PGCE - Current Students Thread

It really, really does depend on the school. In both my placements I've just worn plain coloured tops/t-shirts with black trousers or skirt and coloured tights. So plain and neat but not really smart.

My current male teaching partner wears plain long sleeve tops and Chinos. Definitely not a suit! I can't imagine getting stick in with young children in a suit (except perhaps at interview) but there are no doubt some schools where you have to.

xxx

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I'm ready to cry

Is your partner doing primary or secondary? I'm sure the expectation of dressing smart is less so in primary schools. Buy I intend to go with trousers/chinos and shirt with v-neck top.

I have officially finished! Can't believe how many years I've wanted to do a PGCE and it's done?!?!?! I'm gobsmacked!!

I have officially finished! Can't believe how many years I've wanted to do a PGCE and it's done?!?!?! I'm gobsmacked!!

I sort of finished today too - have had a facebook message from our course tutor confirming the exam board has finished looking at folders so we have all now officially passed!

Steveluis - I would say that it was a bit harder than I expected (mostly because I was a bit complacent about my ability to handle the workload beforehand) but parts of it were more enjoyable too. The community of other PGCE students on my course has been amazing, whether for sharing ideas and developing our practice or just having a break, a good moan and several drinks at the weekend.

My advice would be to get organised ASAP when you start your placement and keep on top of as much as you can to avoid having a mound of paperwork to deal with at Christmas. Be aware that it will take ages to plan lessons and make resources, but don't let it take over your whole life - try and work out where you can compromise and when your work is 'good enough' rather than perfect.

Put some time aside each week for a hobby or something that helps you relax and give yourself a bit of time off (Friday night/Saturday is obviously the best time for this as you can always manage it, even if it means working all Sunday). When you get better at handling the workload, try and use the free time well. The past month or so I've been terrible at procrastinating, messing around on my computer and achieving very little, before starting planning my lessons for the following day at around 8pm. I should definitely have taken a real break and read a book or watched TV or something, not half-heartedly worked for hours.

Take on board advice from tutors and colleagues in university and school, but remain criticial - think about which advice you're following just to tick a box and help you get good observation feedback and good report to pass the course, and which you actually believe is the best way to teach and will incorporate in your teaching practice in the long term.

Start applying for jobs when you feel ready, don't apply for something you don't want and don't let it get to you if you miss out on quite a few. I had 8 interviews before I got my job, some people got a job at their very first interview, but we've nearly all got there now.

Good luck.

Lovely advice. I was meant to pos rep you but accidentally touched the neg on my phone so it's gone down as negative rep. I don't think it'll affect your rep much but do forgive me. Sorry.

Finally got myself a job today - SO HAPPY!!

Obviously you become more experienced at planning during the PGCE, how realistic is it to be able to plan a few days or even a week in advance?

Obviously you become more experienced at planning during the PGCE, how realistic is it to be able to plan a few days or even a week in advance?

Congratulations! Was it everything you expected? What is your next move going to be and what advice would you give people starting a PGCE in September?

Obviously you become more experienced at planning during the PGCE, how realistic is it to be able to plan a few days or even a week in advance?

Everyone is pretty pants at planning at the beginning. That's to be expected! Don't worry you are eased in you can go at your own pace.

Hmm well I guess my best advice is, don't be too picky, you have to use what evidence you have.

Just gather all that Childs books and work and go through each... Is there evidence of that objective?

It is a tough one... I guess the thing is just think it needs evidence. There may be something you think that child can do but at the end of the day you need evidence of that when you're doing app, so the child may come up as a lower level than you think.

Hopefully someone else on here can be a bit more help than me, as I am an early years person so for half of my course my assessment was entirely based on observations and there was no marking, levels etc, you just had to know your children really well!

Xxx

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We're all done or nearly done now, 3 days of placement left for me! And then we can all relax (although I'm starting the new job on July 1st!). Well done though to everyone who' made it