PGCE help

[AceSpades54321]

Please can someone help me decide between the 2 following courses:

1. Oxford PGCE secondary Biology (£10k bursary)

2. UCL Further Education PGCE (£26k bursary)

I want to teach A-Level Biology and Psychology (I have bio UG and psych MSc), so FE makes more sense, but I don’t know if this will limit me to colleges instead of schools? Also, would Oxford look better on CV or does it not matter too much? Any advice massively appreciated!

Secondary will give you more options in the future.

The Education department at Oxford is excellent- I did my MSc there. I liked what I saw/heard of the PGCE course.

I don’t know how UCL works but I imagine people live in quite a wide area and travel in. In Oxford you would be part of a college with all the social life and support that goes with it

In terms of the where, I think either institution would be fine.

In terms of which PGCE, I would strongly advise doing the secondary one (11-18).

I had an identical dilemma 13 years ago when trying to choose. I had done work experience in both a school and a 6th form college but more in the college. At the time, I was adamant I only wanted to teach A-level.

A wise colleague at the college advised me to do 11-18 and in the end, I did. I'm so pleased I did it as it opened so many more doors for me.

I actually did my NQT year at the college and worked there for 5 years. At which point, I wanted a change and got a job in an 11-18 school. Loved it, stayed 6 years and got 2 promotions and now about to start as HoD for Science in a brand new secondary.

Teaching KS3 is very different to A-level/post 16 (great fun though!) And doing a post 16 PGCE would limit your options for jobs. As a HoD, I wouldn't want to appoint someone with a post 16 PGCE as I need people experienced in all age ranges.

To be honest in this area anyone who can teach science is u=in demand (more so physics and chem though). Psychology is going through something of an explosion of students wanting to take it - though in my experience it is often taught by non specialists to fill u their timetables.

You would probably get a job is a school with either of those PGCE routes as schools so badly need science teachers - it may be a different story where you are though. From what I know from FE colleagues the condition sna dcontracts in the FE sector can be more precarious than those in secondaries.

Which age group would you prefer to teach? Think long term not just for this one year.

Thanks everyone so much for your thoughts and personal experience, it’s incredibly helpful. I think I’m going to go for the secondary at Oxford! Eek!

If your experience is anything like mine, you'll have a fantastic time! I don't know where you studied for your UG & MSc, but being an Oxford student (even though it was part time, distance learning so I didn't have to go in that often) was unlike anything I'd experienced in my UG and other post-graduate qualifications. A very special time.

Have fun - I know I'm biased but I think you've made the right choice!!

Secondary will give you more options than FE, for sure.

I'd also add that it's often a good idea to train in the area where you'd want to work. Networking and local references can be a big thing in teaching.