General info about PGDE

col89

Hi,

I'm currently studying in 2nd year Arts with English and Sociology. I'm just wondering what kind of points I should be aiming to get between my modules for the next two years to successfully apply for PGDE - is 2nd year and 3rd year's results divided up equally or is one preferred over the other?

Secondly, I'd be using English as my main teaching subject (I also studied German in 1st year and, depending on school choice, could possibly teach it for Junior Cert), but I've heard that Sociology will be introduced as a subject in selected secondary schools in the next couple of years to use as well - is this true and, if so, when does it come into force?

Thanks.

Toto Wolfcastle

Firstly, you may be able to teach your first year subject depending on the principal but you will not be qualified to teach it up to Junior Cert level and if the Teaching Council gets its act together in the next few years you will not be able to teach it at all.

I don't know anything about sociology being introduced at a secondary school subject but if it was, with timetabling constraints, I can't imagine it being taught in an awful lot of schools.

You can apply for the PGDE based on your 2nd year results. To use your second year results you should apply later this year. The deadline is December, but I'm not sure when they start accepting applications.

As for the points, check out www.pac.ie to see what they were last year.

spurious

Sociology would be part of the new subject intended as a Leaving Cert. follow on to CSPE. I'd say it's a fair few years off yet as it will have to be piloted first.

**edit
For those that are interested , here's some info on the new subject, which is called Politics and Society.
Link from NCCA site

Lockstep

Politics and society being taught in secondary school?
Excellent, wish I'd been able to study that.

col89

Thanks janeybabe and spurious, that's a great help!