PGCE from a university or a school led course

[Samsam786]

Hi I’m looking to start a PGCE and was wondering whether there was a major difference between university PGCE and a school led PGCE with any benefits and drawback of them. I also wanted to know if schools hiring would look more favourably on either one and if so why. Thanks

I think the Uni route is much better. We had 2 trainees in my dept this year, one from each route, more or less did the same course however the Uni route was so much more organised and the people leading the course are much more experienced and knowledgeable. The trainee from the Uni route was also set up better to achieve the PGCE qualification as well as the QTS as you need to complete academic research / essays etc.

Schools don't look at your training route when hiring I don't think, just want to see that you've passed the course!

My daughter did her PGCE with a consortium of schools and would definitely recommend that option. She was made to feel part of the school community from day one, rather than being just another trainee who would only be there for a few weeks.

The vast majority of trainees were offered jobs in the school they trained in or with another in the consortium. In my daughter’s case, the head of her “home” school said he was sorry that he couldn’t offer her a post because he had heard good things about her from one of the deputy heads (who had sat in on many of her lessons). He said he would recommend her to his colleagues and a couple of weeks later she had a call inviting her to meet the head of another school in the consortium. She went in for an informal chat and he offered her a job on the spot. She is now coming to the end of her third year there and is extremely happy.