PGCE in England

kabuk1

Has anyone study the PGCE in Secondary Education in England? If so, could you fill me in on the application process in regards to the preference of schools? Is it possible to be interviewed by more than one university? Is you application sent to all 4 choices? Or, if you are accepted at one, does it stop there?

NeadyDaisy

I am currently in the process of applying for the PGCE in Primary Teaching in the UK but had previously looked into secondary teaching. To the best of my knowledge you put the universitites you wish to apply to in order of preference.

Your application then goes to your first choice university and they review it. You may be called for an interview and then become accepted to your first choice, this is obviously the ideal situation. However, you may not even be called for an interview, or you may not get accepted to that uni after your interview in which case your application moves onto your second choice uni and this process continues until your final choice uni. Places for secondary teaching are much more plentiful and there is no deadline for appiation as such, the process keeps going until all places are filled.

So, to make sure I've answered your q's: If you are offered a place at your first choice uni the application process stops there. You cannot then ask for it to be sent onto another university. And yes it is possible for your application to be sent onto all four unis and to be interviewed for all four, if you were intervied for your first three an were rejected. However this is quite unlikely. Your application only moves onto your next choice uni if and when you were not accepted by the first etc.

kabuk1

NeadyDaisy wrote: »

I am currently in the process of applying for the PGCE in Primary Teaching in the UK but had previously looked into secondary teaching. To the best of my knowledge you put the universitites you wish to apply to in order of preference.

Your application then goes to your first choice university and they review it. You may be called for an interview and then become accepted to your first choice, this is obviously the ideal situation. However, you may not even be called for an interview, or you may not get accepted to that uni after your interview in which case your application moves onto your second choice uni and this process continues until your final choice uni. Places for secondary teaching are much more plentiful and there is no deadline for appiation as such, the process keeps going until all places are filled.

So, to make sure I've answered your q's: If you are offered a place at your first choice uni the application process stops there. You cannot then ask for it to be sent onto another university. And yes it is possible for your application to be sent onto all four unis and to be interviewed for all four, if you were intervied for your first three an were rejected. However this is quite unlikely. Your application only moves onto your next choice uni if and when you were not accepted by the first etc.

Thanks. I found the TSR website; it's been very helpful as there are many people on there going through the same process. I have an interview at King's College London (1st choice) in December.

Thanks for the response. Best of luck to you.

mickydi

Hi a friend of mine is applying to do a PGCE in the UK & is finding it hard to get information re qualification comparisons etc... What is the TSR website you refer to? It might help her.

Thanks

kabuk1

mickydi wrote: »

Hi a friend of mine is applying to do a PGCE in the UK & is finding it hard to get information re qualification comparisons etc... What is the TSR website you refer to? It might help her.

Thanks

All applicants must apply through the GTTR (I would review this first). This site gives all the requirements (Minimium of C in GCSE English, Maths, Science or the equivalent).
http://www.gttr.ac.uk/

The TSR website is a UK student forum. There is a thread on there where everyone asks questions in regards to the PGCE.
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=97

Another site with lots of information about teaching in England is the TDA:
http://www.tda.gov.uk/

If your friend is interested in Primary, then s/he will need to get moving on the application as the 1st December 2009 is the deadline for the Sept 2010 entry. If s/he is interested in Secondary, it's best to get the application in as soon as possible, especially for those interested in the more competitive programs and schools. Interviews are already started and some have already been offered a place.

Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask; I'll help where I can.

mickydi

Thanks for that. It's a she & I think she is trying to find out if her qualifications in Junior/Leaving Cert are acceptable .... she has Ord level Maths (B I think but am not sure) Higher English (D) at leaving cert & a C at Hons in Junior ... do these meet these GCSE requirments? She is really confused. Thanks again!

kabuk1

mickydi wrote: »

Thanks for that. It's a she & I think she is trying to find out if her qualifications in Junior/Leaving Cert are acceptable .... she has Ord level Maths (B I think but am not sure) Higher English (D) at leaving cert & a C at Hons in Junior ... do these meet these GCSE requirments? She is really confused. Thanks again!

This should help: http://www.qualifications-across-boundaries.org/compare/uk_ireland.

Also, she could contact he universities she is interested in to see how her marks stack up. I'm from the US originally, so I just emailed the uni to see what they had to say.

There are the requirements taken from the GTTR website. These must be met as they are a government requirement:

Primary, middle years and secondary teaching courses
Before you can start a PGCE course in primary, middle years or secondary teaching in England or Wales you must have:

• a degree awarded by a UK university or college or a recognised equivalent qualification
  and be able to show that you have
• the knowledge of English required to obtain a GCSE at grade C.
• the knowledge of mathematics required to obtain a GCSE at grade C.

If you want to take a PGCE course in primary or middle years teaching, you must also be able to show that you have:

• the knowledge of a science subject required to obtain a GCSE at grade C.

Also, most universities require a minimum of a 2.2, and some really look for a 2.1. Whilst this is important, they may overlook this if the application is strong in other places (experience, personal statement, etc.).

If she doesn't meet the requirements with her current grades, she can attempt the GCSE for the respective subject.

Is she interested in Primary or Secondary? If secondary, which subject?

***I just stumbles across this: http://www.ed.bcu.ac.uk/education/docs/GCSE%20and%20equivalent%20qualifications.pdf
It seems a C is needed at ordinary level and a D at higher level in leaving cert.

mickydi

Thanks ... it doesn't look good for her then ... she'll be ok with Maths & English but as she only did Science to Junior Cert level (got a C at Hons I think)! Her primary degree is in Art & she was thinking of teaching Art at SEc level but after some primary work experience has totally changed direction & been told she'd be great at it. Seems like she'll have to re think her plans.

kabuk1

mickydi wrote: »

Thanks ... it doesn't look good for her then ... she'll be ok with Maths & English but as she only did Science to Junior Cert level (got a C at Hons I think)! Her primary degree is in Art & she was thinking of teaching Art at SEc level but after some primary work experience has totally changed direction & been told she'd be great at it. Seems like she'll have to re think her plans.

She should be able to do secondary, or she'll have to see about taking the a science subject test. You can only specialise in art at Secondary level. If she is even considering the PGCE, she will want to apply asap. There are few Art courses and they will fill up fast. Also, I've heard that once qualified and through your NQT year that it's possible to get a position out the area you trained, so she might be able to find a middle years position.

Also, some initial teacher training providers offer GCSE equivalency tests. She may be able to take this route. Primary if very competitive, but if she has a strong application and applies to a university that offers the tests, then she might have a shot. Again, the deadline is the 1st December, so she will have to move quick. I know UEL does: http://www.uel.ac.uk/programmes/education/postgraduate/pgce-prim.htm. She would have to search for courses on GTTR to see what unis offer the primary PGCE and then go the respective uni website to see if they offer the equivalence test. I'd say the most competitive unis don't offer this, but there should be quite a few unis who do.

If there is a chance, though unlikely in Ireland, that she took a science course in college, that would count at pass.

chipsbebo

Hi,

I'm looking to get my application in as soon as possible. Just one problem, I'm teaching in South Korea at the moment. Is it possible to do a Skype interview or telephone interview, as flying home would be expensive...

kabuk1

chipsbebo wrote: »

Hi,

I'm looking to get my application in as soon as possible. Just one problem, I'm teaching in South Korea at the moment. Is it possible to do a Skype interview or telephone interview, as flying home would be expensive...

You will have to contact the schools you are interested in. I was told by Durham and Exeter (ended up not applying to either as I stuck with London unis) that they conduct phone interviews. However, this is because I'm from the US, but as I'm currently in Ireland, they said they would most likely request that I come over for the interview.

Also, when are you travelling back to England? You may be able to get an interview then. There are several people in a similar situation.

I would also check out the TSR website as you might find more help there.

El Siglo

I wasn't sure how to fill that GCSE/Scottish Highers stuff either, I just put in what I got in the Leaving Cert for English, Maths and Science. But, I have a 1.1 degree (in geography), I'm doing an MSc at the moment and I've experience of working with young people and I used to give group tuition to college friends so hopefully that will work. Jesus I hope to God I get my first choice! Good luck to everyone else applying.

kabuk1

Good luck to all who applied.

I had my interview last week and it apparently went better than I thought. I got a place on the PGCE Secondary English course at King's College London.

Hope everyone else has done well. Best of luck.

mickydi

My daughter has interview date for UEL ...PGCE primary (has to do equivilancy science test as mentioned above) Needless to say she is delighted but also very anxious about it especially the 5 min presentation part & would love to hear from anyone who has had an interview at UEL re what types of topic were used for presention .... tests & interview questions... etc.
Can anyone help?

kabuk1

mickydi wrote: »

My daughter has interview date for UEL ...PGCE primary (has to do equivilancy science test as mentioned above) Needless to say she is delighted but also very anxious about it especially the 5 min presentation part & would love to hear from anyone who has had an interview at UEL re what types of topic were used for presention .... tests & interview questions... etc.
Can anyone help?

The best place to to find an answer would be TSR and TES. Congrats to your daughter.

kevinb05

Hi,

Can someone provide me with one or two answers, I have applied last year for pgce course in bangor, wales and got the course. The college came back to me and told me my agricultural science leaving cert subject was not accepted as a science subject. My main question is has anyone got ag. science in leaving cert and got accepted on a pgce primary course? and what college accepted them? Thanks, Kevin

kabuk1

kevinb05 wrote: »

Hi,

Can someone provide me with one or two answers, I have applied last year for pgce course in bangor, wales and got the course. The college came back to me and told me my agricultural science leaving cert subject was not accepted as a science subject. My main question is has anyone got ag. science in leaving cert and got accepted on a pgce primary course? and what college accepted them? Thanks, Kevin

Did you not take a science in your Junior Cert? The the Leaving Cert is suppose to be similiar to the A Levels, and as such, I would think the Junior Cert would be on par with the GCSE, which is all you need for a PGCE course.

I would suggest contacting the unis you're interested in and asking if they accept the exams you've taken. If no one does, your only other option would be to find a university that offer an equivalent test. Of course, you could always just sit the GCSE.

I'm assuming you've applied for primary as GCSE Science isn't required for Secondary.

You may find more help on TSR!

kevinb05

thanks for reply,
ya i applied for primary teaching. i done science at junior cert and the college told me that according to uk naric the junior cert is not on a par with gcse level and the leaving cert is. and as i had not a recognised science subject i.e. boilogy, physics, chemistry or human biology i could not be accepted on the course. its a joke really because i passed the interview and was unconditionally accepted on the course according to a letter they sent me. then they replied with a letter re. ag science. I heard of the equivelence tests, are they hard? If i knew of someone that has ag. science and got accepted on a pgce course i would apply to that college as my first choice.