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PGCE 2014 Applications (NOT FOR SPECIFIC INTERVIEW TASK DISCUSSIONS)

Reply 20

Victoria14

9

Original post by magic_box

Hi

I graduated in 2012 in Theology & Religious Studies and have been working as a secondary TA since last October. Hoping to be applying for RS PGCE for 2014.
Thought about submitting a late application for this year but really I'd rather not rush anything through!

What unis have you chosen?

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 21

kaylamaryon

I am! Career change for me - currently work in PR. I have a placement arranged at a primary school in July :smile:

Looking to do primary PGCE at University of Worcester

Reply 22

Hattie1992

13

Original post by Feartheunknown

Yeah like another poster wrote, I was told at an open day that History and English Lit are really competitive (should apply ASAP). Also any experience working with kids will work in your favour so volunteering over the summer will be great!

Thanks for the advice! The only problem is that if I get offered an interview whilst I'm travelling I'm not going to be able to attend. I don't suppose it's possible to postpone interviews? The earliest I'll be back in the country is mid-December so I was thinking that I could apply a few weeks before I'm due to come home, and then by the time they've made a decision I should be back in the UK.

Reply 23

ChelseyElla

13

Original post by kaylamaryon

I am! Career change for me - currently work in PR. I have a placement arranged at a primary school in July :smile:

Looking to do primary PGCE at University of Worcester

A big change but that sounds awesome :smile:

How come you decided to do a PGCE instead of the Schools Direct?

Reply 24

tory88

18

I think I probably will be, although I'm still unsure. I have a months experience lined up once my university exams finish so I should get a better idea of whether I want to go into teaching at the end of it all. Chances are I will though. I've always wanted a job that had variety and was interesting, but only really thought about teaching this year, so I haven't had as much time to consider it as some others. I'm currently thinking a secondary Physics and Mathematics PGCE. Any tips from more experienced applicants?

Reply 25

Danielle_1990

Hi everyone!

I'm also looking to apply for a PGCE staring next September. I graduated from uni last year with a degree in law and want to teach primary level pupils. I'm not sure if my degree subject will work against me as I know they're keen on relevant subjects.

I've got 2 weeks worth of observations arranged with the relevant age groups in local schools and have worked for a few summers at a camp for autistic children. I'm hoping this will help but my first choice is Reading and I know competition is extremely tough there. Not sure what my chances will be but I'm definitely going to give it my best shot!

Reply 26

ChelseyElla

13

Original post by Danielle_1990

Hi everyone!

I'm also looking to apply for a PGCE staring next September. I graduated from uni last year with a degree in law and want to teach primary level pupils. I'm not sure if my degree subject will work against me as I know they're keen on relevant subjects.

I've got 2 weeks worth of observations arranged with the relevant age groups in local schools and have worked for a few summers at a camp for autistic children. I'm hoping this will help but my first choice is Reading and I know competition is extremely tough there. Not sure what my chances will be but I'm definitely going to give it my best shot!

I wouldn't worry about your degree choice too much, I think it's more about the experience. I'm currently studying Psychology which I know is slightly more relevant but it still isn't a National Curriculum subject. I spend a lot of time in schools and the teachers have all types of degrees including things like German so it can be done. I'm also going to apply to Reading for Primary so good luck to us :smile:

Reply 27

Danielle_1990

Thanks Chelsey. I'm just aware of how competitive it is and it sort of makes you panic about every little thing! I'm hoping to get some more experience observing early next year so will try and allude to that in my application.

That's cool you're applying to Reading too, are you from the area?

Reply 28

Marcusian

I am applying for Swansea and Cardiff Met. I hear the post grad courses are ultra competitive, so I am making sure I leave no stone unturned. It's nerve wracking, but I really want to do it. Does anyone know how competitive these courses are? Like I know at Cardiff Met for the course I want to do there are only 15 places, but wonder how many apply?

Reply 29

bexl24

Original post by Hattie1992

Thanks for the advice! The only problem is that if I get offered an interview whilst I'm travelling I'm not going to be able to attend. I don't suppose it's possible to postpone interviews? The earliest I'll be back in the country is mid-December so I was thinking that I could apply a few weeks before I'm due to come home, and then by the time they've made a decision I should be back in the UK.

Hi,

just a little bit of advice for you :smile:

I applied on the day that GTTR opened for secondary history PGDipEd at the uni of Birmingham and was invited to interview on December 8th. Interviews had all finished by early January and luckily I managed to get a space! I would probably say to apply as early as possible as it is a long and agonizing wait to hear back from them... You do usually get an option to change the date of your interview (or I did at least!)...

I'd suggest emailing the admissions departments of the unis that you wish to apply for just to see what they recommend you do :smile:

Good luck and enjoy your travels!
Becky x

Reply 30

magic_box

Original post by Aphrodite 2

What unis have you chosen?

Roehampton and Institute of Education at the moment, I want to be able to live at home (South London) and commute if possible.

Reply 31

polka_dott

14

Would volunteering in Brownies/Guides or something similar help an application at all?? I noticed in my area they are looking for volunteers one evening a week for a few hours just to help out. They say what age range so 5-7 or 7-11 year olds. I am hoping to have a job for next year but I should be able to fit this in.

Reply 32

Hattie1992

13

Original post by bexl24

Hi,

just a little bit of advice for you :smile:

I applied on the day that GTTR opened for secondary history PGDipEd at the uni of Birmingham and was invited to interview on December 8th. Interviews had all finished by early January and luckily I managed to get a space! I would probably say to apply as early as possible as it is a long and agonizing wait to hear back from them... You do usually get an option to change the date of your interview (or I did at least!)...

I'd suggest emailing the admissions departments of the unis that you wish to apply for just to see what they recommend you do :smile:

Good luck and enjoy your travels!
Becky x

Thanks for the advice Becky, and well done on getting a Place! I'm going to get my application all ready to send over the summer, and then hopefully send it off around November. But I'll also email the unis just to be sure.

Thanks again!

Reply 33

Juichiro

18

Original post by Feartheunknown

Anyone else thinking of applying for a PGCE commencing in 2014?
I'm in the process of gaining experience for my application and thought it would be useful to chat to to others in the same boat!

Here!

I want be a Spanish (maybe also French) teacher. :smile:

Original post by jeffercake

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'.

That's a lot! :O I am trying to get some experience but since it's June and with the exams it is hard. :/

Original post by Shelly_x

Try saying you want to volunteer as a teaching assistant and that you'll help the teachers with photocopying etc. Though as it is a bit late you could try organising some for September.

I will probably do that. :smile:

Thanks for the idea!

Reply 34

nimgreen

Hi Everyone :smile:

I'm currently preparing my application for 2014/15 entry as well. I'm a languages and MA Cross Cultural Communications graduate and thanking my lucky stars that languages are being made compulsory for KS2...

In terms of experience - by the end of July I will have completed 4 weeks in different Primary Schools and 2 days in a middle School in Austria. I am currently volunteering one night a week at a Brownies group and about to start volunteering with an international childrens charity which promotes intercultural tolerance and understanding to young people. This is literally the extent of my experience so I hope it doesn't negatively affect my application that I haven't been a TA or anything.

The providers I'm applying for are Bradford College general Primary and Manchester University primary with modern languages specialism. I will probably apply for a school direct post as well when these are revealed.

Any other languages graduates applying for primary? I'm so nervous about applying and not getting anything I feel really passionate that this is what I want to do. Good Luck everyone and it would be great to hear about your experience with applications etc x

Reply 35

nimgreen

Also - I'm sorry if this is the wrong place to ask but I was wondering what methods other people are using to prepare for interview questions etc on curriculum. Where are you looking for information? I have really decided to start revising for it like I would an exam so I know it inside out while I have the time!

Reply 36

Juichiro

18

Original post by kaylamaryon

I am! Career change for me - currently work in PR. I have a placement arranged at a primary school in July :smile:

Looking to do primary PGCE at University of Worcester

May I ask why Worcester in particular? :smile:

Reply 37

ReebokBoofle107

Original post by Marcusian

I am applying for Swansea and Cardiff Met. I hear the post grad courses are ultra competitive, so I am making sure I leave no stone unturned. It's nerve wracking, but I really want to do it. Does anyone know how competitive these courses are? Like I know at Cardiff Met for the course I want to do there are only 15 places, but wonder how many apply?

Hiii, i'm starting a PGCE in secondary English at Cardiff Met in September. I was told at interview that there were a 120 interviewees for 18 places on my course. Last year I didnt even get an interview. You need lots of experience, a really good personal statement and I applied the day GTTR became available. The good thing is that this year, you can apply to 3 unis at a time, last year (when I applied) your application only went to 1 uni at a time until you were rejected. Cardiff was my first choice, but I didnt get a decision until mid feb, I applied end of October and my interview was beginning of January. So as you can imagine, it was pretty stressful.

Reply 38

swarfliam

11

I'm also going to be applying for the 2014 PGCE, for me in Primary. Hopefully Reading and Winchester!
Nervous already about writing a personal statement this summer though, but hopefully i'll manage and sneak onto a course :smile:

Reply 39

alabelle

18

I'm definitely applying for a Primary PGCE in September, not sure where yet though!
I'm in my second year of an Education Studies degree so starting to look at options. I visited Sheffield Hallam today and the course seemed perfect but I am worried that a lack of experience will let me down. I have a week of observation planned in the next couple of weeks and I'll be doing 40hrs of volunteering as a classroom assistant (for my degree) in the coming academic year but SHU wanted evidence of continuous teaching for five days. I've been trying to arrange as many placements as possible lately (just observation) and that was hard enough so I don't know how I'd convince them to let me teach for a week! I'm hoping that my observation time will allow me to meet teachers and maybe open them up to the possibility of some teaching over the next year but it's all very unlikely...

PGCE 2014 Applications (NOT FOR SPECIFIC INTERVIEW TASK DISCUSSIONS)

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