[WarriorInAWig]

I do have teaching experience in both a primary school and secondary school but because I had the chance to stay on and do a Masters in my subject, I feel a bit concerned about whether PGCE courses would look down on the length of time passed since my experience, even though it's still fresh in my mind.

I spent 3 weeks in a high school in 2010 as part of a Student's Associate Scheme and 11 weeks in a primary school in 2011.

[pineapple86]

Ring the uni you are interested in and ask them. I rang the unis i was interested in and asked how recent the experience had to be, some said within the last year and some said 6 months. So to be safe i did some more experience so it was more recent. But i have been getting experience with kids for many years now so i know i do want to teach and have learnt a lot that way.

Also nearly forgot to say that my most recent experience i did for about nearly 2 months but the uni's i applied for only wanted at least 10 days experience. I rang around before i applied and did my research lol.

[wozza1991]

(Original post by WarriorInAWig)
I do have teaching experience in both a primary school and secondary school but because I had the chance to stay on and do a Masters in my subject, I feel a bit concerned about whether PGCE courses would look down on the length of time passed since my experience, even though it's still fresh in my mind.

I spent 3 weeks in a high school in 2010 as part of a Student's Associate Scheme and 11 weeks in a primary school in 2011.

Where are you thinking of applying?

I know lots of universitys specify 'recent' work experience, and to have some recent would probably be necessary but I think you could make up their full 'quota' over a more extended period of time.

I have tons of primary experience and very little secondary - albeit recent - but I was still accepted to do a Secondary PGCE at the IoE. I did however also have a further week at a secondary school lined up and though they said they couldn't make me do it as a condition of a hypothetical offer because the machinery to do this would be too complicated (this being said at interview), I did have to convincingly assure them I was going to do the week I'd planned.

I'd be quite happy to apply in the position you are in, however I would try and get more on the grounds that: you can never have too much! It would do no harm to have more experience within the field you want and also it will look good to show that you're looking to spend your spare time gaining more classroom experience which would equally throw out any concerns about how recent any experience was.

[WarriorInAWig]

I've looked at the Uni of Cumbria which wasn't fussed about the 'recentness', but I've also got my eye on Edge Hill (Ormskirk) (my local) and Uni of Warwick as a relative works and lives around there for lodgings.

My other plan is to hopefully be taken on as a classroom assistant locally and then do a PGCE afterwards. That way my confidence will be raised and I'll be paid without worrying about taking on even more loans. Also, if teaching is not for me, then I'll find out quickly without having a loan around my neck to pay off regardless.