PGDE - Scotland 2023 Applicants Thread!

Hi, I’m hoping to apply for Glasgow, Strathclyde, UWS, Edinburgh and Dundee. I was just wondering if my lack of experience in a primary school will prevent me from getting interviews? Do you have experience in a school? I’m starting to think about my application and getting stressed that I really don’t have time to get experience in a school right now 😬

Hi everyone
I'm Olivia and hoping to apply to the PGDE Primary at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde and Dundee. I'm changing career so don't have a lot of classroom experience either but have some. They take into account other things like brownies, tutoring and after school club volunteering etc as well.
I'm struggling with personal statement too at the minute, not a huge amount of space! Unsure how much space to take up explaining a bit about my job and how it's relevant to teaching, or mainly just focus on experience you have working with children. Anyone else in the same boat?

Hey Olivia! I’m pretty much the same, have been working for 12+ years but went back to uni and now in my 4th year and applying for the PGDE so it’s a massive change!
I’m definitely feeling the same with the personal statement, I feel as though I’m writing way too much and not sure what bits to cut out because to me it all feels relevant but I’m most likely rambling 🤪😂

Ah yeah I know the feeling! 😂 It's taking a while and I'm sure there will be a fair few drafts to come but exciting all the same! Are you applying for Primary as well?

Hi Ellen!
I’m Megan, and I’m currently living near Edinburgh. Applying for PGDE Primary at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde, and Dundee 😁

How is everyone getting on with personal statements?
That is the hardest part for me so far! 😬

I've not even started my personal statement yet! I need to get on it but don't even know where to start!

I am struggling to fit my personal statement in to 47 lines. I put my first draft into one of those UCAS character counters and it was 76 lines! Really don’t know what to cut for the final edit. I am applying for primary PGDE. Hoping to submit my application next week.

I was the exact same, my first draft was 6000 characters and 65 lines! It’s taken me two weeks to edit it down, going back every other day with fresh eyes, but I finally got there!
If you’re at uni still, do you have a student advice centre or similar? Often they’ll have people who can review personal statements for you to help you in the right direction!

Can I ask Megan, could you only mark your personal statement as complete on the application form in the “preview” state i.e. The number of lines were noted down the left hand side? I contacted UCAS and they told me it would only look like that at my end and the universities would receive it as a normal block of text. Just want to check the guy was telling me the truth because it looks pretty weird at my end!

I was the same with mine, it’s so hard!
There are a couple of really helpful guides put out by Aberdeen and Glasgow unis - if you search PGDE personal statement Aberdeen uni or Glasgow uni on google they should be the top option, it gives you a really good breakdown of what they’re looking for!

I was the same with mine, it’s so hard!
There are a couple of really helpful guides put out by Aberdeen and Glasgow unis - if you search PGDE personal statement Aberdeen uni or Glasgow uni on google they should be the top option, it gives you a really good breakdown of what they’re looking for!