applying for Pgce

[1marie]

Hi everyone, I am after some advice....I am in my final year at university and the plan was to apply for the PGCE, however today I received a caution from the police (for common assault).

I know I have been really stupid but I honestly thought I was acting in self defence. The police informed me this was not the case, as although I was being threaten (a bottle of vodka though my car window....my child was in the car) she did not actually make contact with me, child or car. She did however raise the bottle....so I pushed her, when she came towards me I then punched her.

With a caution now on my CRB I am unsure what the future holds...
IF I get on the course and qualify as a primary teacher will I get employed?
Will the degree I?m doing count for anything or will employers just not be interested?

If anyone has any information especially teachers, employers of people who look after children...I would be very grateful.

Sorry not an expert but I would advice asking on TES prospective teachers forum
I would ask your university and perhaps contact one of the teaching unions for advice.

I found these

community.tes.co.uk/forums/t/219467.aspx?PageIndex=1
community.tes.co.uk/forums/p/538124/7151877.aspx

Tbh do you think you have the temperament to be a teacher? Even in primaries teachers can face extremely provocative and aggressive behaviour, and in secondaries it is even more challenging.

I'm not in any way condoning the students' behaviour and they do get sanctions, but teachers MUST be ultra non-violent and aggressive even if a child is "in their face" and swearing at them.

I think if you get on the course that indicates whether employers will taki it into consideration, if course place is withdrawn or refused you can ask if this was relevant.
This is miserable for you OP as sounds like you were in a hideous position. You can always put an explanation in with your CRB, and hope for a sympathetic reading.
Good luck.

That's a bit unfair roisin, I'm a teacher and am ultra professional in school, and I've worked in difficult areas with challenging parents. That's my job.
But if I was out and about and someone was threatening me, especially if I felt my child was in danger, then I would protect us both.
A bottle of vodka through the window? How can that not be seen as an attack by the police?

We wouldn't take you in our school. We have taken people with things on their record when they have told us about it but not for anything relating to violence of any sort. Sorry.

I think it's the punch that would do it. That's assault. It sucks, as I can't be sure I wouldn't resort to violence if my child was threatened, but it would certainly jeopardise a teaching position.

IME, it would be down to the Head & governors at interview. You'd have to disclose it in any application and if you got as far as interview, you'd be asked about it. I've been on a panel that interviewed a prospective teacher with a conviction. His was for a drunken fight whilst at Uni. 3 of his mates were involved but he took the rap. Our head's view was that we've all been idiots when younger and he should be given a chance. But each case would be treated individually.

Hand on heart, I can't say for sure if your conviction would be seen in a similar way, but you never know.

Don't know much about this. But how long does a caution last? Does it expire at some point of time?
But more importantly - can you not question/ appeal the caution given the circumstances you were in? It does not sound like a fair caution based on your post. Question it, raise it with your local MP. If you think you have been wronged - dont just accept it lying down. Any mum would do anything to save her child of she feels the hint of a threat.

It also depends too whether it was a formal /official caution or not.

Another consideration is the level of competition for PG courses. Massive. So it could be that they have no need to consider anyone with such a conviction when they have hundreds of other applicants without.

FallenCaryatid - as I understand it the vodka bottle was not thrown through the window, but rather OP perceived there was a threat to throw the bottle.

I think a push is an over reaction to that threat, and following it up with a thump is certainly FAR more violent and aggressive than me! Primary jobs in many areas are very competitive and hard to come by; with a record like this - especially one that is NOT in the dim and distant past - you've got the odds stacked against you before you've started.

I know the teaching unions all advise against accepting a caution under any circumstance for that reason tiggytape.