PGCE - Current Students Thread

Be picky with jobs - after all, you've got to work there for a year. I really had to weigh up the two jobs that I applied for - great schools with a great NQT programme, but, it also means moving back in with my parents.
In the end, I took it even though it means moving back in with my parents - saving money and having small things like not having to do my own food shopping is going to be incredibly helpful during my NQT year.

If you're unsure about a job - apply anyway! If you get invited to interview, you can look round the school and see if it feels right for you.

The first school I interviewed at, I was thinking part way through - what happens if I get offered the job and something better comes up? Which
,with hindsight, says that probably the school wasn't right for me. I didn't get that feeling at all on the second interview.

If you get an interview - go with your gut instinct. You should be given a tour of the school, you should get the opportunity to meet members of your potential department and you should get the opportunity to see the main staffroom.

There's more to just teaching than the curriculum and the pupils - there's also your colleagues and for me, having coffee with my potential department clarified that it was a school I would be happy in.

Great advice! I have been invited to interview in this exact situation... I have visited the school and would be happy there...but can't get another school out of my mind and would hate to miss my chance with them. Interview day should be very telling!

If I felt the school wasn't right for me on the day, though, I'd feel so awkward being like 'no, I don't want the job after all....'. Guess that's the teaching recruitment process though!

Have you received an interview with both schools?

On my first interview, I was asked 'If we were to offer you the job, would you accept it'? and at my second I was asked 'are you still interested in the position?'

I've heard contrasting advice from university tutors/teachers/fellow trainees about what to say in that situation. I was told that if you're not entirely sure, it's better to be honest and to say 'I like the school and thank you for inviting me to the interview, but, if I were to be offered the position, I would require a day to think about it' and if a school doesn't offer you the job based on that, they're probably not the right school.

If a school really wants to hire you, they will allow you that time to think about a big decision.

The deadline for the other school isn't until the day before my interview (interview is that week) so this is all complete speculation right now and pretty silly, I know. But I'd kick myself if I did get invited and had already taken the other job... I think I'm just stressed!

Hm, it could still be worth attending the interview just for the experience!

At the interview, if they ask you about the position, just be honest and say 'thank you very much for inviting me to interview, but I don't feel like this school is right for me'

There will be other schools you'll love and other schools you'll be happy in even if you don't get an interview for the one you really like!

Say a lesson went terribly and you felt the children were really confused about everything...

What would your next steps be? Would you have a rethink of the plan and then teach it again?

Just looking for the 'correct' answer

Say a lesson went terribly and you felt the children were really confused about everything...

What would your next steps be? Would you have a rethink of the plan and then teach it again?

Just looking for the 'correct' answer

Say a lesson went terribly and you felt the children were really confused about everything...

What would your next steps be? Would you have a rethink of the plan and then teach it again?

Just looking for the 'correct' answer

Anyone else in uni over half term

Anyone else in uni over half term

Yep, me too. We don't get half terms

But if your placement schools have half term but you don't, are you back in lectures for a week or something? Find that quite strange that no everyone gets half term. We always got half term.

Yep, me too. We don't get half terms

I never did! Went in half term for some silly lectures. But tbf it wasn't as full on as say the beginning of the year at uni. Maybe a couple hours and only three days in the week. Plus it allowed you to catch up with others on the course.


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D'you not get reading weeks at all!?

The primary PGCE at my uni don't get half term but they do get reading weeks.