PGCE

[Pennyres]

I’m considering applying to a primary PGCE but would like some real information before I do so! So far, I’ve heard uni’s information - ‘we’ll support you ….etc’ and I’ve heard/read horror stories but what’s it really like?

I’m after more than just ‘it’s hard/tiring’ or tips to survive 😂

Realistically, what support is provided? What does a ‘normal’ week look like in terms of juggling placement and uni? What should I know that it’s assumed I know about the application process?

I realise everyone’s experiences will be different, I’d just like a realistic view before I commit.

My PGCE sent me super far out... I was travelling for many hours a day, I wish I had refused that placement as the travelling in addition to the lesson planning and assessments was too much. I think a school direct would have suited me much better.
Make sure you are not wasting time travelling. I would keep my journeys down to max 30 minutes each way. It is not necessary to put yourself through commuting as it is soo brutal on the PGCE.
It will be a steep learning curve and very hard. Go in with a realistic view, be prepared for early mornings and late evenings. And DO NOT leave your assignments to the last minute.

It's a year of 8 am to 12 pm then 1 pm to 6 pm lectures and classes, non stop (not like a degree with one lecture at 10am and one lecture at 2pm). You're also working most evenings and weekends doing assignments and research. Just like a qualified teacher, you have to manage your time, so you could plan to have one evening off for example and work harder the other evenings or work every evening and have some time off at the weekend.

Obviously, as well as this you have your placements in usually two schools one before Christmas, and one from about March to June. You are expected to carry out the full role of a teacher, helping with clubs, displays, marking, parents evening, staff meetings etc as well completing a few, in placement assignments. It's a tough year, but doable and a good year to prepare you for teaching. It was a positive for me to be around other students doing the same course, talking about our school experiences, supporting each other and of course the odd Friday evening visit to the pub and /or uni bars with student colleagues to discuss educational theories! I enjoyed the mix of serious training with still be a student in Uni.

Being a teacher brings many rewards, but as we know it's very tough. If people can't hack the PGCE, they won't hack teaching. It's a good way to prepare you I think, although arguably a bit rushed. Teaching is a very, very tough job and extremely stressful. But if you know this and still want to do it, then go for it!

I hadn’t thought about the travel and didn’t know that I could reject a placement, just as they could reject me, so that’s useful to know.

I’ve worked in schools as a TA for the past 15 years and my degree is education related (SEN) - which I studied for whilst continuing working (I’m not adverse to a bit of a hard slog ), so although I think I’ve got a good understanding of schools, work involved with a PGCE and teacher’s workload, reality is often different 😀So, thank you for your honest replies. They’re swaying me further towards applying rather than putting me off!

You will do well then. Going in with a view that it will be a huge slog, but if teaching is your passion go for it
Lot's of people complete PGCEs and never go into teaching

My daughter is a fairly new secondary teacher and did her PGCE through a SCITT rather than at university. The PGCE was awarded by a university (which marked her dissertation) but she never went there. The off-the-job training was all delivered by the training provider - a local consortium of schools.

Initially she was school-based 3.5 days a week but after the October half term that changed to 4 days a week. She had a "home" school for the first and third term and an "away" school for the second term.

The rest of the time was spent with the other trainees - usually the morning was spent as one large group and the afternoons were smaller smaller groups (either subject specific or primary only).

For the first couple of weeks she was mainly observing others, not just teachers of her subject but also a wider group. After that she started teaching herself, initially planning and delivering smaller parts of a lesson but fairly soon taking on the whole lesson and marking homework.

The main advantage was that she was made to feel like a real member of the team at her home school rather than an inconvenience, which seems to be the experience of some university -based PGCE students. She found all the staff supportive and helpful, perhaps because they expected many of the trainees to become future colleagues. The staff who provided the off-the-job training were also helpful. She had virtually no contact with anyone at the university.

Many were offered jobs by their home schools. My daughter wasn't, but the head recommended her to another head in the same MAT and he offered her a job. This is her second year there and she is very happy.

She has also stayed in contact with the other trainees in her subject, and many of the other trainees from her "home" school so is building a good network of colleagues.

Such a valuable insight and so helpful for the OP.
I really regret doing the university led PGCE, the ITT is far better in many respects

I do worry that as a student, I’ll be viewed as an inconvenience. I’ve worked in some schools where trainees are welcomed with open arms and are seen as part of the team yet at others, there’s been eyerolls with the mention of a trainee joining.

I guess that’s just down to individual schools and staff (and I can look at it from the point of view that I’m not there forever if I get an eye roll school 😂).

Again, thank you all so much for these responses, they’re really giving me a chance to think about things that I hadn’t really thought of!

This is the route I took; my children were young at the time and the provider was far more flexible than the local university are known to be. I did two placements and they bent over backwards to make sure I was placed locally.

Placements can be handy for getting a sense of where you don't want to work - I'd have happily taken a job at one of my placements but the other was a case of grit my teeth and count down the days. When I came to apply for jobs I had a really good sense of what I wanted out of a school and what was a definite red flag.

I did my PGCE a while back now but we definitely didn't have any choice where we were placed. I guess it depends on your provider. We took what we were given and 2 out of 3 of mine were over an hour away. All 3 of my placements were totally different but I loved my last one the most as the teacher just disappeared and I was left to get on with it - they actually felt like my own class. I think it's great that you have experience as a TA and you are going into teaching with plenty of experience of working in a school. Good luck.