of them even have A levels (but they have all recently completed a 2+2 degree or done the Access course and a degree).

Also individual universities have different rules on gaining access to the PGCE course - for example my local uni insists that you must have the GSCE subjects or have completed the equivalency tests prior to putting in your application. Yet I know other unis that do not have this requirement - ie you can apply in the December whilst you are doing the GCSE(s) or will offer you a place on the condition that you will get the qualification prior to the start of the course!

Hope this is helpful!

Thanks Margy. I know most uni's run a generic PGCE so A'levels are not necessary.

The problem I have is that the uni I want to go to runs a curriculum co-ordinator PGCE. Part of the entry requirement is a national curriculum subject at A'level or degree.

I'll have the opportunity to discuss it at my interview for the degree course anyway (22nd Feb!)

ev1esmum - you'll need to do higher english night class. You've got to have maths and english, from what I remember (primary).