Young teachers/deferring pgce?

Hey, firstly, who else is 20/21 and applying for secondary pgce this year?

I've been on a TDA taster course this week and I was easily the youngest person there and I'm also slightly worried that I look too much like a sixth former! Having said that, I enjoyed my time in the school and hoping to get a few more days exp before I send off my application.

Secondly, does anyone know anything about deferring a pgce place? It would be great if I could defer entry til 2010 but I'm not sure how easy that is, whether you need a really good reason or something. Would it be harder to defer from a place like Cambridge or Exeter? Those are my first choices (because I like the areas) but I think they would be more competetive than some other places.

Any help/advice would be appreciated!

Reply 1

la fille danse

17

I'm on the GTP now and I'm 20. With my provider, the GTPs are mostly 25-30 and the PGCEs are a little bit younger.

Reply 2

sexysax

14

I'm 21 and on a PGCE. There are a few of us music ones who are 21, but a lot of the other subject trainees in my school are older and there are a few older ones on my subject course. I do actually feel a little like a baby at times and that I've not got as much experience as them but...!

Reply 3

Angelil

19

Cambridge are not a fan of postgraduate deferrals; nor are Oxford. However, that may be in the context of saying you were not going to defer and then changing your mind - am not quite sure.

I don't think of being on a PGCE at 21 as being young: most people on PGCEs are that age, aren't they?
Saying that, I'll be 23 in April and am the youngest in my staffroom by 4-7 years (but this is in France, so...).

Reply 4

Phoenix

OP

Thanks for you replies :smile:

I'm sure I will still feel very young next year but I've decided that shouldn't be a reason not to apply! Being older doesn't automatically make you a better teacher or vice versa...

Reply 5

KayleeLand

16

Yeh I'm a young one on my PGCE but I think its great that I don't have to worry about my own kiddies at the same time as study!

Reply 6

Lisaanne

12

Hey I am reviving this thread instead of starting a new one! I have done my PGCE application (just waiting on reference) but now I am thinking I would like to take a year out after my degree to do other things (Queens guide award and some voluntary stuff) so I was wondering if I get a PGCE place, can I defer it to next year? I know it's not the norm, but has anyone tried this and had any luck? If i don't get a place at Birmingham, I will probably withdraw and try again next year, but if I do get offered a place, I don't want to lose it!

Reply 7

KJS1988

I dont think you are allowed to defer PGCE places at all. At least not for Primary. I guess because it's so competitive and there are so many people trying to get on the course.

Someone feel free to correct me though if I'm wrong!

Reply 8

Lisaanne

12

But I'm not applying for primary! I know its not standard practise, but has anyone had success with it?

Arrrgh I've just had my reference back so now I need to make a decision. I don't know what to do! I just don't know whether I want to postpone life for another year, but at the same time there's things I want to do that I know i'll probably regret not doing later in life. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I know I have to decide for myself, but if anyone has had similar experiences, please share!

Reply 9

Zo Zo

I'm in a similar position! I'm 21, I graduated this year from my drama degree and am technically on my gap year now I guess. I'm working and just seeing what experience I can get (paid and unpaid) to do with drama, landed myself some good little jobs and got a really good job in a TIE piece touring around primary schools which starts next month.

So I am doing well since I graduated but I applied for my PGCE last week and am having the same doubts as you. If I commit to the PGCE next year then that's a whole year studying then straight into a teaching job when there is still stuff I wanna do (see if I can actually make it as a working actress, travel etc etc)...I guess you just gotta wait and see if you get in. I mean if I don't get in anywhere then my decision is made for me. However if you do get in I suppose you don't have to commit to a teaching job AS SOON as you get your PGCE. If I get an offer I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

EDIT: And don't forget there is always the summer between your degree and starting the PGCE to get some experience in,

Reply 10

sylv

6

Lisaanne

I know I have to decide for myself, but if anyone has had similar experiences, please share!

Unfortunately, I very much doubt any universities offer the option to defer a primary OR secondary PGCE. Especially Birmingham University. This may be due to huge competition.

If I were you, I'd take the year out and do everything I wanted to do and make sure I get a lot of experience of working with young people or working in schools under my belt too. If you choose to apply a year later (i.e. september 2011 entry) you can tell your interviewer about your reason for the gap year and how you've also gained valuable experience to support your application.

It is entirely up to you. But if you're not DESPERATE to start your PGCE this year, then wait, otherwise you may regret not doing all the things you wanted to. I took time out and did all these things before I applied - and when I applied I was really really certain I wanted to do the PGCE and now I don't regret it at all. Hope that helps. :smile:

Reply 11

Lisaanne

12

I emailed Birmingham and they said no way would they offer a deferred place, so thats one answer!! I think I will take a year out... it's only a year in the grand scheme of things! Thanks for the advice sylv.. rep to you! :smile:

Reply 12

Piggsil

16

Why don't people that are deliberating do the PGCE this year and then take a year out afterwards? You have 5 years after completing your PGCE to do your NQT year and become fully qualified, so that could work.

Reply 13

Debes87

2

Hi,

I was due to start PGCE Primary at Anglia Ruskin for 2009 entry and was able to defer quite easily! I explained my situation and they sorted it all out for me no problem, so it is possible! Feel free to message me if you need any details. :smile:

Laura

Reply 14

Lisaanne

12

Debes87

Hi,

I was due to start PGCE Primary at Anglia Ruskin for 2009 entry and was able to defer quite easily! I explained my situation and they sorted it all out for me no problem, so it is possible! Feel free to message me if you need any details. :smile:

Laura

But Birmingham, where I want to go, said they will not even consider deferring any places, but thanks for sharing your experience... I'm going with the year out/apply in 2010 route! :biggrin:

Reply 15

k1tsun3

12

You are able to defer; however, it won't be easy. It's usually only for extenuating circumstances.

As for being young, I have friends in the US who graduated with a teaching qualification at 21 years of age and went right into teaching. A good friend from college did that. He is now in his second year of teaching and back in college part-time for a masters. However, he definitely has a commanding presence.

I think it depends. I'm now 27 and applying for the PGCE in secondary education. I was worried about teaching because of how young I looked. I only started to look as if I was a college student in the last year. At 21 years old, I looked as if I was 13. It really hurt my confidence in the secondary classroom, and I didn't want to teach primary.

I've spent time working in various areas and everything brings me back to teaching. I have more confidence and am anxious to get a place and get started. It's really personal choice on when to go into teaching. Part of me wishes I wouldn't have waited so long as I really want to be in a leadership role.

Best of luck.

Reply 16

Jhg220666

Hi could you tell me how you went about deferring your pgce place? Who did you contact and what circumstances they consider? Kind Regards Julia Garlick

Reply 17

Carnationlilyrose

18

Original post by Jhg220666

Hi could you tell me how you went about deferring your pgce place? Who did you contact and what circumstances they consider? Kind Regards Julia Garlick

This is a thread from six years ago. Please start a new thread with your question. I'm closing this one.

Young teachers/deferring pgce?

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