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Original poster

PCGE with no intention of teaching ?

191 replies

Sofabitch · 16/09/2016 23:41

Has anyone done the pcge with no intention of actually going into teaching?

I'm considering doing it. The bursary is pretty good and I could really do with a year to bump up my finances and repair my savings after 3 years of student finance before starting on the bottom rung of somewhere.

I figure it will look great on my CV regardless and has loads of great skills that I can take with me into my carer, plus I can get 60 credits at Masters level which saves a few thousand on the OU.

Is this an unworkable plan?

I mean there is a possibility I'll love it right ;-) but from everything I've read I'm not holding my breath.

I think i would enjoy it. But realistically don't think I could be a teacher in today's climate.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sofabitch · 17/09/2016 18:37

That is what I was thinking. A great way to get master levels credits cheaply.

I also find the you won't get away with it comments a bit odd. There aren't any expectations linked to doing a PCGE. You don't have to commit to x amount of years teaching or anything.

I actually think I woukd be a bloody good teacher. But well I kinda think they get treated like shit and undervalued massively I don't want to do that.

Is it any worse to take government training and then go to a private school for example?

It's a paid for qualification. That I would have to work hard for. Morally I don't think its a big issue. I wouldn't be blasé about my training and ignore sensible advice.

OP posts:
needsahalo · 17/09/2016 18:43

You will get Masters credits, yes. But will they be transferable to the Masters you want to do?

It is a hard job and the PGCE year is hellish. Plenty of people complete but never teach. You need to remember that the NQT year is essential to be considered qualified.

PotteringAlong · 17/09/2016 18:44

No, you don't have to commit to anything, but don't underestimate the amount of time it takes to mentor a pgce student, on top of a normal teaching commitment, for no reward other than creating a brilliant teacher for the next generation of students.

I don't mind at all when someone decides that teaching isn't for them; it takes a lot of guts to walk away from something you really wanted to do because you know you don't want to do it any more. I mind more when someone is seeing it as a cash cow.

noblegiraffe · 17/09/2016 19:23

There aren't any expectations linked to doing a PCGE.

Then why did you say you wouldn't tell anyone that you weren't intending to teach? Why not be upfront with them about how exactly you are wasting their precious time?

It's funny that you don't want to be a teacher because they get treated like shit but you'd be happy to pretend to teachers that you want to be one while they work their arses off unpaid to help you take the money and run.

storynanny · 17/09/2016 19:32

You also have to pass those online tests first.

calliecat · 17/09/2016 19:35

I found the PGCE fine when I did it. It's not as bad as people make out. I'd look at this as an experiment to see if it is for you or not.

TheHumanSatsuma · 17/09/2016 19:36

Go for it, teaching is, of course, a doddle and you can spend a year relaxing before starting a career....after all you will only be working from 9 to 3.. And then there's the holidays...

laughing hysterically

minatiae · 17/09/2016 19:38

You're taking a place from someone who will actually use the training. Don't do it.

Landoni112 · 17/09/2016 19:44

If only 60% of potential teachers complete their pgce training year, then she isn't taking a place away from anyone.

reup · 17/09/2016 19:45

My PGCE hasn't helped my career out of teaching at all. I'm doing supply at the moment but when applying for jobs outside I'm was not even getting library assistant jobs or interviews.(on £9 an hour wages) One time I didn't even get an interview for a TA job as I was told there were better qualified people than me!

The MA thing sounds good though. It's a foul year through and the only thing worse is the 1st year of teaching!

chocoshopoholic · 17/09/2016 19:45

If you do, please also choose a big provider as you'll have less impact on the providers employment rate that ofsted will be looking at in their next inspection.

BoneyBackJefferson · 17/09/2016 19:49

Landoni112

She may well be taking a place on the course away from someone that actually wants to teach, whether they complete the course or not is immaterial.

It annoys me more that she is wasting the time of her mentor and others in the school.

ReallyTired · 17/09/2016 20:00

"She may well be taking a place on the course away from someone that actually wants to teach, whether they complete the course or not is immaterial. "

If she has a degree in a shortage subject there won't be lots of completion for a place.

I agree it's not fair on the mentor or the students that she will be teaching. It's one thing to fail a PGCE because you aren't good enough. It's another put students through duff lessons while you learn and not use the training afterwards.

What does the op want to do with her life? If she is vaguely serious about teaching then she should get a job in a school. She can really see what school life is like.

coolaschmoola · 17/09/2016 20:05

I am a teacher... I deal with all of the crap you don't fancy.

I am also a PGCE mentor. In ADDITION to all of the crap I already deal with. I don't get paid any extra, I don't get any additional time. I fit my mentoring in around my normal teaching and 'crap'.

The crap isn't for you, fair enough. But why on earth would you waste MY time supporting you, helping you when you have NO intention of using any of it?

You would be exploiting a volunteer. Bad form OP.

Not to mention that money is made available by the government to encourage people to train and fill empty teaching roles, yet you would take the money and deliberately leave that teaching slot empty. You may be able to do it, but it is morally wrong.

As for it being easy... It's not. Someone above said as long as you have subject knowledge you're fine. The academic side of my PGCE was education theory and my degree knowledge had feck all to do with anything except for the Teaching. And I really would check whether you can use the Masters credits for the Masters you want to do. You may find that they only link to an MEd.

CaptainBrickbeard · 17/09/2016 20:10

I did a PGCE because I didn't know what else to do and I will admit, I was crap and not very committed. I was lucky enough to get a job and ten years on I am a highly committed, hardworking, good teacher. Very few of my course mates are still in teaching. I love mentoring trainee teachers and wouldn't consider it a waste of my time if one decided not to continue with teaching. You might find out that you love it and stick with it anyway. If you take the course seriously, I think it's fine.

alivealiveoh · 17/09/2016 20:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ratley · 17/09/2016 20:28

I am a cover supervisor desperate to become a history teacher, I only have a 2:2 degree, history is a really competitive subject, I really really hope I am not up against people like you better on paper but no real desire to be a teacher. You are taking a place away from people like me.

Ratley · 17/09/2016 20:29

Oops hadn't finished.
People like me who believe teaching is a vocation and would dedicate myself to it.

Gwenhwyfar · 17/09/2016 20:42

" I can't speak for other institutions but at mine you will also need at least two weeks recent experience in a state school before applying and you might still get weeded out in the interview process"

How do you have school experience without a PGCE? Is this a new thing? None of the teachers I know had that when they started their PGCE? OP is obviously in a shortage subject - I presume she has a 1st in a science subject to be getting such a high bursary.

alivealiveoh · 17/09/2016 20:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BoneyBackJefferson · 17/09/2016 20:46

CaptainBrickbeard

I love mentoring trainee teachers, (from all the different entries available), Some of those that have struggled have progressed through the year and gone on to be excellent teachers.

But the OP has no intention of even trying to go through the NQT year, so why is she wasting the time of the school, the pupils, and of those that volunteer to do the mentoring on the PGCE year? (rhetorical) frankly I find her attitude and the attitude of others that are encouraging her to do this insulting.

Gwenhwyfar · 17/09/2016 20:46

" It would be very hard to hide that you weren't actually applying for any jobs."

Surely OP could make some excuse e.g. 'I'm delaying until next year for family reasons'.

SpeakNoWords · 17/09/2016 20:49

Is there no requirement any more to teach for x number of years in the state sector to avoid having to pay the bursary back? So you can get £25000 for the year, tax free, and then just walk away?

ReallyTired · 17/09/2016 20:50

"How do you have school experience without a PGCE? Is this a new thing? None of the teachers I know had that when they started their PGCE? OP is obviously in a shortage subject - I presume she has a 1st in a science subject to be getting such a high bursary."

School experience can be voluntary work. There are also lots of support jobs in a school. I think the youth work is good experience as well. Does the op enjoy working with children? Maybe a career in social work or working as an educational attendence officer would suit her.

Gwenhwyfar · 17/09/2016 20:52

"The fees are only 9k,"

3k in Wales for Welsh residents, I think.

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