PGCE 2014 Applications (NOT FOR SPECIFIC INTERVIEW TASK DISCUSSIONS)

Hi,

I was just wondering what universities in the south/central London area people were applying for 2014/2015 primary school PGCE? As I am thinking of applying to Kingston, St Mary's, Rosehampton or Goldsmiths ( I don't think I have a strong enough application to apply for IoE) but no idea which ones to apply for!

Also has anyone done a degree in Education Studies (I have a 2.2 from a Russell group Uni) and has this given you any advantage over studying a national curriculum subject? ( I also have after school club/observation experience)

Suffering from a major lack of anyone to discuss this with as all my teacher friends are secondary! so any advice would be much appreciated, thanks.

Well, after changing my mind about teaching secondary English and opting instead to do a PGCE in primary, I have spent the last week handing out letters to local primary schools begging for a volunteer placement! Today, I had to start going further afield because I had a lot of rejections ("we have too many volunteers", "we don't have space" etc).

I'm happy to say that one school accepted me immediately! I spoke to the principal straight away and she said they were desperate for volunteers so I could start in September! That's 3 full weeks in September plus one day a week from October (when I'll be back at uni). So happy!

I really enjoyed working in secondary, but I do feel that primary is more my thing. I'm glad I've done both so I have realised which is better for me. I think that will be good on my application - that I have tried both so I know for sure where I want to work.

Phew! So glad that's sorted. I'm going to start on my personal statement over summer - anyone else?
Where are you all applying and what are you doing over summer to improve your application?
Anyone going for School Direct as well as the PGCE?

Sometimes they ask you to do it after they give you an offer eg. spend 5 days in a primary school before beginning a secondary PGCE.

Yeah, as others have said it tends to be a condition of offer, is all. They won't turn you down on the basis that you haven't done any prior to interview.

Hi, I'm really stuck: I have managed to find a school willing to let me do 5 days of observations in September (hallelujah!) but they have asked me to get a CRB check... I don't know much about CRB except that I can't just apply for myself, right? I emailed back asking for the form and got this:
Here is the link to beginning the CRB procedure (now DBS). We don’t do it as it needs to be done through the official system.

https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check/overview

But that's where it says you can't do it yourself! Am I missing something really obvious here? Please help!

Going to start on my personal statement soon too Although just a draft because I am going to wait until I've got more experience. In my last volunteer placement I just helped the kids with their work in maths, r.e, pse lessons and occasionally reading.

I've just got a placement at a Welsh Primary school so need to brush up on my Welsh. But it shouldn't be too bad with children. I am really hoping to do a PGCE through the medium of Welsh, just need to gain some more confidence in speaking it as I am fluent.

I am hoping in my new placement to be able to get more of an insight into lesson planning, the curriculum etc. Because before I was just helping the kids with their work and didn't find out much else but I really enjoyed helping them.

Is the personal statement preparation just about getting down your experience? I mean don't we have to wait a bit until we have the application question? Or is it always the same.

Is the personal statement preparation just about getting down your experience? I mean don't we have to wait a bit until we have the application question? Or is it always the same.

Thank you very much for you answer!
I'm not sure what the 2.2 means. The danish grading system is hard to translate to the english one. Can 2.2 be translated to an average grade (B+ or something similar)?
Thank you again!

Hi, I'm really stuck: I have managed to find a school willing to let me do 5 days of observations in September (hallelujah!) but they have asked me to get a CRB check... I don't know much about CRB except that I can't just apply for myself, right? I emailed back asking for the form and got this:
Here is the link to beginning the CRB procedure (now DBS). We don’t do it as it needs to be done through the official system.

https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check/overview

But that's where it says you can't do it yourself! Am I missing something really obvious here? Please help!

If it's any help I am still learning, an intermediate welsh speaker and observed Year 7 Second language Welsh classes and was fine in terms of how my welsh is. I also have a five year old son who is in a Ysgol Gymraeg and we both understand each other fine. If I am not successful in the next couple of years in the English medium system I am hoping by then I would be fluent enough to try Welsh medium, I am definitely doing it as a my second subject though anyway. In terms of jobs it's definitely worth doing it in Welsh medium.

Yep
I'm also applying for Teach First in June, but if I'm unsuccessful in that, I will be applying for a PGCE. I want to do secondary English.
I have lots of good experience so far, I've volunteered in three secondary schools, including a good school, a satisfactory school and a school that 'requires improvement'.

Could you please tell me the difference between Teach First, School Direct and PGCE?

I know about the PGCE but I am confused about Teach First and School Direct.