BEd or PGCE?

[Watto1]

Dd would like to be a primary school teacher. I was wondering whether the BEd route or the PGCE route is best? Dd is only 14 so we have a while to decide! Also, we are in Wales. Would studying outside of Wales put her at a disadvantage if she wanted to teach in Wales as obviously the Welsh language aspect required in Welsh schools wouldn’t be covered outside Wales. Would very much appreciate the thoughts of primary school teachers. Thanks!

I did a BEd a long time ago. For primary or Early Years I think it gives a fuller education in the wider aspects of the job rather than a degree in subject which may not be relevant. I'm sure other people will be along to disagree.

PGCE, you have more flexibility to move out of education after you've had enough 😁.

PGCE. Have some fun getting an undergrad degree before you have to be a grown up and teach!

@ILoveAnOwl

PGCE. Have some fun getting an undergrad degree before you have to be a grown up and teach!

Why can't you have fun while doing a BEd?

I agree with CaptainMyCaptain

I believe the B.Ed is a better preparation for teaching Primary level than a subject degree and a PGCE.

The Welsh or English choice is a bit different. To start with, it is much cheaper to study in Wales, for Welsh students isn't it? Then there are slight differences in how everything runs and things like Ofsted etc. Plus the Welsh language.
If she feels strongly if she does, or doesn't want to teach in Wales once qualified, that will be a big influence.

BEd if she's sure, degree + PGCE if she wants more flexibility. I did the latter & am glad I did as it allowed me to career change later

Thanks all! You have pretty much confirmed my thoughts . Like I said though, she’s got years to decide and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she changes her mind. Six months ago she was definitely going to be a zookeeper…

@Captainmycaptain because you have to teach children. It's much harder to do that hungover than it is to slump in the back of a lecture hall. But then I'm judging everyone but what I found fun on my undergrad course I suppose 😂

There's probably more work on a BEd but I think it's a better grounding for teaching primary. It's also more likely to attract students that want to be primary teachers (and stick with it) rather than people who do a degree then look for something to do.

If she were never going to leave teaching I'd say BEd but my partner wasn't going to leave teaching either...he did and now because he's got an odd degree it's a barrier to him getting jobs he is very capable of doing outside of teaching. He is far more employable than me but because I have a fairly pedestrian, albeit science, degree I generally meet the essential criteria on more of these jobs even though he meets everything bar the degree.

If she is adamant about teaching, BEd, otherwise it will feel like 3 years of marking time I til she can start the PGCE. I studied education (BA, not BEd/QTS) and saw this a lot amongst friends on the course.

If there is even a hint of a waver (including the possibility of wanting to teach secondary), then PGCE. I thought I wanted to teach - I realised very quickly at uni that I didn’t want to, and was very glad I didn’t do a ‘teaching’ degree (along with the other half of my cohort!).

Both will get you to the same place - I'm not sure schools are too bothered when hiring about whether someone has a BEd or a PGCE. But a degree+PGCE gives you a lot of other options too. So it seems like a no-brainer to me.