PGCE Primary at Kingston (experiences/reading list)

Hello,

I have been accepted onto the PGCE Primary course at Kingston University for Sept 2014.

I just would like to know a little more about the written assignments - do you choose a research topic to write on? Obviously the school experience makes up a large part of these assignments but I would like to start buying some books and reading whilst I am having a relatively easy year as a TA!

Any general info/experiences of this course are also much appreciated.

Thank you

Reply 1

Martharead90

Hey,

I've been accepted too! :-) My interview was on the 11th Feb, how about yours?

Kingston University

Kingston upon Thames

Reply 2

pgcer

Hi!
You get 5 assignments for the whole year, and 2 of those are part 1 & 2 of the same module (so it's really 1 assignment per module)

Modules are:
The Reflective Professional
-Part 1 - 1500 words (and the only one due in before Christmas!) About the purpose and value of reflection.
- Part 2 - 2500 words (due in next week so I should really be getting on with that instead of writing this!) Pick 3 of your own weekly reflections and identify a key issue within each (and relate it back to part 1).

Core Curriculum (also due next week) 2500 words. Pick 3 lesson plans and evaluate them.

Research Informed Curriculum Leadership (4000 words) This is your specialist subject module. You pick an article on an educational issue around that subject, and analyse that article. So if you have an issue in mind then that will help you. (this one is due in over Easter holidays)

Creative Practitioner. This one is more fun. You go into schools for 2 weeks and make planning and resources for an area of the broader curriculum for that school (they will choose what subject). You then write a 2500 word rationale on why you did what you did. (you don't do this until end of Feb and the assignment is due in end of May)

None of the assignments, apart from Creative Practitioner, are due in during school placement which is great. I've heard other PGCE courses have you doing them at the same time! Trying to juggling that and teaching would be very overwhelming! I only bought the book they suggest 'Learning to Teach in the Primary School' by Arthur & Cremin. But, honestly haven't really used it. The library has what you need (as long as you request it early!)

Hope that helps. It's a great course! I haven't found it too hard at all. We are about to start our final placement though so that could change!