PGCE 2014 Applications (NOT FOR SPECIFIC INTERVIEW TASK DISCUSSIONS)

So I'm reading a personal statement guide I printed off (yeah I'm only just writing it now - bad I know), and there's a section on entering time for course modules? I haven't heard of this, and I don't understand what it is or it's purpose? What are we supposed to put there? "percentage of time taken up by each module" - so is this over the whole year or only the semester? I have three taught modules this semester and my dissertation, so I guess that's 25% each, but then if it's spread over a year it's different.

Hey Airfairy- this bit is in the education section last time I just put in the credits E.g:

20.00 bones bodies burials
20.00 Rome to reformation
40.00 dissertation and so on. That seemed to work? I remember it had to add up but that was in education section. For the personal statement I didn't write % or anything just said a portion of my course was science related with modules such as blah blah. Hope this helps? as for the ps writing I've only just started writing mine too well editing my old one.

Guys is that only for Secondary? I am doing Primary and am so lost on what you guys are talking about!

That was for primary and secondary.. on the application form for the GTTR and now I guess UCAS it asks for the breakdown of your degree in modules and the percentage of the degree which was on this. I just put my transcript down with the credits and that added up, I think thats what the question was about? I may have misunderstood too and have confused the situation further apologies in advance

Thanks. I was planning on trying to get some. I guess I'll just go old school and send out letters to schools.

Hey Airfairy- this bit is in the education section last time I just put in the credits E.g:

20.00 bones bodies burials
20.00 Rome to reformation
40.00 dissertation and so on. That seemed to work? I remember it had to add up but that was in education section. For the personal statement I didn't write % or anything just said a portion of my course was science related with modules such as blah blah. Hope this helps? as for the ps writing I've only just started writing mine too well editing my old one.

Even as a male, you need 10 days minimum experience at least. It's a requirement set by the government rather than the universities so unfortunately it's not at their discretion. 10 days shouldn't be too hard to get though, and could be really useful for telling you if this is really what you want to do. Since your degree is not in a national curriculum subject or related to education, I'm guessing you only decided to go into teaching recently. That's not a bad thing, it just means that you should spend as much time in schools as possible to decide if you are certain about this.

You might still get an interview without it, but you'd be obliged to meet the required 10 days before the beginning of your PGCE.

I'm really struggling with the paragraph in the PS about what I've gained from my work exp. Weird thing is, I've been reading loads of examples and none of them seem to say much about it - at most a sentence!

I'm struggling for room too, which I didn't envision! I thought I'd struggle for words but I'm on 47 lines now and there's a lot I haven't said :/ Because I'm doing a politics degree and applying for an R.E PGCE a lot of my room is me trying to convince them I'm capable and my degree is sort of related!

Thank you So do you list modules from all three years, or just third year? I'm sure I'll work it out. Do you put your marks down anywhere?

Personal statement writing is hard!

I've chosen to say two separate things about work experience in my personal statement;

a) example of what a teacher did, followed by how i noticed it was useful, linked to skills i have learned through my degree that would help me do similar stuff

b) example of something i did, what happened afterwards, and how my actions helped the situation

I hope that's not too unclear... I can explain it better if you like.

I'm having similar problems with room too, as my degree is a bit unusual. It's Educational Studies, which has clear links to teaching, but I could do with extra room to convince them I'm capable in the National Curriculum subjects too. It's frustrating not having enough lines to say everything!

Yea I just basically listed my transcript from the three years- I don't know if it will change this year but the last two times I applied there was loads of spaces and you just list titles of modules and then the credits and I think you might have to put the percentage obtained but I don't remember that bit just remember the credits because I had to make sure I put the .00 after each one or it wouldn't recognise it. I know I thought it would be easier for me this year using my old statement but I'm changing it completely and now I have another role to add I'm struggling to fit it all in too. Still we will be glad we did it now so it is ready to go when the application opens. Just saw your applying for RE and have a politics degree- thats interesting. Have you looked at the subject enhancement courses for RE? x

Nah, that helps a lot! I've redone it and I think it looks a bit better now. However...I've finished it with 61 lines!! And I don't know how to narrow it down, so I've sent it to my careers service for advice. :/
I guess with your degree, you'll do a lot of essay writing? So you could link in with English seeing as you probs need a good standard to do a lot of writing, etc. I don't actually know what the degree entails enough to link it in more.
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I'm really struggling with the paragraph in the PS about what I've gained from my work exp. Weird thing is, I've been reading loads of examples and none of them seem to say much about it - at most a sentence!

I'm struggling for room too, which I didn't envision! I thought I'd struggle for words but I'm on 47 lines now and there's a lot I haven't said :/ Because I'm doing a politics degree and applying for an R.E PGCE a lot of my room is me trying to convince them I'm capable and my degree is sort of related!

Is anyone putting anything about "current education issues" in their P.S? I have put it in, but as I'm over the limit I'm thinking to take it out...I'm sure they're going to ask about it in the interviews anyway? Or do you think we need to put it in to ensure we even get an interview?


Thanks in advance. X

is it worth mentioning that i am doing my dissertation on education reform? Just thought it may show an active interest in education policy.

Is anyone putting anything about "current education issues" in their P.S? I have put it in, but as I'm over the limit I'm thinking to take it out...I'm sure they're going to ask about it in the interviews anyway? Or do you think we need to put it in to ensure we even get an interview?


Thanks in advance. X

I don't think it really matters the time spent on modules, my lecturer recommends talking about your favourite modules, as the percentage thing is if your doing joint honours or if your degree isn't directly the subject you wanna teach. You don't have to mention your dissertation I haven't this year but last year I mentioned it and I used it as the topic for my interview presentation.

I asked more because the guide I was reading made it out like we don't have a choice whether to put time spent on modules down.

I've ended up mentioning my dissertation, mainly to show interest, however I'm a bit worried because I know they will ask about it at interview, but I don't start proper research until February, up until then it's just plans and bibliography so I won't really have much to say!

Am I right in thinking you're doing the lit review first, then some research in January? That's how we have to do it... all I would do is talk about what your reading is telling you so far and what that has led you to investigate. Your interest in your dissertation topic will shine through and put you in a good light! I don't think you necessarily have to have it finished by then, I know I might not have even started my research til after interviews.