Is your school allowing trainee teachers in?

[RooTheRabbit]

Hello

I'm a trainee teacher. I'm doing a PGCe with an English university.

Sadly, because of COVID, I haven't been given a placement yet. Some of my course mates have, but most of us haven't.

The Uni claim that it's the schools' fault. They say that the schools don't want us at the moment as they're too busy. Is this true?

I'm really worried that I won't qualify.

I'm not young, so I can't afford to spend another year studying.

We do have trainees (secondary) but in my department which is a large, core subject we only have 1. Normally we would take two. We said 1 only because we feel that's all we can support at the moment.

I am mentoring our NQT this year so although I would normally take a trainee I can't really. It wouldn't be fair to them or my NQT as with the additional workload at present and being 2nd in faculty trying to support staff all over the school there's no way I could give both the support they deserve.

Equally, other staff in my department don't have the capacity either

I feel for you though - it's really rubbish The schools placement is the key part of training and for me, was the best bit.

Keep asking the uni until you get some answers.

I think some ITT providers have handled this really poorly. It wouldn't have taken much at the start of the summer to realise placements would be limited this year. I think unis should have started looking for people willing defer a year and exploring other options.

I think it is ridiculous that they are taking your fees when they can't offer you a placement.

I can't really see schools offering a placement between now and Christmas, unfortunately - and who knows what the situation will be like after Christmas!

That's why I asked the OP if she was paying. I wouldn't be willing to pay for a course of which the key component is missing and taking money when you know you can't provide the training is shite.

Yes, I'm paying the full £9k fees. But I am getting quite a big bursary (STEM) too.

They sent us an email before the course started saying that courses wouldn't be refunded under any circumstances