[Dagnabbit]

(Original post by jennyjuniper)
good luck with your interview! Im happy to answer any questions, as I start at trent in September on the primary PGCE!

What sort of work experience did you have before you were interviewed?

[jennyjuniper]

(Original post by Dagnabbit)
What sort of work experience did you have before you were interviewed?

hi, I had been volunteering in 2 different schools for 6 months, 1 or 2 days a week (with a couple of full time weeks also), I think I had equivalent of 30 days experience by the time I applied, and I continue to do 1.5 per week now, til at least May. My experience includes reception, year 1 and 2 classes, and I generally help with group work or 1:1 support. HTH

[Dagnabbit]

(Original post by jennyjuniper)
hi, I had been volunteering in 2 different schools for 6 months, 1 or 2 days a week (with a couple of full time weeks also), I think I had equivalent of 30 days experience by the time I applied, and I continue to do 1.5 per week now, til at least May. My experience includes reception, year 1 and 2 classes, and I generally help with group work or 1:1 support. HTH

Did you volunteer because you couldn't get a paid equivalent? Sounds similar to some of the things I've seen advertised on my council website which say you get paid about £12000-15000 a year.

[jennyjuniper]

(Original post by Dagnabbit)
Did you volunteer because you couldn't get a paid equivalent? Sounds similar to some of the things I've seen advertised on my council website which say you get paid about £12000-15000 a year.

tbh Ive not looked for a paid TA job, mainly because most want a TA qualification, and I feel I am more flexible as a volunteer and am able to ask to move classes, help with specific tasks etc. For example, in one of my schools, I have been in reception, y1, y2, and soon y5, where I will be involved in planning also, for experience. Also, I have 2 little kids, so I want to have the flexibility this year to choose my days, because come September I will be out of the house from 7 - 7 at least, and wont seen much of them!

[ykh24]

(Original post by Dagnabbit)
I got a letter today saying I've got an interview on 22nd Feb, which is pretty quick!

Hopefully yours will come through soon.

Ah congratulations and best of luck! Hopefully I'll hear soon...

[Kayshaa]

Got my welcome pack from gttr in the post on Thursday yay. My application has been 'sent for consideration'.

Does anyone know how long it would take at this point for the uni to decide to interview (or not)?

I know that if you send it early on it might be a month or so, but what about if I've sent mine just recently?

[janefelixmartin]

hi guys! i have applied to do a PGCE at oxford and cambridge in chemistry, no responce yet but if i do get an interview any tips? also any other unis to suggest? thanks good luck to you all!

[neelab]

Hi. Has anyone had an interview for University of East London, Brunel, South Bank or London Met?

What did the interview consist of? Were u for fs / ks1 or ks2? Have u had any other interviews elsewhere? My friend has failed 2 unfortunately and so needs advise ASAP!

Reply asap. Thanks

[neelab]

Hi. Anyone who has had an interview for University of East London, Brunel, South Bank or London Met, what did the interview consist of? Were u for primary pgce fs / ks1 or ks2? Have u had any other interviews elsewhere? My friend has failed 2 unfortunately and so needs advise ASAP!

Reply asap. Thanks

[robo donkey]

Finally heard from UEA, have an interview on 13th March. Much less excited than I previously was. But eh

[angel_night]

(Original post by robo donkey)
Finally heard from UEA, have an interview on 13th March. Much less excited than I previously was. But eh

well done good luck!!

[robo donkey]

Cheers, spoken to a couple of people I know at UEA doing theirs too, getting all sorts of tips now

[ajensen]

I intend on applying for a Primary PGCE for the academic year - 2013/14. I am just wondering if anyone has any hints and tips of how to improve the application? What else could I do to bolster it apart from the obvious such as gaining classroom experience?

Thanks

[ykh24]

(Original post by Dagnabbit)
I got a letter today saying I've got an interview on 22nd Feb, which is pretty quick!

Hopefully yours will come through soon.

I've been given an interview too (finally!). Mine's on the 1st March

[Dagnabbit]

(Original post by ykh24)
I've been given an interview too (finally!). Mine's on the 1st March

Better start rehearsing answers to the common interview questions then.

[coffeepirate]

(Original post by ajensen)
I intend on applying for a Primary PGCE for the academic year - 2013/14. I am just wondering if anyone has any hints and tips of how to improve the application? What else could I do to bolster it apart from the obvious such as gaining classroom experience?

Thanks

Basically start writing to schools now. Whether you get work experience for the spring / summer or even autumn, whatever you can get will be excellent for your application, both for the personal statement and for the work experience section, obviously! :P

Also, apply for jobs, if possible, that involve working with children. Summer schemes such as Hotfoot and after school clubs are the best place to start. Plus, there's the chance you might get paid, so it's a win-win

[outlaw-torn]

Hey guys, I was just wondering how much experience you all had when applying and what sort of experience.

I've been on a school placement since October for one day a week, which has included teaching parts of lessons and making my own resources. I am hoping to start a volunteering classroom assistant position in the summer if I can still apply for it by the time I'm back from uni.

I'm just really worried that I am not going to have enough experience - my friend from uni has more experience than me and she got rejected from PGCE, GTP and Teach First after interviews!

[SuperSam_Fantastiche]

(Original post by outlaw-torn)
Hey guys, I was just wondering how much experience you all had when applying and what sort of experience.

I've been on a school placement since October for one day a week, which has included teaching parts of lessons and making my own resources. I am hoping to start a volunteering classroom assistant position in the summer if I can still apply for it by the time I'm back from uni.

I'm just really worried that I am not going to have enough experience - my friend from uni has more experience than me and she got rejected from PGCE, GTP and Teach First after interviews!

I think that should be enough if you've got a good enough PS and reference. I got an offer to LSBU for PGCE primary despite my work experience being in secondary schools and with primary school age kids at a sports club - not a single day of experience in a primary school. I have to get 5 days observation before I start my course, but that's it. Your friend getting rejected after interview probably means that experience in schools wasn't her issue.

[neelab]

(Original post by outlaw-torn)
Hey guys, I was just wondering how much experience you all had when applying and what sort of experience.

I've been on a school placement since October for one day a week, which has included teaching parts of lessons and making my own resources. I am hoping to start a volunteering classroom assistant position in the summer if I can still apply for it by the time I'm back from uni.

I'm just really worried that I am not going to have enough experience - my friend from uni has more experience than me and she got rejected from PGCE, GTP and Teach First after interviews!

Hi I am going to be completely honest with u. i know as a candidate applying for teacher training u think 'oh if i have tons of experience ill get on'. although that maybe the case for some universities, the majority want to see what u can bring as a person to the interview as well as ur experience. the interviews differ as u probably know, from one uni to another. e.g. ioe was general about what u know about the teaching profession, national curriculum, current educational news etc, whereas although roehampton did ask why i wanted to become a teacher, the interview was based on my personal statement. i have been working in a primary school as a ta since 2007 and got rejected from ioe and accepted as Roehampton even though 50+ of us had been doing the Foundation Degree and currently doing the BEd (top-up from fd) at the ioe which we only started because of the route into teaching, we still failed the interview. My friend who has 7 years exp shockingly also got rejected from both ioe and roehampton, whereas another friend of mine who has only worked in a montessori nursery got accepted at the ioe - so its pot luck to be honest. Please do NOT be put off from applying though. If u need anymore info let me know

[outlaw-torn]

(Original post by SuperSam_Fantastiche)
I think that should be enough if you've got a good enough PS and reference. I got an offer to LSBU for PGCE primary despite my work experience being in secondary schools and with primary school age kids at a sports club - not a single day of experience in a primary school. I have to get 5 days observation before I start my course, but that's it. Your friend getting rejected after interview probably means that experience in schools wasn't her issue.

Thanks a lot I should be able to get a great reference from either my placement school or module leader. Yeah, I was thinking that, maybe it was just her interview technique.