PGCE - Current Students Thread

Isn't it a bit off that kids don't go in but teachers do? It's the teachers that are striking, not the children!! I suppose it depends on how many members of staff want to strike, but still.

For the people who quoted me, it was a small 3-day placement at a 'diverse' school focusing on EAL and there were 6 of us going. We were all told that the school would be closed and the university anticipated most schools would be closed and so gave us some 'homework' to make up for it. It really would not have been useful to go in if the school was open only to some staff considering we would have no planning or anything to do and we were purely there to observe supporting the children.

Only two weeks until Christmas!! I'm having four formal observations this week as I have completely forgot to ask for them the last few weeks, I have four groups so a formal observation with each one. Going to get two out of the way tomorrow.

Where on earth has the time gone?! I can almost taste Christmas! Only 3 days left until it's effectively the end of term, as we're having mince pies and mulled wine while watching It's a Wonderful Life back at uni on Friday.

Before that, I have an audit of my progress (including formal observation) conducted by somebody from the uni I've never met. He's coming in to see me teach Year 8 on Wednesday last period - bloody typical.

I read first few posts of this and was like "OMG what have i let myself in for" then read the last few and now feel fine again. Strange as there isnt anything reassuring in the last few.

Roughly how many hours a week do a PGCE student teach? (at my interview they said you will start with 11 hours a week but didnt say how many by the end of it)

It varies from course to course.

Our first proper teaching placement is 65% - 13/14 hours a week. The final placement is 80%, so around 16/17 hours a week.

I read first few posts of this and was like "OMG what have i let myself in for" then read the last few and now feel fine again. Strange as there isnt anything reassuring in the last few.

Roughly how many hours a week do a PGCE student teach? (at my interview they said you will start with 11 hours a week but didnt say how many by the end of it)

We had our Teaching Fayre today, not sure how I feel about it. The general advice was all a bit conflicting, supply agencies at every angle saying how great they are and then other advice suggesting supply should only be a last ditch option to stave off the 16 month countdown. Then that we should get 'other' jobs in education if we can't find teaching jobs. Hmmm.

The main 'advice' was to relocate down south to get the NQT year finished. If I could I really would but it's just not going to be possible. Feeling rather deflated, I know getting a job is going to be an unimaginable hurdle but more positivity would have been nice!

Goodness me, that all sounds a bit gloomy. Supply work isn't exactly ideal for NQTs, but if it's all there is, at least it's keeping your foot in the door and your skills up to date. What 'other' jobs did they suggest?

They didn't really say, just that it was 'education based' so I assume perhaps TA, HTLA or Cover Supervisor?

I think the 16 month rule has got us all a bit reluctant to go onto supply now, or at least pick our agencies with good feedback for longer term supply with opportunity for induction.