[vinylate]

(Original post by stephie1985)
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(Original post by BBGirl)
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I thought I'd answer you both at the same time, as you asked similar questions.

Preparation for the PGCE is quite difficult, as everyone's experience will be completely different. It totally depends on your placement schools, really. I'd say just stock up on things you'll need throughout the year, as you may not have much time to go shopping. For example, you should get at least one suit for work, or a black suit jacket which will match everything. Although most teachers don't wear suits to work, it is advisable that you wear one for you first day. It will also come really in handy when you are applying for jobs!

Get a few good teaching books and flick through for ideas. By good, I don't necessarily mean the ones that are recommended for university reading (these are usually more academic reasearchy books so aren't very useful when you're on placement!) I recommend the following:

101 red hot _____ starters (so I have 101 red hot science starters)
100 ideas in teaching ______ (again, mine is for science)
Classroom starters and plenaries by Kate Brown - these are cross curricular and can be quite good to use with tutor groups when you're getting to know them
The Teacher's Toolkit by Paul Ginnis - this is soooooo useful, highly recommend it!

Grab lots of folders, too! Like, lever arch folders. You won't really have many university notes, so just have one folder for "university". You will need a folder for each of your teaching placements (so I had three) which will become your "teaching files", in these you will file away documents to do with the school (policies, homework timetables etc) and all of your lesson plans, evaluations, observations and resources.

Finally, you will need a folder for your PDP (Professional Development Portfolio) - this was something I was told I did very well. Throughout your PGCE you have to collect evidence for 33 standards, although a lot are quite similar so you can use the same piece of evidence more than once. I created a "topsheet" for each of the standards. On each topsheet, I had the standard number, what the standards says, how I felt I had met the standard and when, and then a space at the bottom for both myself and my mentor to sign. It really is important to file evidence for day one! It will really help you in the long run, especially when you are trying to mark work at the end of term.

Apart from that, just relax!! Although I didn't find the PGCE year too difficult, it is very, very intense! So you should take the time to rest and rejuvenate now while you can.

Oh, and don't book any holidays or make plans for any of the schools breaks, you will be working or university will have you in - no rest for the wicked!

And if there is anything I could have known at the beginning, it would be about workloads - you will ALWAYS have work to do. It's about knowing how to prioritise and when to say enough is enough!

[vinylate]

(Original post by BBGirl)
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Lesson planning is a very, very personal process. People have different ways of planning lessons, and schools schemes of work (basically a detail of possible activities for the kids) vary, too.

You'll also find that your focus while planning lessons changes as you progress through your PGCE. At the start you'll be very much concerned with what you are doing, and what you will say to them, and what you will do if someone misbehaves etc. You may only teach a starter, bit of the main or a plenary the first few times.

As your teaching skills develop, you will focus more on the pupils and their learning. You have to think "What is it I want them to learn? How will I get them to learn it? How will I know when they have?" So you set objectives and outcomes (what they will learn), you fin suitable activities - things for them to do - ways for them to find the answer, to take in the information without you actually telling them! (How you will get them to learn it) and then finally you can assess learning through a plenary. So a plenary consolidates learning for pupils and allows you to find out who has gained an understanding and who has not (How you will know whether they have learnt what you wanted them to learn).

Not every lesson you plan can be all swooping all whooping - it is just not possible! You will get guidance from university on how to plan lessons, but as long as you get your objectives, outcomes and activities right, everything just falls into place!

[vinylate]

(Original post by h4zelh)
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I did enjoy it, yes! Although you don't spend much time in university at all (and sometimes going to university feels like a chore) so it really is much more like a job. It has been one of the best years of my life and if I could do it all again I wouldn't change a thing.

Everyone has ups and downs and I spose people come here looking for advice when they are feeling down, but I definitely had more good days than bad! I came out of m PGCE with an overall grade of outstanding - and I believe that's because I really did dedicate myself to teaching, to the schools I worked at and to the kids I worked with. If you put your all into your PGCE, there is no reason why it can't be one of the most enjoyable experiences of your life.

It is hard work, but if you aren't prepared to put in the hours and work hard (and enjoy a good challenge) then teaching isn't for you.

EDIT;; I went to the University of Bath

[BBGirl]

(Original post by vinylate)
101 red hot _____ starters (so I have 101 red hot science starters)
100 ideas in teaching ______ (again, mine is for science)
Classroom starters and plenaries by Kate Brown - these are cross curricular and can be quite good to use with tutor groups when you're getting to know them
The Teacher's Toolkit by Paul Ginnis - this is soooooo useful, highly recommend it!

V, do these books have teaching strategies for teaching older students (14+ --> 65+!)???

[vinylate]

(Original post by BBGirl)
V, do these books have teaching strategies for teaching older students (14+ --> 65+!)???

The red hot science starters is for KS3.

100 ideas for teaching science is suitable for KS4+

Classroom starters and plenaries also suitable for KS4+

And the Teacher's Toolkit really is an all-round amazing book! One of my friends was placed in an FE college for her second placement and swore by it

[BBGirl]

(Original post by vinylate)
The red hot science starters is for KS3.

100 ideas for teaching science is suitable for KS4+

Classroom starters and plenaries also suitable for KS4+

And the Teacher's Toolkit really is an all-round amazing book! One of my friends was placed in an FE college for her second placement and swore by it

Brilliant, thank you!

[dancer11]

Hi! I'm applying for uni after summer and am planning on going into Primary Teaching but am undecided about which route to go down! I either want to do a Primary Teaching QTS 4yrs degree or a 3yrs English degree then doing a PGCE qualification afterwards.
Would you recommend the PGCE or doing a straight Primary Teaching QTS degree?

I'd really appreciate your thoughts!

[thejadedwords]

Hey guys - I have questions about the references on gttr...

I'm struggling to think of who to put as a reference. For my University one, I have a lovely personal tutor who is a teacher herself. She has never taught me as she is just a volunteer, not an academic member of staff. Would this be okay or not? My only other options are my lecturers and tutors on my course, but literally not a single one of them knows my name... So although they could look up my grades and say that I'm doing great, they couldn't comment on my personality and suitability for primary teaching, especially as I'm on a Law degree and it isn't really relevant. But then my personal tutor isn't an academic member of the Uni, so couldn't say much about my academic achievements - help?

And for the second reference, I have recently performed two sets of work experience in schools. At the first school, the teachers were really unprofessional and rude - most of them didn't know my name, didn't bother to tell me when I was expected to go on a school trip etc. However, the head teacher seemed impressed with me and said she'd be willing to be my reference, after saying some nice things about how I had shown a great willingness to adapt etc. However, I didn't spend any time with her.

At my second school, I bonded well with the staff and children and had a much better experience. I also feel I was able to show my skills and ability to work with children more... However, the head teacher only spoke to me once and I don't think I got the chance to make much of an impression on her. One teacher I worked with for four days of the two weeks, however, gave me her email address and phone number at the end of the experience and said she had enjoyed working with me and would give me a reference if needed.

Could I use a teacher as a reference, or does it have to be a head teacher? If it has to be a head teacher, do you think I should use the first school - where the head has indicated she would give me a good reference, but the experience was hectic and unenjoyable, or the second school - where I definitely performed better and enjoyed myself, so was probably more sociable etc, but the head teacher herself didn't speak to me? Would she ask the other teachers do you think?

Sorry for the long post. Really stuck.

[oxymoronic]

(Original post by thejadedwords)
I'm struggling to think of who to put as a reference. For my University one, I have a lovely personal tutor who is a teacher herself. She has never taught me as she is just a volunteer, not an academic member of staff. Would this be okay or not? My only other options are my lecturers and tutors on my course, but literally not a single one of them knows my name... So although they could look up my grades and say that I'm doing great, they couldn't comment on my personality and suitability for primary teaching, especially as I'm on a Law degree and it isn't really relevant. But then my personal tutor isn't an academic member of the Uni, so couldn't say much about my academic achievements - help?

If your personal tutor is affiliated to the university and has a university email address, then put them down. It won't matter.

For what its worth, I was in a similar boat to yourself when applying. At my undergraduate university, not one lecturer or tutor knew my name and none of them had ever spoken to me. My reference was written by my Director of Studies who was an academic that had never met me. I keep meaning to pay for a copy of my GTTR application just so I can see what she wrote, as I have no idea beyond just looking at my grades. She must have put something odd because it was mentioned at my PGCE interview that "[my] referee says that you've....." and I was just like "what? sorry? no?"" and explained that my referee had never actually met me. I still got a place and it really did not affect getting onto the course.... so if this happens I wouldn't worry about it, universities know that at some universities the person writing a reference will have had nothing to do with the applicant.

Could I use a teacher as a reference, or does it have to be a head teacher? If it has to be a head teacher, do you think I should use the first school - where the head has indicated she would give me a good reference, but the experience was hectic and unenjoyable, or the second school - where I definitely performed better and enjoyed myself, so was probably more sociable etc, but the head teacher herself didn't speak to me? Would she ask the other teachers do you think?

They only contact your 2nd reference if there is a problem with the first one, which there won't be unless the first one says something like that they would never ever let you near a child or some other dubious comment about your character. I don't think it has to be a head teacher, it can be a teacher, so use whoever you feel comfortable with putting. When you apply for NQT jobs it has to be a head teacher but they often just ask for feedback from the teacher you were working most closely with or get this teacher to write it, so again, the university will know that the head teacher may have had very little to do with you. For my NQT jobs the head was phoned for a reference and she told me that she just relayed the comments my mentor had said about me and just said that she'd heard no complaints and only positive things about me, so whilst she hadn't seen me teach, from what she'd seen of me with the children and just references from other people, she thought highly of me.

I think you're worrying too much

[inneed123]

Hi,

I'm about to go into my final year of my law degree at leeds metropolitan uni, on course to get a 2.1. I have recently decided that i would love to teach, not sure what age or anything yet as uncertain where i can go with my degree and grades.

I struggled at sixth form due to illness, not obtaining v good a-levels at all. C in law, C in English Literature and D in Chemistry. I also have 2 AS level grade C's in Citizenship and Critical Thinking. However at school i did do pretty well, 6 A's 3B's and a C. Obtaining double A in science, A in English Lit, B in maths and B in English lang.

I think i would ideally like to teach law or science as i absolutely loved science at school, will i need to improve my a levels to do this and can i even teach secondary with a law degree? Can someone please help? Thanks!

[Darielle]

I had a law degree and I'm now just about to start my first teaching job! I decided on Secondary Maths, I had an A-level in Maths so I did a 6 month Subject Knowledge Enhancement course and then the PGCE. I believe these are available for Science as well. Although the country is still desperate for maths/science teachers, the TDA cut the funding for the SKE's so they are a little bit more competitive now but as long as you can show you have a real interest/passion for the subject (and be willing to explain to everyone why you didn't choose to go into law) it's not impossible. A good idea would be to get some work experience during reading weeks/long university holidays to show your commitment.

[inneed123]

Thanks for your post! Do you not think my a level grades will be a problem though? I have been looking at a chemistry SKE, but I'm a bit confused about all these units? I'm hoping to get some experience in quickly before going back to uni too! Do you know when I need to start applying for these SKE's for 2012 and how much they cost?
And good luck on your first teaching job!!

[Darielle]

For the Maths SKE, there was a 6 month course for those who got an A or B at A-level (sometimes a C or D but it requires good justification) and a 12 month course for those with lower than a B or no A-level in the subject at all, you'd have to speak to the Universities about individual requirements.

For starting in 2012, GTTR (how you apply for PGCE) should open sometimes in September/October when clearing is all done with. What you do is you apply to any University (offering the PGCE you want to do) and then state in your personal reference that you would like to do a SKE. I chose a University where I could do both the SKE and the PGCE at the same place, but we had students on the SKE going to 3 or 4 other Universities as well as doing the GTP. The TDA website should have a list of all the Universities that offer SKEs. It would definitely be a good idea to ring any up that you're interested in, giving them the details of what you've done so far and asking if there is anything else you could do.

As far as I'm aware (this is how it was for me), the SKE is paid for by the government, and we were given a bursary of £200 a week for living costs. There is some dispute about those on year long SKEs whether it is a 2-year PGCE and therefore student loans funding being available, but I lived off the bursary. This bursary may differ between Universities and might be higher in London, I'm not sure.

Any other questions, I'd be happy to answer.

[inneed123]

Right so when applying I ask them about them about how long they would require me to do the chemistry SKE and how many units etc? Will i be successful in applying for PGCE with no work experience if i tell them i will do this after I've finished uni and whilst doing the SKE? So also am I right in saying then that you can only get onto a SKE, by applying for a PGCE first?

It has also come to my attention that the closest institution to a chemistry SKE is 2 hours away, have i read correctly that it is mostly online based with a couple of face to face sessions only? So this therefore would not be a problem really about distance?

Am i able to do the SKE and then apply for a SKITT programme at all?

Thanks so much for all your help, your answers have been brilliant, sorry for all the questions, this is all completely new to me and it's like learning a new language!

[gingerbreadman85]

An SKE is a good start, speaking as a Secondary Science (Chemistry) teacher, you really do need to be hot on your knowledge to be able to teach it properly. It's not just knowing the course content, a solid knowledge of the surrounding science as well as a detailed understanding of what the students will progress onto at A-level is i feel massively important if you are to be a knowledgable teacher of science. Knowing something, and understanding it well enough to teach it are very different things.

Get some time in schools and talk to teachers and department heads. Remember, you've not only got to compete for a place on a PGCE (and while science is a shortage subject, they do have expectations as to knowledge) and to compete for jobs afterwards.

If your passionate about it, and willing to put the effort in, i don't think it's impossible. However realise that it WILL take work to bring yourself up to speed. There is NOTHING worse than standing in front of a group of kids not really knowing what you are doing!

[inneed123]

I completely agree with you, there is no way I want to stand in front of a group of teenagers and no the bare minimum. I'm going to have to brush up on my chemistry, going further than just gcse level. The kids will have questions and I want to be able to answer them. I had an amazing science teacher for gcse, completely reversing my attitude to science and I excelled dramatically. It was my favourite subject at school and I want to be that teacher for other children. I understand it's not an easy subject to teach and hard to make lessons interesting for most teenagers. Surely if I work at it enough I could be considered worthy? I am aware my grades and a law degree may not stand up to someone with a science degree. I've found out the teacher that taught me is now the subject head at my old school, I am certainly going back to talk to him. Thanks for your response and I don't suppose you could tell me your route into teaching chemistry? Thank you!

[Darielle]

It would be a really good idea to get SOME work experience during your third year, with the longer holidays at University this is the best opportunity you will have.

You are correct about only getting on a SKE by applying for a PGCE first, but it would be a good idea to ring the University you are interested in applying to BEFORE applying, speaking to the admissions tutor/head of course about the SKE and what they think - they will be able to advise you on which SKE course is most suitable for you (as the information online is fairly sketchy).

My SKE course had no online element - I was expected in 4 days a week (2 of which were half days) for very intensive lessons (quite similar to being back at school but much more relaxed as we were all adults). I can't talk for other SKE courses so this might be something else to ask a course head when calling. I ended up moving away to do the SKE, and the bursary was sufficient for me to pay rent and live okay - but check that all the bursaries are still in place, it's a bit unpredictable with this government!

As for SKITT, absolutely no idea, sorry! I do know people went off to do GTPs from the SKE, but that's it. Once again, the head of course is likely to know.

Good luck!

[Beth123]

(Original post by oxymoronic)
Claiming the next post for future use

Hi, on the GTTR application, will I have to fill in my first year marks (individual module marks or overall percentage) even though it does not count towards my final degree marks? I did really bad in my first year and don't want to have to have to tell them about my marks Thanks in advance.

[*Interrobang*]

(Original post by Beth123)
Hi, on the GTTR application, will I have to fill in my first year marks (individual module marks or overall percentage) even though it does not count towards my final degree marks? I did really bad in my first year and don't want to have to have to tell them about my marks Thanks in advance.

Just put (e.g.) 'Biology 100%' or 'Biology 50% Psychology 50%' - so the subjects you took that counted towards your degree, rather than modules. There wasn't enough space for me to put all my modules!

[Beth123]

(Original post by xKTx)
Just put (e.g.) 'Biology 100%' or 'Biology 50% Psychology 50%' - so the subjects you took that counted towards your degree, rather than modules. There wasn't enough space for me to put all my modules!

I would actually like to put my individual modules down as they relate to the primary PGCE - but I don't want to enter the marks I gained for them (for first year). Is it possible to put the modules down but not the marks I obtained for them?