PGCE 2014 Applications (NOT FOR SPECIFIC INTERVIEW TASK DISCUSSIONS)

Hi everyone

I'm wanting to apply for a PGCE in Secondary English this November. However I'm a little confused about how to apply. Does anyone know if we do have to wait until November 1st to even be able to register on the UCAS Teacher Training site or can that be done beforehand? Someone told me to register on UCAS like we did when we were applying for University, but the application form didn't look right as it gives you 5 choices to be able to apply to and space for only one reference. I know that you can't send off your application until courses become open on November 1st but I wasn't sure if we could at least start filling in our applications now. I've read that it can take up to 2 weeks for your referees to add a reference and your application doesn't get sent off until they do, and I'm sure most PGCE courses are only open for 2 weeks to apply to them!

Sorry if none of this makes sense, I'm just a bit confused and want to make sure I'm doing the right thing! Thanks!

Hi everyone

I'm wanting to apply for a PGCE in Secondary English this November. However I'm a little confused about how to apply. Does anyone know if we do have to wait until November 1st to even be able to register on the UCAS Teacher Training site or can that be done beforehand? Someone told me to register on UCAS like we did when we were applying for University, but the application form didn't look right as it gives you 5 choices to be able to apply to and space for only one reference. I know that you can't send off your application until courses become open on November 1st but I wasn't sure if we could at least start filling in our applications now. I've read that it can take up to 2 weeks for your referees to add a reference and your application doesn't get sent off until they do, and I'm sure most PGCE courses are only open for 2 weeks to apply to them!

Sorry if none of this makes sense, I'm just a bit confused and want to make sure I'm doing the right thing! Thanks!

Quick question -

I'm sure some of you here would have written your personal statement already. Do we include details of work exp and what we learnt from it in the ps? Just on UCAS it says there is separate section for this. So in that case do you not mention exp at all on the ps? How much length do you get in this separate section to talk about exp?

I want to write it next week, so don't want to rant on about exp when I shouldn't in that statement.


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Whilst secondary english DOES fill up fast, its not quite 2 weeks. Thats a little bit exaggerated there :P Places started to fill last year after about a month and a half. The only thing you can do is to inform your referee of when the applications open and urge them to complete it quickly. Advanced notice means they'll be looking out for it and will hopefully mean they do it right away if you tell them how crucial it is.

Hi, thanks for your reply!

Well I was under the impression it was only open for 2 weeks because I read it on the UCAS Apply 1 information site itself: http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher-training/apply-1

It says: 'When a trainging programme is opened for the first time, it stays open for a minimum of two weeks. If they don't fill all their places the first time they open their programme, it might be open again later, but not definitely, and maybe only briefly.'

So obviously this information has made me want to get my application sent off as soon as possible, but even if I've filled everything in it doesn't get sent off until the referees have filled in their part. I have let both of them know already so they do know they will be asked for one and I think I'll also email a reminder to them a week before as well.

But basically what I want to know is that is everyone just applying from November 1st then? You don't apply any earlier than that?

Thank you, and sorry I just want to make sure I get everything done right!

Hi, thanks for your reply!

Well I was under the impression it was only open for 2 weeks because I read it on the UCAS Apply 1 information site itself: http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher-training/apply-1

It says: 'When a trainging programme is opened for the first time, it stays open for a minimum of two weeks. If they don't fill all their places the first time they open their programme, it might be open again later, but not definitely, and maybe only briefly.'

So obviously this information has made me want to get my application sent off as soon as possible, but even if I've filled everything in it doesn't get sent off until the referees have filled in their part. I have let both of them know already so they do know they will be asked for one and I think I'll also email a reminder to them a week before as well.

But basically what I want to know is that is everyone just applying from November 1st then? You don't apply any earlier than that?

Thank you, and sorry I just want to make sure I get everything done right!

Going to start trying to do a personal statement.

Still not entirely sure if this is the right career for me though. I do love working with the children, helping them with their work, reading with them, and playing with the little ones but I know that's not all a teacher does and there's so much more to it.

It was my plan from about March 2012 do finish my degree, take a gap year and then apply for a PGCE. This was still my plan from Feb onwards and then in July because that's when I approached the school I'm at now for more experience. It was even my plan a few weeks ago, and since I started I keep having doubts about whether it's really what I want to do.

I also thought it was a stable career, but, the teacher I work with most of the time is just a supply teacher doing a couple of days a week before she goes full time to cover maternity, but after that she will be looking for a job again. And another girl I know who finished her PGCE in June this year still doesn't have a job, even though I've seen lots of KS1/2 teacher advertised on council websites and stuff.

So, so much doubt in my head about it now. But I don't want to not apply and then completely regret it

Have a bit of a PS here I started a few months ago but it's rubbish and I don't know where to start with it.

Also need to contact my old uni tutor to ask her if she'll do me a reference (I'm sure she will).

It isn't something you should go in to lightly. And you're right, there is a lot of behind the scenes work- especially when you first start and haven't figured out how to do planning and marking and recording data as efficiently as you will later on (& when certain bits are necessary). It is tough. Especially in my KS1 placement I found the amount of paperwork, marking etc unreal! I find it a bit better in eyfs as learning journeys are fun to do.

Having said that, it might be that you're just having nerves as you find out more about it. I remember reading the PGCE tired and stressed thread beforehand and panicking a bit. But I pushed through and am so glad I did... You do have bad days where you feel like it's all on top of you but actually knowing you have the power to make a Child's life better is amazing and makes the bad times worth it.

Plus the extra work (non child centred) doesn't seem as bad when you have a full understanding of how it helps the childrens learning and you organise it yourself to do so... Eg when you're going through and looking at how children did by marking it becomes a lot more interesting than blindly marking.

What age range PGCE are you looking at?

If you have any more specific qs to help you decide please ask away and I will help if I can!

Xxx
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I was going to apply for age 7-11 at one uni and then a KS1 and 2 course at another uni.

I'm not sure if I can do lower primary at the uni I want to go to because it says you need a degree in Early Years to do it :/

Ah really? Not heard of that before. If you feel you would want to do early years and key stage 1 it might be worth looking in to other unis. Of course this might not work for you depending on circumstance etc. Or you might not want to anyway!

Xxx

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I think it may have changed since I looked last. On the Primary PGCE page it says there is two pathways, Primary Foundation Phase (3-7) and Primary Key Stage 2 (7-11) and in the entry requirements says 'Recent and relevant experience in a mainstream school across the primary age range.'

So I could try and get more experience in the lower class since I've already had loads in a KS2 class before. That's the uni I would preferably go to if circumstances meant I had to stay at home.

BUT for Liverpool Hope (the uni I would apply for if I decided not to stay at home) it says for the Primary (Foundation Stage/KS1) PGCE 'You will not be considered for this course unless you have an Early Years related Degree' so it's out of the question for me to do it there, I could only do Upper Primary there. I was worried about not being able to get on it with a Psychology degree, but someone on my course just has so there's hope for that lol.

Ah ok I see I guess they feel you need more theory than they can provide in the year. Though I suppose if someone had done psychology and specialised in early educational psychology it could match?

More experience in younger classes (ESP early years as it's more different) can be great, even if you decide it's not for you you can use it to inform your practice with older children (just as I find it really interesting to go to year 6... They seem so old!).

Xxx



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I know what you mean about being under-confident.

Deciding to apply was kind of a last minute thing for me. I mean, I've been thinking about teaching a lot, but it took some heart to heart conversations with friends and family to convince me that I would be good at doing it and should apply!

A lot of people don't get on a course first time, so I am a bit worried about that, especially applying for English, but I am making a conscious effort to gain as many experiences by November as possible to support my application!

I hope you get on this year, Drama is popular but if you are passionate enough, I am sure you can do it

I know it is difficult, but try and think positive, because if you set yourself up to fail, you won't put your all into trying! Good luck!!

I can't seem to find a way of searching for which Universities provide certain courses. Will this only come out in November when applications open?