[Ethic811W]

Hi,
Im just wondering what experience would improve my PGCE in History application?. I've already done 3 months work-experience once a week in a homework club (primary school) and one week in a secondary History class as a observer!. Thnx!

[*Interrobang*]

More work experience in a secondary school (either the same one or a different one), volunteering in youth groups or something similar?

[gingerbreadman85]

(Original post by *Interrobang*)
More work experience in a secondary school (either the same one or a different one).

This, ideally a different school.

Classroom experience in the age range you are looking to teach is pretty much the most important thing to have in your personal statement.

[myrtille]

I think the most important thing in your personal statement is to clearly relate all of your experiences to different skills or qualities that training providers are looking for and to your commitment to teaching.

I'm starting my PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages in September, and I did have quite a lot of experience when I applied, but only part of it was in the subject and age range I'd applied for. I talked about things like teaching dancing at weekends and working as a Food Technology Technician for a term, but focused on transferrable skills that I will need as a French teacher, not skills specific to those roles.

I just looked through my personal statement, and these are the skills/qualities that I mentioned:

-Adapting communication to a wide range of different people (from teaching small children and adults - not the age range I plan to teach - at dancing school).
-Confidence/stage presence (from dancing).
-Organisation, self-motivation, independence and resilience (from Year Abroad and MA studies)
-Relationships/conversations with colleagues in schools, awareness of challenges and frustrations but also satisfaction of teaching profession (from work in Food Tech).
-Learning from own mistakes (this links to reflective practice which is a big part of PGCE)
-Things you haven't had the opportunity to do yet which you're looking forwards to learning on PGCE (to avoid looking like you think you know it all)

There's a separate section of the form for giving details of placements you've done with the dates and name of the school, so you don't have to waste space on this in the personal statement, you can just mention "my experience of helping with a homework club..." and get straight into what you've learned from it.

[EDIT: This is not to detract from the other posters' comments - getting more experience is definitely a good idea. I just wanted to point out that you also need to make the most of that experience when you come to writing the personal statement.]

[Ethic811W]

Thank you all, your replies have been great!.