BA Primary Teacher Ed - Oxford Brookes

Hey, I'm looking at applying for the Primary Teacher Education Degree at Oxford Brookes starting Sept 2019.
I was wondering if there are any current/past students who could give me some info about roughly when your lectures were on a normal week, the volume of work/assignments you had to complete and just general info on the course. I'm pretty much set on becoming a teacher, but just want to know whether uni is the right route, or whether applying for a TA job and building qualifications to then do a PGCE would be better?
Thanks in advance lovely people!!

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 1

04MR17

Volunteer Section Leader

Original post by charlotte.rob18

@clarkey500 or @wonderland.16 may be able to advise regarding what the work commitments are like. :smile:

Does your course come with QTS?

Reply 2

wonderland.16

Original post by charlotte.rob18

Thanks for the tag @04MR17

Now, I can't speak for what Oxford Brookes is like at all. But, what I can share, is my experience in a Welsh uni. There are slightly different aspects (like I have to have Welsh lessons) etc but I wou;d imagine for the most part they are pretty similar :smile:

So, I am in my 2nd year of a BAEd with QTS (primary). This year is very different to first so I will start with that.

My lectures began half way through freshers (ours is 2 weeks long). We had at least 4- 6 hours 4 days a week. On Fridays it was more though. Typically we would start at 9am every day and finish between 3 and 5, depending if we got a break for lunch or not.

Immediately we were preparing for assignments. We had two or three due by December, as well as an exam in January. So fromt he start it was full on. We have 6 modules, some of them only last 1 semester, some cover 2. We had only finished one module by Christmas last year, the rest were done by April.

This year however is totally different. At the moment I am in 2/3 days a week, but they are all 9-5. We have 2 assignments, AFL and Welsh assessments due by Christmas. We are on placement from November through to February half term, so it finishes the time I started last year.

This course is very theory heavy, which you are then expected to transfer into your teaching practice on placement. Today for example I had 6 hours of expressive arts (music, art and p.e.) they were all 'active engagement' so not really any note taking, more learning how to teach art etc by doing it ourselves. Other lectures are straight to the point, like Pedagogy lectures.

I know of quite a few people who dropped out over the course of last year. Some didn't realise just how much theory was involved, or paperwork, or how stressful placement can be (note I didn't say is).

If you are set on teaching then it's your shout. I wouldn't be too concerned about how much experience you have though, whilst it is extremely beneficial, it isn't essential (most places ask for 10 days recent experience).

This is also a very 'self-directed' course (from my experience). We are expected to do our own reading, reflecting upon this in assignements and practice, and just use initiative. We aren't told what to do all the time. I think this is probably the aspect most people struggle with, being organised, especially on placement!

Let me know if you have any more questions!

Reply 3

Oxford Brookes Student Ambassadors

Official Rep

Original post by charlotte.rob18

Hi, thanks so much for considering Brookes!

Although I can't personally tell you what life would be like on this course (I'm a Philosophy Student :smile:

) please feel free to get in touch with the faculty at: [email protected] , they will be more than happy to help answer any specific questions about the course. You can also check out the course handbook here: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/Documents/Courses---undergraduate/Primary-Teacher-Education-brochure/

It would also be great to see you at an Open Day where you can really get a feel for life at Brookes, all the info is here: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/open-day/

Please let me know if there's anything else I can help you with :smile:

All the best,
Catrin
Student Ambassador :smile:

Reply 4

clarkey500

Original post by charlotte.rob18

Thank's for the tag, @04MR17!

Hi Charlotte,

Like @wonderland I can’t really comment on Oxford Brookes specifically as I don’t go there.

However, I am a third (and final!) year BEd student specialising in maths at the University of Plymouth, so can give you some information about the course in general. This year, they are trialling a ‘study day’ were we get a day off during the week for independent study and the rest of the week is a bit busier.

In first year, the course went at a nice steady rate with 6 assignments and 3 (now 2) placements scattered throughout the year. This year was used to get you used to university life with assignments etc. as well as the teaching profession. There wasn’t much overlap of when modules were on, so you could get going with each assignment. On placement, you will get a university mentor and a school-based tutor to support you in this early phase of your teaching career.

In second year, it got a bit tougher – as expected. The module timings were a bit more mixed and the assignments becoming bigger and more critical. On placement, you should get to a good level of teaching and as you generally reach the Department for Education’s expectations, you can apparently do supply work during your third year.

In third year, it goes a bit crazy as you’ve got all the assignments to do, including a research project, plus a term (ish) of placement. It certainly is possible to get all the work done, so don’t let that put you off. A normal week for me, this year, includes 2-3 lectures and 5-6 seminars. Although this week and last week also has/had 3 workshops! Most of these are around 2 hours each.

You will probably have to do a lot of reading on teaching theories etc. over the course of the 3 years. Most of this reading will be self-directed, so you will be doing some of this on your own accord.

Regarding course, there are many ways into teaching. A teaching degree is only one of them. If you really want to become a teacher sooner rather than later, do the degree (making sure it comes with QTS). If you’re not sure do a different degree and then do any course that awards QTS.

If you have any other questions fell free to ask.

Reply 5

studentteacher05

Hi there, im currently in first year doing Primary ed at OBU.The course is very interactive with lots of different fun sessions that go on.Freshers week started with a full 5 week day where we did lots of activities such as clay modelling, outside team-work activities and just general 'ice-breaker' session in the lecture hall.All through the year you do three day weeks - one free day is to study and the other is for extra-curricular activities, which is of course up to you to join them, it is not compulsory. On the run up to Christmas we were only set one 3000 word essay and a presentation to 2/3 of your year which was to last 15 minutes - it's a lot less scary than you think. Other than that we were in uni anywhere from 1 seminar or lecture a day to four - it varied every week but we always had Tuesdays and Wednesday off apart from our five week placement ( one day place for five weeks) which were on a Tuesday so we got Monday and Wednesdays off.Now back from a five week break and things have paced up a bit - lots more assignments are being set and its important to keep up to date on your reflective pieces and reading that you need to do otherwise you'll be stressing over reading 13 different chapters in a week for one subject when it comes to the end of the semester. if you're reading a couple of hundred pages for one subject, think about how much it is all together.The course is fun, enjoyable and interactive. Such as for one subject we are marked off of a journal that we need to create.The work load is manageable as long as you allocate time for your self to do and not just think oh ill do it next week, because at the next lesson you'll have more reading and reflections to write, its all about being organised and good with your time management. Placement is the most rewarding thing and you're eased into it by starting out with just having to teach a 20 minute phonics lesson so its not too daunting. Don't be scared off by what i've said, its 100% manageable and at times stressful but having the two days off really do help, theres still plenty of time to socialise and have fun. If you have any more questions feel free to ask! good luck!