Teacher Training PGCE

[giddyfeet]

I went back to university as a mature student and completed a degree in media writing, which, as the title says, is all sorts of writing for the media, mainly journalism and film studies.

I did go through a period of trying to get into journalism but as I am not in london, 18 and willing to work for 12k a year that did not get very far.

I was a communications assistant for a while but could not settle myself into the vulger world of marketing.

I am not running my own web design business but I don't like working on alone, sat at the computer and am now considering, in an attempt to get a "proper" job, going in to teacher training.

I read an article in the Independent newspaper saying that people with a 2:1 or higher can be fast-tracked into the classroom and I started to think that maybe teaching isnt that bad an idea at all. I wouldnt want to be fast-tracked (I would go to uni and do the pgce) but I am attracted by a regular wage, a job that will offer something different every day, challenges, getting some kind of respect but also because I am desperate to live in Australia and this would give me the points that I need. Plus I really want to go on to further study but can't afford to and the govt will pay me to do this.

So my questions here are - are any of you doing teacher training? how do you find it? at uni i was quite shy talking in front of groups of people and hated the being centre of attention thing during presentations so I am concerned that I may find teaching difficult in that respect but does it get easier? does it really fit in well with being a mother (I have a 10yo)?

I'd appreciate anything else you can tell me too.

I am considering teaching English, Drama and Media to 11-18 year olds.

Thanks

Syrup - I've looked at the link but think Sussex Uni will be too far for me. Had a quick scan through the info - did you apply to do the PGCE then the Enhancement? Was it difficult to get on to (20 places isn't much)? By full-time are you doing 9 to 5? Is it lecture based to develop your understanding of chem or is it aimed at teaching to A-level standard so not much of the really advanced stuff? Do you have children and if so how do you find fitting in the classes?

Apologies for thread hijack and for asking so many questions.

Here goes, I start my PGCE in sept you have to be accepted before you can start an enhancement and you have to follow directly onto the PGCE after it. Our course runs mon-fri along same dates as school terms and lectures are 10-3 so I do the school run then a mad dash to college.
2 kids 3+5 and it does fit quite well but we have a wonderful au pair (kids now in bunks and AP in box room! As normal childcare was going to cost a fortune!
People on the course have travelled from Watford / London and Southampton
Level of course is mixed as some people have chem degrees some other science (one PHD in neuro something) and a few with non pure science qualifications.
One girl who is a chemist is using it to revise others to learn new the aim seems to be that some will be able to teach A level but all to manage GCSE.
I'm popping out now but if you want to email me direct its
janeandwill at hotmail dot co dot uk
(my attempt to stop the spammers!)

Some teacher training institutions are more child friendly than others (in terms of letting you go early to do pick ups etc or turning a blind eye if your child is not well and you need to take time off.) However, remember that you need to spend a certain amount of days in your placement schools and in the college to be able to pass your PGCE. Absence and lateness are rigorously monitored in the placement schools.

To get on the PGCE you will need to have spent at least a week in a Secondary observing teaching (ring a school nearby or go in and ask if they can arrange this for you).
The PGCE provider will ask you about this on their internal application form and in the interview ie. "How did you find this?" "What were some of your key observations of school life?" They'll also expect you to be able to know a few buzz phrases and about some of the major issues in education at the moment.

I would strongly recommend doing these observations - both to enable you to decide whether to go into teaching and also to get onto the course. Remember that you will be up against applicants with Masters and PhDs, and those who have taught previously (without teaching qualifications) as well as teaching assistants with degrees.

Think about doing the PGCE with the OU. No lectures at all, you do it all on line in your own time. So I did lots of mine when the kids were in bed.

TP has to be done as per normal, mind you. And they don't cover all subjects, but well worth thinking about. You can also take up to 3 years to complete (I took 2)

MB - how does the OU PGCE differ from the Uni-based ones. For example, I checked out Science at Reading and there you are expected to be able to teach Science from 11 to 14, then two Sciences to GCSE and then your specialist science to A-level. Is this the same? I would prefer to teach maths and chem than physics and chem but it seems this is not possible. Is the OU more flexible in this respect?

Your subject knowledge is 'audited' at the start. You are expected to teach everything to the end of KS3 and offer one science at ks4 and ks5. (at least I think it was 1 at ks4 it might have been more than 1)

I felt that I was OK to teach everything to the end of GCSE, but would only want to teach biology at a level.

My tutor wanted me to offer Chemistry as well, but I felt that was too much.

You'll be surprised how easity you get back into the swing of things. I was worried sick that I wouldn't know enough. My Subject knowledge soon got back up to speed. You'll be fine!

Not with Physics MB! All that Left-hand rule stuff and circuits. Stomach-churning thoughts.
I have been over this in my mind so many times and it all comes back to confidence - 10 years bringing up children has eroded every bit of mine. How much time-out (if any) did you have or were you always involved with science?

I was 'out' for 3 years with dd, did a bit of consultancy, then 'out' for another 3 with ds. That said, the science I was doing had bugger all to do with the NC science course (with one or two exceptions)

Seriously, you'll be amazed at how easilt it all comes back, and by inclination I'm not physicist!

and you'll be masses more confident with the kids than if you were a childless 21 year old. Swings and round abouts ans all that!

Hi giddyfeet

I'm doing a full time PGCE curently (only 10 weeks to go!). Its utterly exhausting and I can honestly say that unless you love the actual teaching, its hard to stick out. There is endless paperwork, standards to meet, observations, essays, presentations (at college) and basically, lots of pressure for a lot of the time. When I'm based at college, we're in lectures from 9 till 5 and often have some work to do in the evenings. Whilst at school, the lesson planning, marking, assessment and preparing resources is a never ending job. On my particular course, we're also expected to do daily and weekly evaluations of all our lessons.

So thats the 'bad' stuff! On the plus side, if you really want to teach, interacting with the children is brilliant, every day is different and you genuinely feel like you make a 'difference'. Its also the sort of job where you are always learning and always will learn which I absolutely love.

You need to get lots of school experience - my university would not even interview people without considerable and recent experience in the key stage that you want to work, simply because lots of people go into schools and are put off.

Also, be prepared for all the other 'stuff' that comes with teaching; one of my teaching practices is in a pretty deprived area, and there are lots of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, which is a challenge in itself regardless of the actual teaching. If you haven't been in a school recently, you might be shocked by some of the situations that teachers encounter. With regards to the subject of your degree, universities prefer a degree which is strongly related to the National CUrriculum.

Finally, teaching is not particulary child friendly. Admittedly, you do get the holidays (although on the PGCE, many courses do not give half term holidays) although at Christmas we were snowed under with work. Days at school are also very long.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Hello everyone. I want to thank you all for taking the time to give me your considered opinions on going into teaching.

To be honest, what you have all said, while it did not put me off, certainly gave me doubts about going into this industry. But then I got the info booklet that is produced and sent out and it made me realise that it is not really the right job for me as a person. I think I knew this all along but wanted to convince myself that it was the answer I was looking for (when I am not entirely sure of the question). However, I have seen far too many teachers in the industry for the wrong reasons (I was on the receiving end of such teaching) and I think I would be doing more of a service not going into teacher, than going into it.

To answer the last post I don't think my degree subject would necessarily go againstme for not being a national curriculum subject because as a writing degree we did a lot of work closely relating to english lang and lit. Also, we studied ww2 and the holocaust extensively so I would cover aspects of history.

Also, I come from a seriously deprived background, and at times a very negative background and due to my environment I pretty understanding of "the street" for want of a better term. I really doubt there would be anything that would shock me as I have been exposed to many things, one way or another.

Countrylass, I'm due to start a PGCE this September and I am hoping that it will be child-friendly. But you say not. Not even the holidays and the relatively early start?

Hi

With regards to the course being child friendly, it does depend on the institution but to be honest, it's not, apart from the summer, Christmas and Easter holiday. However, over Christmas, I had stacks of work to do, and, talking to experienced teachers, I've been told that half terms are often a no-no because of assessments, etc, and there's normally at least some time taken up over Christmas and Easter catching up with things. With regards to summer, I know many teachers who will spend at least a few days in the classroom because quite often, thats the only time to do stuff like organising resources, updating wall displays and so on. Although obviously, that still leaves a 4-5 week break which is fantastic.

With regards to day to day working hours, they are very long. As I said in my earlier post, university days are 9 - 5 and for me, with travelling added on, means I am out of the house from 7.30 until 6.00 every day. With regards to school hours, I am very lucky that I have been placed close to where I live - institutions will strive to place you as close as possible to schools, although cannot please everybody. Many of my colleagues travel up to hour each way to get to school. Starting time at schools differ, but normally, it is expected that you will arrive about at least 20 mins/half an hour before school starts. After school, although there is no set requirement to fufil, the nature of the job means that you often work till about 5 with lesson planning, marking, staff meetings, planning meetings, etc. So basically, my school day means leaving the house at 8.00 and getting home about 5.30. I normally then have work to do at home, although this tends to be related directly to the PGCE which requires a great deal of paperwork over and above which you would do as a 'normal' teacher.

I have also found that whilst on teaching practice, I spend about 7/8 hours a week working at the weekends. I tend to do this on weekend evenings to get time to spend with my son during the days. These long hours are not unusual because obviously, somebody inexperienced in planning will take a lot longer than somebody who has planned for years and years.

I have been assured that things to get better after the NQT year regarding the workload, but, apart from the summer holiday, full time teaching is not a child friendly job.

Let me know if you need any info regarding the course.

It does sound hard but then I can't think of any jobs that are more child-friendly. Can you? Can anyone? Many of my friends work till 7pm, six at the earliest. An hour to get home and only five weeks holiday a year. True, they rarely work weekends or after the kids are in bed but I think I'd rather do that and still get home for supper with the children.

I wish the university day didn't start at 9 though. I like the morning school run.

Sorry, Countrylass. Can you really not leave at the end of the school day and do the planning at home? Is it frowned on?

alos a teacher - my dd's school finishes an hour before my school, and i have a half hour journey, so i'm trying to cut my hours to be there for her sometimes. no chance of dropping her off as i have to be in school by 8.30. some days you can go home once teaching has finished, but it's loads of stuff to carry, and no photocopier at home etc. i work really late one eve a week ehn dh picks dd up, the other days i pick her up about 5.30. don't forget there'll be meetings as well.
and at my school you can forget about any time for nativity plays, sports days etc. they also stop pay if you stay home with a poorly lo. not all schools are like this, but if you're not in school when the kids are, it costs the school a lot to cover you!
otoh my sister's school arranges prep time so she can go home early one day a week to see her dc's.

sorry if that disheartens you! you would need to see what the school is like, can be very varied.

Kickassangel - thanks for that info. Can I ask - are you a classroom teacher or do you have extra responsibility? I ought to know the answer to this because I do know a lot of teachers but not many with kids.

Where are you doing your PGCE?

Your course may vary to mine, but full time courses are normally just that, requiring you to be there all day.

With regards to planning at home; once again, it depends on your school but I have to say that none of my colleagues on the course leave straight after the school day and are informally expected to remain on site. As a student you have to be seen to be keen and involved and therefore, you will be required to do joint planning with the rest of the department, attend all staff meetings and take part in extra curricular activities. Even if you don't plan as a team, as a trainee, you still often work closely with your class teacher to make sure that your teaching is meeting the needs of the children.

I guess in terms of many other full time 9 - 5 jobs, it is not much different and you do get the holidays. However, as I said, I do about 2 hours work per night as well as staying till 5 whilst on teaching practice which in other jobs is not required. Also, there's not a huge amount of flexibility, for example in an office job you could choose to take an afternoon off to see your child's school play, which would be impossible to do as a teacher.

Yes, I'm concerned about the lack of flexibility. Thank you for all that information. It's much appreciated.

Thanks everyone. Very worried now but thanks all the same. Better eyes wide open.

If it is any help, I'm not too sure if any full time job is really childfriendly. I was cabin crew... away weeks at a time, standbys / availables / delays / reroutes etc I was never able to guarantee where I would be. Thankfully I was able to find another job "on the ground" when I had my children and it worked only because it was part time but now financially I need to work full time and this job was shifts and meant I wouldn't see my boys for 6 days at a time, only 1 weekend off in 4 and no leave during school holidays urghhhhhhhhh.
So even though I totally realise that school runs are out long days and planning in evenings / weekends I think I will still have more time with my children (apart from the fact that I really want to teach!)