PGCE Applications for September 2018

[PersianCatLady]

After the last thread went a bit off course and ended up dying a death, I thought that it would be nice to see where we are with our applications and to make this the go-to thread if anybody wants any help, support or just general chit-chat about their PGCE Applications for September 2018.

I am currently waiting to hear back from my UCAS application. I applied to the SCITT programmes at two local schools to do a PGCE in secondary Computer Science.

My skills tests are booked for 1 February 2018 and I am currently waiting for Amazon to deliver some books to help me prepare for the tests.

I am really looking forward to hearing how you are all getting on with your applications.

How long has everyone waited before they've heard back after interviews?

I had mine on Friday morning and was told that I'd hear back the same day or the day after (so Monday) via email.

I've been having problems with my emails, so I rang this school to ask whether emails had been sent out yet. The lovely headteacher had told me that if I had any questions then I was free to ring up and ask. Anyway, I got put through to the PA and asked if the emails had been sent out and she was really rude, said she couldn't tell me and told me to just sort my email account out.

So I've still not heard back, don't have a clue when I'll hear back and don't know if the email has been lost in my dodgy inbox.

Thanks for the links Persiancat lady .

I'm doing parts of the application form at the moment and cannot remember which exam boards I did my GCSEs and A-Levels with, argh!

Also need to take the time to properly work on the personal statement.

Congrats on the interviews to those who are having them, must be nerve wracking but exciting :).

@Clara04 Do you not have your certificates? You will be asked to take the certificates to interviews.

Hey I'm applying for SCITT in the west midlands for MFL. This week I need to actually put in my applications. I'm Scottish and applying in England to get the bursary as they don't offer that in Scotland. How much school experience have you all had recently? I spent a week in a school in 2012 and then in 2013 and was in a school on my year abroad. I've since done a PhD and have extensive experience teaching undergrads. I've also done tutoring for primary kids. I know I can teach - the question is whether I can handle a class load of them full time.

Experience needs to be within the last 2 years or it doesn't count, so anything from January 2016 onward i'm afraid. 2 weeks is normally enough.

The experience also needs to be within the age group that you want to teach - primary or secondary.

Thanks I thought it would be something like that so I'm organising experience atm. Once I have the experience lined up can I apply or do I have to wait until it is completed?

Also any offers on what the pass mark for the skills test is?

It depends how far away your experience is going to be. Some places will reject you without completed experience and others may offer an interview but you will be at a disadvantage if the experience hasn't been completed before your interview.

I'm not sure of the pass threshold for the skills tests but I would put these to the back of your mind atm. I've done the literacy one and as long as you have a decent grasp of spelling and grammar you should find it quite easy.

I do one morning per week in a primary school, when I had my interview I had completed 4 days in total and they required 10. I was given a place on the condition I had completed my 10 days by September. I believe the threshold for the skills tests are roughly 65%.

As a shortage subject applicant you’ll probably get interviews and offers (conditional perhaps) without much recent experience, though the interviewer will probably ask questions about why you want to teach. Not the case so much with primary as there isn’t the same desperation to fill places as in secondary mfl/maths/science.

If you have some experience booked you’ll be ok with applications.

I had the interview for my first choice today and I've been offered a place!!

I'm sat here crying (happy tears) and I don't know what to say!

All of my hard work has paid off and I hope that everyone going through this process has success as well. If anyone has any questions about their primary teaching application or interview then i'll do my best to help out.

crazy it only took a day for both of mine to get back to me. That’s really shit that she was rude! Have they not updated UCAS for you?

Oh clara good luck 😉. It took me about a week to get my ps right! But just be honest and show some personality and enthusiasm. As crazy says above though, you will need your certs as proof and the exam board should be written on them.

renaissance I think it depends a lot on the provider. I too have had lots of teaching experience, but none of which in a classroom. They asked me on interview today whether I would benefit from some classroom experience and offered to set some up for me!
Maybe say in your application that you are keen on getting more before September?

Sorry crazy I didn’t see your update! Congratulations!!!
I received an offer today too, which i accepted.... I too cried! I think it was from the huge weight just falling off my shoulders!

Forgot to ask! Where have you applied to?

@Redwineistasty No, I've still not heard from them and my ucas hasn't been updated - i'm not bothered now that my first choice has offered me a place.

The PGCEs that I applied for were all primary schools direct (unsalaried) in the greater manchester area, where did you apply?

Fantastic! That’s a good area to do it in, lots of variety!
Mine’s in secondary geography in Lancashire/Cumbria

Congratulations to you both on your offers, that is wonderful news

Congratulations Crazy and Redwine! That is great news.

Renaissance, I am in Scottish too. Very interesting that you are choosing to train in England due to differences in funding.

I am clinging on to the hope that the government follow through with the new bursaries that were proposed a few months ago AND that I am eligible / successful in getting one. If not it is going to be a real struggle!

I am Scottish, not am in Scottish, obviously!

Anyone doing cumbria (Lancaster campus)

Got my interview tomorrow. Really nervous and don't feel ready.

Hi sunshine I hope your interview went well this morning!
I’m not doing mine with Cumbria Uni, I had an interview planned with them next week but cancelled it as I have been accepted on a SCITT in Lancashire/Cumbria

Aw well done Redwineistasty

Yeah interview was great. Really laid back and lovely people.

I got an offer as long as I pass my science gcse .

Well done sunshine 😀 Are you taking gcse science in the summer?.... I resat my maths gcse a couple years ago for the course too.

Yeah, it is a distance learning course igcse biology. Exam papers I will sit in a local exam centre in may and June

Hate science hence still needing to pass it at the age of 28