The 'I'm applying for a PGCE' thread

Subject: Secondary Physics
Unis: Durham, Leeds, Cambridge, York
Sent: to reference 24/10/11

Just waiting now i guess....

Anyone had any correspondence from universities yet? Anyone been offered an interview yet?

finally who has taken my approach to applying to good and reputable universities for the PGCE course I'm sick of people saying it doesn't matter and the polytechnics are just as good as Oxbridge.

So glad you're hear to tell us all how it is. You really should educate the numerous headteachers and senior members of schools who I have spoken to about this issue since they seem to be tragically misinformed

What i am saying is more doors will open. For instance if you wish to work abroad - for instance in China in an International School the heads or rather principals love it as it can be said we have a teach who studied at Oxbridge. For some reason, and i don't know why, there still exists an anti Oxbridge bias by some, i really don't know why. Nick Gibb i believe said he would rather be taught by an Oxbridge graduate of physics than some polytechnic 2.2 graduate with a PGCE.

There is nothing wrong with going to the top universities, and i would much prefer to walk into any potential job interview with Oxford or Cambridge in by bag than Liverpool John Moores for instance. Yes i know doing a PGCE is NOT the same as undergrad but it DOES still carry it's own intellectual je ne se quois.


Btw my own background isn't from Oxbridge - I got a first from an average uni (Newcastle) in politics and spent 2 years teaching the SAT's and TOEFL in China. My wife now teaches Chinese and i am looking to get qualified. The fact that i can speak and teach Mandarin will be something i will be boasting about more so at any interview more than any other factors.

As a retort to your quote - I'm sure you'll have realised through your university career - amazing qualifications DOES NOT equal amazing teacher (unless you were incredibly lucky with lecturers)

I have no anti-Oxbridge bias but IT DOES NOT MATTER!!! Schools do not care. And you pretending you know better and being very disparaging of people who are merely telling you the general opinion of the British school system irritates me no end.

You have more ammo walking into an interview having gone to Oxford or Cambridge for your PGCE than not (ceteris paribus)

Dear all,

I am in the early stages of thinking about applying for the Primary PGCE. I am a graduate but for various reasons do not intend to apply till 2012 at the earliest.

I was wondering what factors motivated you to select particular universities/courses to study at?

I am aware that many of you will have chosen univerisities close to home, but how much did overall university league rankings matter? How much did course rankings matter? Do factors like whether it is a red-brick university matter in this kind of thing? Or is the Ofsted report given much more significant?

I suppose what I'm really asking is will where I studied be important to Primary Schools to whom I apply for jobs with? If someone could give me some indication of what Primary School would be looking for that would be fab.

Dear all,

I am in the early stages of thinking about applying for the Primary PGCE. I am a graduate but for various reasons do not intend to apply till 2012 at the earliest.

I was wondering what factors motivated you to select particular universities/courses to study at?

I am aware that many of you will have chosen univerisities close to home, but how much did overall university league rankings matter? How much did course rankings matter? Do factors like whether it is a red-brick university matter in this kind of thing? Or is the Ofsted report given much more significant?

I suppose what I'm really asking is will where I studied be important to Primary Schools to whom I apply for jobs with? If someone could give me some indication of what Primary School would be looking for that would be fab.

Cheers.

p.s. Best of luck with your applications!

Has anyone else applied for a PGCE Early Years? Seems a lot of you are focusing on the primary age range but not lower primary/early years.

Subject: Early Years

Universitys: UWE, Middlesex

Date Sent: 28/10/11

I've had mine done since it first opened, but my tutor doing my reference went very slowly! Finally sent off though. Now to avoid checking track like I did when I applied through UCAS



Me me me!

Good luck! I'm at UWE too, but was put off applying there after a far from encouraging GDP lecture on applying to PGCEs so I'm applying to UCP Marjon and Plymouth.