PGCE - Current Students Thread

Are you at Winchester???

Starting to really settle now. Still feel awkward in a couple of classes and still trying to work better with my mentor.

Helping out at the talent show and helping pupils with personal statements at the moment. Supposed to be starting team teaching any day now but the teachers are all absolutely swamped with work. Great school but the teacher workload is insane to keep the grades so high. Observed an old school teacher who uses no modern techniques to teach and can definitely see why it's important to use them now. I almost fell asleep in the class and I love spreadsheets!

Helped a girl out programming rock, paper, scissors, lizard, spock so that was fun. And worked with two boys to input to a file using a language I don't actually know.

Stayed in a hotel last night for my early start this morning and that was brilliant. Definitely a good way to break the week up for me.

All in all, loving school but wish I wasn't so awkward around my mentor.

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Starting to really settle now. Still feel awkward in a couple of classes and still trying to work better with my mentor.

Helping out at the talent show and helping pupils with personal statements at the moment. Supposed to be starting team teaching any day now but the teachers are all absolutely swamped with work. Great school but the teacher workload is insane to keep the grades so high. Observed an old school teacher who uses no modern techniques to teach and can definitely see why it's important to use them now. I almost fell asleep in the class and I love spreadsheets!

Helped a girl out programming rock, paper, scissors, lizard, spock so that was fun. And worked with two boys to input to a file using a language I don't actually know.

Stayed in a hotel last night for my early start this morning and that was brilliant. Definitely a good way to break the week up for me.

All in all, loving school but wish I wasn't so awkward around my mentor.

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I second peachz's questions - what is awkward with your mentor? Is it just because you haven't got to know them yet, or a particular issue you're having? If it's the latter, I'd try and talk to your uni about it and try to sort the situation. It's so important to have a mentor you can be comfortable around and get on well with, I think.

Why is it so awkward with them? Are you part of a schools direct or a core PGCE programme? It might be worth mentioning it to your student rep on the Steering committee. I chaired ours today and I brought up similar concerns from the within my alliance.

He's so super busy that we haven't really spent much time together at all besides classes. He's a great teacher and I enjoy being near him but I guess we're not quite comfortable with each other yet. I hope it settles soon because I really like him. The department I'm in don't tend to use the staff room or socialise during breaks so I'm spending more time with other departments and making better relationships with them. I tried hanging around the department but it was even more awkward.



I'm PGDE. I'm fine with my ITT co-ordinator and other people in the school but I just haven't had the chance to really get involved in the department yet :/ I have a meeting with my professional mentor next week so I'll bring it up then.

Hi Guys,

I am applying to do a PGCE in 2015. I am wondering if any of use volunteered in 2 schools to support your application. If so, did use require 2 different police checks for both schools? or do you receive a certificate after one and you can use it for applying for other volunteer roles.

Also, as I am running a bit late with my volunteering and applications open at the end of Oct, I will have to start working on personal statement now! Just wondering if you can remember what the word limit was last year to give me an idea so I can get a head start on that.

Lily :-)

I'd volunteered in about 3/4 different schools before I got onto the course. I just used a CRB from a different volunteer position with an autism charity. I haven't met a school that weren't happy with that, but they all wanted to take a copy which I think is standard.

I can't remember the personal statement limit but it's the same as for your undergraduate degree IIRC. Good luck with your application! Have you started volunteering in school yet? I think most schools look for about 10 days experience as a minimum but they are flexible.

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Can't believe week 3 is over already! I'm teaching for 15 minutes next week which doesn't sound like much but they're slowly building us up. I'm looking forward to it. Loving the PGCE so far even if it is a lot of work!

Haha, no, bit further north! Are you doing it the same way there then? I got placed in a year one class, eep!

Hi Alabelle,

Thanks for getting back to me. Glad you are settled on to the course and it is going well for you.

It is such a lengthy process just getting on a place. Did the schools just photocopy the CRB you got done initially and do you know if I will receive a certificate for the one the primary school sent off for?

Anyways, all the best with the rest of your course

Just curious, how long is planning taking you people per 1 hour lesson?

A good three hours, maybe more! I've had to plan two literacy lessons this week, plus a 1-1 maths session, a small group maths intervention and guiding reading. I spent most of the day Thursday doing it, all Friday evening, two hours yesterday and two hours today.
I'm sure we will get quicker, it can't get longer!! X


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