Discovering Higher and Degree Apprenticeships with UWE Bristol, get free advice >>

PGCE FE/Post-Compulsory

Scroll to see replies

I did mind last year at Edge Hill University and nice to see that some people are still interested in a career in FE and post compulsory!! If anyone has any questions then please feel free to ask, I've gained a few wrinkles over the past year but I'm still alive with a job starting in three weeks!

Reply 21

cho

I am going to start a PGCE this September. Those that have done a PGCE. What main things got you through the course?

Reply 22

Fish_Fish_Fish

Hi everyone and great to see a thread on this subject.
It's annoying me at the moment that the government still hasn't formally announced the bursaries for FE teacher trainees of certain subjects.
I am not willing to pay tuition fees until I get some kind of guarantee of a bursary, so might have to defer entry, assuming that next year they're more organised (which I think they will be because apparenly the funding would be approved for 2 years' worth).
But it will be crunch time soon because the course starts in about 10 days and the uni has now opened the registraton system :/

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 23

beautifulbigmacs

Original post by Fish_Fish_Fish

You can get student loans. As far as bursaries go, they were only available for maths/english/sen specialisms last time I read about it.

Reply 24

Fish_Fish_Fish

Original post by beautifulbigmacs

You can get student loans. As far as bursaries go, they were only available for maths/english/sen specialisms last time I read about it.

Yeah, I'm a maths applicant and didn't apply for student finance because I thought it wouldn't be necessary ... wonder what the delay is :frown:

Reply 25

beautifulbigmacs

Original post by Fish_Fish_Fish

Yeah, I'm a maths applicant and didn't apply for student finance because I thought it wouldn't be necessary ... wonder what the delay is :frown:

That is concerning. Definitely contact your course provider on Tuesday.

Reply 26

aperture

Original post by cho

I am going to start a PGCE this September. Those that have done a PGCE. What main things got you through the course?

Coffee...

In all honestly, some of the books helped me with all aspects of my PGCE, from behaviour management, to writing essays, to writing schemes of work and lessons plans! I would recommend Learning Theories Simplified by Bob Bates for assignments (an absolute God send!!) and Teaching 14-19: A Handbook by Bostock and Wood!

Make sure you put aside one evening and one day at the weekend for you time. I found myself working nearly 24/7 at the beginning of the course and I nearly quit because of the pressure. Remember - teaching isn't about all singing all dancing lesson plans, it's about your rapport with the children and your personality giving the best teaching and learning experience possible!

Reply 27

aperture

Original post by Fish_Fish_Fish

I got a bursary in my PGCE year. As far as I know these were the allocations of bursary payments.

MATHS: £30,000 for a 1st of 2:1, £25,000 2:2, £20,000 for a 3rd (I THINK, I'm really not sure as far as the 2:2 or 3rd goes...)
ENGLISH: £9,000 for a 1st, £4,000 for a 2:1 and maybe a 2:2 (again, not sure)
SEN: £9,000 for a 1st, £4,000 for a 2:1, nothing for a 2:2 or 3rd.

Last year, we applied for the bursaries when we accepted onto the course, and we were told only in November if we were successful. Each University was given an allocation and they worked in order of Maths, then English, then SEN. I lucky got awarded a bursary but you don't find out until really late!

I got student finance and receive more than my BA. You can probably still apply!

Reply 28

BefuddledPenguin

I'm doing a Level 5 diploma instead, which is apparently the same as the dtlls, I've got a 2.1 in English Lang & Lit so I'll be getting a £4000 grant although that is apparently set up via the uni/college so I have no idea when I'll receive that. I was told it would be given in monthly instalments but that's all I know.

Reply 29

Fish_Fish_Fish

Original post by aperture

Last year, we applied for the bursaries when we accepted onto the course, and we were told only in November if we were successful. Each University was given an allocation and they worked in order of Maths, then English, then SEN. I lucky got awarded a bursary but you don't find out until really late!

I got student finance and receive more than my BA. You can probably still apply!

Thanks for your insight.
Apparently some unis are starting with applications, even though the bursaries aren't actually in place yet!
Having rung the Department of BIS, they say that the civil service is concentrating on 'Brexit' so are seriously behind with stuff like this, though they said that they're still hoping to get something in place for this coming year at some point ...

I did manage to apply for student finance and it's lucky in a way because, on reading the small print for the last round of bursaries, it turns out that you have to have met all of the conditions of student finance by applying to them anyway in order to receive the bursary!

Reply 30

beautifulbigmacs

Original post by BefuddledPenguin

This is the route I am taking. I'm currently doing the level 4 certificate which is the new ctlls and then yes, the level 5 diploma is the new dtlls. Are you taking the English teaching specialist route?

Reply 31

BefuddledPenguin

Original post by beautifulbigmacs

I am indeed yes, it's at Leeds City College.

Reply 32

Jessica 321

I had an interview for a Post Grad trainee within a leading college. I only had four days to make the micro teach and presentation and had been given the unit number and an introduction to --------- Level3. When I did my presentation and micro teach my feedback was that it should have been for Students who have come from school and don't know anything about computers, but why did they give me BTEC Level 3 subject? They said they had the odd one from private school who might know the subject. Perhaps I am missing something when being given interviews and micro teach.

Im use to helping clients with no knowledge or understanding of computers, I don't want to do to little next time in case the interviewees say it not enough.

I'm thinking of updating my maths to Level 2 and GCSE, If I do it at college it will take me 2 years to attain GCSE as I need to do Level 2 first, but I've found a place online where I can complete Level 2 in three months, its called Skills Anytime. It looks reasonable. If I complete Level 2 will I be able to get in to University Next year?
I

Reply 33

mooamymoo

I'm also looking at a 2017 PCET PGCE to teach English. I was looking at secondary PGCE but I kept thinking - "I only really want to teach A Level or adults". Well... why not just apply to teach A Level or adults? Doy. What I'm planning to do is reach out to the university directly - I think I'm a pretty appealing candidate from my qualifications and background - and see what I can be doing to secure a place on their course. Others I know who work as tutors/lecturers (albeit not on PGCE courses) say it's a good idea as it's a more unusual course and they're less bombarded with uni leavers who are applying to teach. May be worth a shot? Others feel free to contradict me / tell me this is an awful idea!

I'm going to be working four days a week this next year to build up experience in schools/tutoring/ESOL volunteering and decide if this is really for me. I'm hoping that I don't need to submit an application right away when it opens up in October so I can get a better feel for things - if anyone else reading could let me know when they applied that would be helpful/comforting!

Reply 34

beautifulbigmacs

Original post by mooamymoo

Some colleges that offer teacher training courses for FE don't require you to apply for the course through ucas. This can be quite handy if you want to apply now.*

For FE teaching the ptlls/ ctlls / dtlls route can also be an option. Worth doing some googling on it to find out which is right for you.

Reply 35

akemikat

Actually it's not a rip off if you understand it properly. I'm fully aware that I will be doing a 1-year, full-time PGCE and then will have to undertake a year of voluntary or cheaply paid teaching in order to build up a portfolio to submit to get QTLS.

I don't think it's right to tell people not to do something just because of your own shortcomings or bad experience with it.

Reply 36

mooamymoo

Hi PCET gang. Just emailed Sunderland to enquire about the 2017 PCET PGCE and have quite a few days booked in for the coming weeks to shadow in secondary schools - trying to wangle my way into some shadowing in colleges as well. I'm off to a secondary school SCITT day tomorrow as well to see what it's like. My gut is still saying PCET but I want to make an informed decision of course.

I've looked into the City and Guilds qualifications but I think I need to really immerse myself, make a clean break from my current career, and start afresh, and I think a PCET PGCE would be the way to go for this. I like the look of Sunderland's SUNCETT institute as well, and I have a Masters of Research already, so think again the PCET PGCE would be a nice stepping stone into perhaps conducting some research with them in future.

Updates from others welcome!

Reply 37

461219

Original post by mooamymoo

Hi! :-)

I am in my final year of my English Language and Linguistics BA (Hons) Degree. I applied pretty much a week or two after applications opened on October 18th. I received an interview date literally 3 days after I submitted my application on UCAS.

The course I've applied for is the PGCE PCET taking the English, Literacy and ESOL route. I attended the interview and there were supposed to be 7 other candidates but in the end there were only 3 of us! I received an update on UCAS just a few hours later to say I'd been offered a place.

My advice would be to do your voluntary work before you make an application. This is because at the interview they try to centre the tasks around your experience in that field.

My interviewer was really impressed with how much voluntary work i'd done and commented on how my passion shined through. She also said how I was very clear that this is the course I want to do. I think without the voluntary work you have quite limited knowledge of the sector you want to go into and it really does help.

Good luck and drop me a message if you need any more advice. x ;-)

Reply 38

beautifulbigmacs

Voluntary work can definitely strengthen an application. Some course providers will take you without it though for FE so it's still worth applying.

Reply 39

treeleaves

so what is the best route to get into FE. i want to teach maths but i have a science degree. do i apply for fe maths jobs and then apply for a PGCE or go for a PGCe and then get a placement through that PGCE?