How much subject knowledge do you need to do a PGCE?

[Mamalovey]

I went for an interview a couple weeks ago, which I wasn't accepted for. The reason was because they felt my subject knowledge wasn't adequate. But isn't that why Subject Enhancement Courses exist? I wouldn't say that I was that bad, but I just need to spend more time studying it. At this last interview the interview questions were super focused on the subject content and the interviewer really grilled me on it. I mean I didn't get a good vibe from him from the start, and left feeling like if his intention was to scare me off from taking he's done a bloody good job of it!

I did go for a different interview and was accepted.

Is it a case of different teaching providers focusing on different aspects?

What’s the subject you want to teach and what’s your specialism? Assuming secondary?

The starting point is that teachers should have a degree in the subject they want to teach. But with shortage subjects (and arguably almost all subjects are, to a greater or lesser extent, shortage subjects given the recruitment crisis) that has been flexed. Ideally you would still have a related degree - eg teach maths but a degree in economics. That would make you a sensible candidate for a SKE course. But again depending on subject and provider even that could be waived - in wish case potentially an A Level would be sufficient, again with a SKE.

There is a difficulty particularly with languages and science though, where specialism might be in one language/science but there’s an expectation to teach multiple ones at least until KS3. Again, that’s the point of the SKE.

A PGCE teaches you how to teach - it doesn't teach you the subject itself. I would think that you should be educated to degree level in the subject itself, if you expect to be able to teach it to others.

I did a PGCE in a subject I don't have a degree in. I had enough of the subject in the degree I did and an A level.
If I remember back, I was rejected from one course without an interview due to my subject knowledge (on paper). A few people on my course had done Subject Enhancement Courses but my mentor told me not to and I studied as I went along.
I have excellent GCSE results and actually teach my original degree subject at A level. I got my job due to my ability to teach both subjects.
HTH

I imagine if you don't have enough Subject knowledge to pass the interview you don't have enough to teach. Did you know the content well but just stumble on a bit of it or not really know it at all?

What was the subject and what type of questions did you get?

The funny thing is once qualified they often get you teaching other subjects too but there is the expectation you are good at your main subject for secondary (hence becoming a teacher in that subject. )

You will be disappointed to know that most Maths teachers don’t have a Maths degree. Some don’t even have Maths A Level and some have very low GCSE Maths grade.

This applies to many shortage subjects.

That's not ideal though, is it? And is a supporting argument as to why teachers ought to be paid salaries that will attract graduates. Where there are lots of candidates for PGCE courses, those selected should ideally be educated to degree level in the subject they want to teach. How can a teacher be confident in the classroom if their subject knowledge is patchy?

And it would be a complete nightmare for someone teaching, to find themselves knowing less than a student on their class - if you have people teaching maths who have poor grades at GCSE themselves, this could happen if they were put in front of gifted students, with a natural affinity for the subject.

Thank you all for your comments. I have absolutely no doubt a secondary teacher should have excellent knowledge of the subject they're teaching. I had just thought there would be a chance to brush up on that knowledge, both with the subject enhancement courses and during pgce, but maybe that's not the case. I have a degree in architecture wanting to teach DT so the links are not so straightforward.

Unfortunately you have to go into a PGCE with pretty solid subject knowledge as the course is really about teaching you how to teach what you already know. That in itself is challenging enough. Many people fail the PGCE course.

It's a pretty gruelling year and I should think the interviewer was trying not to set you up to fail.

I've never heard of a subject enhancement course but perhaps you could try to do this first and then re-apply for your PGCE

I haven't heard of a

I’m glad you did get offered a place eventually. Good DT teachers are gold dust and it’s such an important and often underrated subject. As someone with an Architecture degree (which is hard work and demanding) you should be able to get on top of the subject content fast. Good luck.

There really won't be time during the PGCE to "brush up" on anything as it's a full time teaching course with placements and portfolios and assessme to to complete all regarding teaching. The assumption is you know your subject and now you want to teach it.

If you are really keen I would look up the DT spec for gcse/A level and revise that before applying. You could get a revision guide and just learn it before applying. If you have an architecture degree it won't be "hard" just worth revising/learning. If that isn't something you've already done those questions at interview might show you've not seriously thought about the content/what you'd be teaching. PGCEs have a high drop out rate so they like to see that people know what they're taking on.

However on another note why on earth leave architecture for teaching!??!?! Have you shadowed a teacher?

Ah completely misread OP and didn't see you got offered a place elsewhere.

Yes it will be a case of different providers "testing" to see your suitability in different ways. I am sure the content will be easy for you so I would just buy some subject textbooks and get up to scratch before you start!

Architecture as a career isn’t quite as well paid or comfortable as people might imagine. It’s a bit out of date but this explains it:

www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20160812-three-careers-you-thought-paid-megabucks-but-dont

DS is an architect and doing well, but he works very long hours including at weekends. DNephew has a good undergraduate architecture degree but is struggling to get a Part 1 job. I can see how in certain circumstances teaching might appeal. DS was inspired by a succession of excellent DT teachers at school.

Thanks everyone. I haven't had a chance to do any school experience yet, but I'm already finding this probably isn't the path for me after all. I don't think it will be 'hard' to get up to speed with the content of DT as a subject, however it's time, and likely time, I may not have. As it stands I am now also pregnant, so I would need to defer the course anyway, and juggling 2 young children while getting into teaching, especially with all its current challenges, i don't think I will find sufficient childcare to deal with my potentially long hours of the pgce and first few years of being on the job.

My PGCE was the hardest thing I've done (very rewarding but utterly exhausting). I think you are right not to do it while you have very small children.
If you do come back to it as a potential career, please do spend a proper amount of time in school shadowing teachers and really looking at their workload. I was teaching when I had a young child and the prep and marking were absolute killers for family life.

Your subject knowledge needs to be good enough to teach by about the October half term of your pgce as that is likely around when you'll start teaching at placement.

Different unis do focus on different things, but equally do bear in mind some do not have the luxury to be picky, and will accept pretty much everyone who applies - ultimately if they don't have any students, the staff running the course won't have a job!

In terms of DT, some schools will expect you to teach textiles/catering type content at least to ks3. Could this be where the first uni was concerned?