PGCE Primary or Secondary?? Help

I can't seem to decide between Primary and Secondary Teaching.
I have been planning to apply for entry onto the PGCE in 2013 but I'm still unsure about my choice. I have only had work exp in a primary school and I loved it!

However, I understand that bursaries are higher for secondary school teaching and I'm just not sure whether I should go for Secondary instead :s.
I'm finding it really hard to organise work experience in a secondary school so I may not be able to get work experience before I want to apply.
Are you allowed to apply for both primary and secondary courses... and how many?
Or do you have to choose only one of the routes?

I can get work experience organised before starting the PGCE course but maybe not before interviews. Therefore I wanted to apply for primary and secondary in case I changed my mind.

Can anyone who's done PGCE primary or secondary give me advice on the course please. Everyone seems to be saying that the 1 year is really stressful. Is it that bad and what make it so hard, any helpful tips?
Anyone who's done both primary / secondary... that would be even more help.

Hi shaz91.

Having worked in both for a year as a TA (and doing my own PGCE in 3 years time... Too long to wait :-(! ) I can tell you that if you do a Secondary PGCE you can go and work in a high school and then change to a primary school if you wish (I'm sure there will be some support/training involved but it is possible). It is far more difficult to do a Primary PGCE and then go up to high school.

I had the same dilemma and that is what I was told by teachers :-)


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Oh and re: work experience - get on a TA agency and get paid to work. You can even do 'cover supervising' which is being a supply teacher without any other classroom support, in london pays on average £75 a day. This only happens in secondary schools, primary schools have their own system.


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Hey Chloe,
Why are you taking the PGCE in 3 years time? Are you currently training as a teachers assistant? How long have you been a TA? That is a good idea, hopefully there should be training routes to change from secondary to primary. After your experience do you prefer secondary over the primary?

I don't think you'll find anyone who has done both.
As far as I am aware you can't apply for both as you only have the 1 personal statement which is sent to each choice (5 choices in total), and it works like UCAS except your first choice gets your application, then if you are unsuccessful it gets sent to the second and so on. So applying for both doesn't really work because if you get in to your first choice, the other choices don't even see it.
Do not choose secondary because of the bursaries - get some experience and then decide. Some universities allow you to get the experience after interview but before the PGCE - but how are you going to sell yourself as wanting to train as a secondary teacher if you have no experience and you also seem unsure?
The best advice I can give is try and arrange some experience this year, and apply next year for the following September (Sept. 2014). Look in to schemes where you can mentor in schools, this will mean you a) get a CRB done b) are familiar with the school so they are perhaps more likely to let you have a couple of weeks experience

I've done a Secondary Science PGCE and I loved it, but it is v. stressful and difficult - it takes up all your time. I would say be organised from day one, and don't be afraid to ask the teachers you are working with for help.