Getting kicked off a PGCE

Hi,

I spoke to another trainee about feeling unsupported by my mentor in the staff room and got reported. I've had a meeting with the head of department and the assistant headteacher. They will be speaking to my university as well. They say that 'derogatory' language was used and it's not okay to be critical of your mentor.

Am I going to get kicked off my course? I started in September.

Thank you.

Reply 1

Megan1988

Original post by iyas

Hi,
I spoke to another trainee about feeling unsupported by my mentor in the staff room and got reported. I've had a meeting with the head of department and the assistant headteacher. They will be speaking to my university as well. They say that 'derogatory' language was used and it's not okay to be critical of your mentor.
Am I going to get kicked off my course? I started in September.
Thank you.

It’s typical for mentors not to support trainees. I learnt how to teach through eavesdropping. Get out of teaching as soon as you can.

Reply 2

ChammyFTT

Original post by Megan1988

It’s typical for mentors not to support trainees. I learnt how to teach through eavesdropping. Get out of teaching as soon as you can.

I wouldn't say it's typical, it's more common than it should be. All the mentors I had during training and my ECT years were lovely and helped me every step of the way - honestly, I wouldn't be where I am without them.

If 'derogatory language' was indeed used, then yes, they have every right to investigate the comments - one of the teaching standards is acting like a professional. You can be failed for not meeting that.

If all you said was that you felt unsupported, then that is a fair comment and something they should be looking into as a place of employment - they are receiving money to have you there as a trainee, and you should be getting the support you need from them and your mentor.

Speak to your university and union (you should be in at least one of them) so they have your side of the events. It would be up to the placement and university to decide what happens - no one here can say for sure what they will choose. Options could include:

•

Failing the placement and having to redo it.

•

Being moved to a new placement.

•

Being put on a support plan at current placement.

•

Being removed from the course completely - they would have to have evidence of some serious comments for that.

Also, let this be a lesson. If you are feeling unsupported, then speak to your university, not another trainee who probably went back to their mentor in innocence and said you weren't feeling supported. This then being taken out of context - unless you really did say more than you weren't being supported.

Reply 3

iyas

Original post by ChammyFTT

I wouldn't say it's typical, it's more common than it should be. All the mentors I had during training and my ECT years were lovely and helped me every step of the way - honestly, I wouldn't be where I am without them.
If 'derogatory language' was indeed used, then yes, they have every right to investigate the comments - one of the teaching standards is acting like a professional. You can be failed for not meeting that.
If all you said was that you felt unsupported, then that is a fair comment and something they should be looking into as a place of employment - they are receiving money to have you there as a trainee, and you should be getting the support you need from them and your mentor.
Speak to your university and union (you should be in at least one of them) so they have your side of the events. It would be up to the placement and university to decide what happens - no one here can say for sure what they will choose. Options could include:

•

Failing the placement and having to redo it.

•

Being moved to a new placement.

•

Being put on a support plan at current placement.

•

Being removed from the course completely - they would have to have evidence of some serious comments for that.

The other trainee called the mentor 'stuck up' and I just said I was feeling unsupported and caught between a rock and a hard place because I felt I was not able to go to either mentor for support. I was feeling overwhelmed but do not remember saying anything more than this. A new cover supervisor heard this conversation and reported it.

I asked to keep my timetable as is and they both insinuated that maybe this was not the right career for me.

I made a mistake and I have apologised. I have definitely learnt from this. I hope this will not get me kicked off the course or have severe repercussions.

Reply 4

hotpud

Original post by iyas

The other trainee called the mentor 'stuck up' and I just said I was feeling unsupported and caught between a rock and a hard place because I felt I was not able to go to either mentor for support. I was feeling overwhelmed but do not remember saying anything more than this. A new cover supervisor heard this conversation and reported it.
I asked to keep my timetable as is and they both insinuated that maybe this was not the right career for me.
I made a mistake and I have apologised. I have definitely learnt from this. I hope this will not get me kicked off the course or have severe repercussions.

Having laid privy to one or two student teacher conversations in my time, reading by the lines it would seem that you and the other mentee were probably having a bit of a moan, rather too publicly for comfort. The staffroom is not the same as the common room and you need to be very careful what you say and to whom.

Mentees do not get that much support. You are entitled to a 1 hour meeting per week. Most mentors will make themselves available to chat at the end of a lesson or at break, but that is about it. Mentors are not paid extra to mentor you but do suffer increased workload because of you without additional time being given. Be courteous and grateful at all times because they are helping you, not the other way around.

Good luck!