A thread for those starting a PGCE in September 2020

[RooTheRabbit]

Hello

Is anyone else starting a PGCe in September?

I'm doing a university-based one, starting September 15th, I think.

They've said that they're moving all the academic bits to the first semester, and focusing on the practice in semester 2, whereas usually it's a bit more blended.

I'm really enjoying the course so far. It seems like a new bunch of people and great teachers.

Sadly, due to COVID, we don't have our placement details just yet.

Well, my course is being run like Faulty Towers atm...

The lectures are pre-recorded (and often don't work). The lecturers themselves have no idea what's happening with our placements and have told us to stop asking about it!

Goodness, where are you studying? Are you paying the full 9250 fee?
Ours has been very well set up so far, with training via zoom ot teams. Using breakout rooms and chat facility. Not quite the same as being together in person but good enough.

Placement starts tomorrow but that's another worry!

I don't want to say which Uni as there aren't many of us on the course, so it would be quite outing.

But yes, we are paying the full 9k fees!

We have one face to face meeting a week, but our Uni has several COVID cases, so I don't want to go in

How are you finding it RooTheRabbit? It sounds quite chaotic!

I’ve deferred my place until next year.

@RooTheRabbit

Well, my course is being run like Faulty Towers atm...

The lectures are pre-recorded (and often don't work). The lecturers themselves have no idea what's happening with our placements and have told us to stop asking about it!

We usually have several trainees but this year we aren't taking any to minimise the extra adults coming into school, I know a lot of schools are doing that this year. Our local secondary are only taking maths and science specialist trainees.

I've just finished the first week of placement.. how are things with you @RooTheRabbit?

Well, it's still not going great

Last week, most of our online lectures didn't work. One of them was a recorded lecture from 2017!

We still don't have our placements, and they don't even seem to be on the horizon.

This week, we have been told to write 4 different lesson plans for 4 different levels and topics.

I'm tying to be positive, and I am doing all the work they assign me, but it just doesn't feel hopeful at the moment.

That sounds a bit rubbish, @RooTheRabbit. My first placement was cancelled due to the specific context of the school, have been in my replacement placement for three weeks now. I am School Direct though, so might be different. Do you have an essay to write yet?

Yes, they have told us to write our assignments this week. They have also given us some teaching scenarios, and they've asked us to write a response to each.

A few people were assigned placements at the start of the week, but I haven't been yet. They said that several host schools have dropped out due to COVID, sadly.

How's it going for everyone?

It's half-term here.... not that it makes any difference as none of us have been given placements yet.

We have had very little communication too. Our lecturers have told us not to contact them. We have been told to wait for them to contact us... I'm starting to get frustrated

Half term here as well, just finished a study week not much study went on
When does your course finish @RooTheRabbit? I've only had 3 weeks in school so far. Are you doing lots of theory up front as it were?

How's everyone doing?

I'm still not on placement, but some of my course mates are.

The Uni is still ignoring us. The only time I hear from them is when they send out their weekly "please don't contact us asking about placements" email!

I'm really worried that we won't qualify at this rate.