JUNIOR CERT QUALIFY FOR GCSE'S???

witgirl85

Hi everyone,

I am in need of some advice regarding the entry requirements for the PGCE Primary courses in London and would really appreciate your advice, expereinces and knowlege.

First off some academic info about me.I am a mature student (28) and will be graduating with a 2:1 degree in January and am now completing my honours degree. I sat the Junior Cert with results of D in (H)English, C (O)Maths and a C (O)Science. I sat the Leaving Cert with results of B(O)English, D (O) Biology and unfortunately on the day i took the foundation Maths paper and got a B result. (I no stupid choice!!! I have always regretted it. I just got very nervous and at last minute took the foundation!!)

So anyways what i suppose I am asking is:

Are the GCSE's the same or similar to the Junior Cert? (both exams are taken at the age of 15/16)
Are the O/A Levels the same or similar to the Leaving Cert?

I was thinking of just sending in my junior cert resutls and not my leaving cert and hoping for the best..Has anyone done this before?I already rang St Marys in London and the girl basically said No to me as of my Leaving results. However this was before I realised that the GCSE's are apparently equal to our Juniour cert.

Also seen as I have not officially graduated with my degree can i still apply on the first of November for the PGCE courses??

thank you so much for reading..
Please reply...any info or experience that you've had might help me..however small you might think it may be.

from,

feeling hopeless..

spurious

GCSE is closer to Pass Leaving Cert really.

You might be better re-sitting LC Maths and applying next year.

luckystart

In order to be successful with your application. You have to have got at least a C grade at Leaving Cert Ordinary Level Maths. English and Science

Yes you can apply for the course in the final year of your Honours Degree but your offer will be conditional, based on your final year results.

Seamo87

It's your LC results that will count, not your JC. What you might want to look into is doing a MATHS ENHANCEMENT COURSE, but talk to collages first about your situation and enquire as that whether this would be acceptable to them, it often is. Considering your collage results are good, this wouldn't be a major issue, it's just a case of making the enquiries now and starting a MATHS ENHANCEMENT COURSE sooner rather then later.

witgirl85

As i figured I thought it would be the LC results. However I do think that it is unfair that the GCSE's are compaired to the LC as clearly they are not the same.
The GCSE's are alot easier and are taken at a younger age. Even if I sat honours in all 3 subjects and got an A reuslt in each how much of it would I remember 10 years on..most likely very little!!!

I suppose it doesnt matter though what I think..rules are rules.

Yes I would definately consider the maths enhancement course. Do any of yee know where I might complete this? I will be ringing the colleges on monday about to find out more.

witgirl85

quick question..

seen as primary teaching might not be working out for me my 2nd option was always going to be p.e teaching.

my honours degree(business with sport and recreation mgmt) is recognised by the T.C for business only - if i do a pgce course in p.e and complete my induction year in the uk will my teaching qualification be recongnised at home??

whiteandlight

The teaching qualification probably will, the PE may not be. You need to have studied a required number of credits at degree level to be able to teach any second level subject including PE

witgirl85

thank you for your reply
I understand the credit part but I supporse what im really asking is... no matter weather i study in england, scotland,wales or where ever will i only ever been recongnised to teach business as that is what my undergrad course is recongised to teach now..

as far as im aware all eu teachers are entitled to teach their specialised subject in all parts of the eu..

Im planning on (if accepted) to teach in the uk for a number of years and gain experience that way and eventually come home...hopefully to a job

whiteandlight

Yes you will only be recognised for business unless you additional degree modules seperate to qualifying as a teacher

Your specialist subject is business as the teaching council have specified, not PE

witgirl85

not good news so..

I cant understand though how if i complete a pgce in p.e and im qualified over in the uk i cant teach here even with a few years experience..regardless of the credits and modules

i suppose ill give the t.c a ring and see what they say.. fingers crossed theirs a loop holes somewhere

whiteandlight

No loophole except that perhaps if you get a foot in the door of the school a principal may let you teach it 'unqualified' so to speak.

In fairness to the teaching council, I would argue that we have a fairly straightforward line in the sand as to what qualifies you in subject matter and specialised programs such as post graduates do not apply

witgirl85

Musicmental85 wrote: »

No loophole except that perhaps if you get a foot in the door of the school a principal may let you teach it 'unqualified' so to speak.

In fairness to the teaching council, I would argue that we have a fairly straightforward line in the sand as to what qualifies you in subject matter and specialised programs such as post graduates do not apply

id hate to think id be 'unqualified after 5 years of college.

ive no doubt that we have a great t.c here in ireland im just thinking on the other hand if a uk student went through the same educational pathways as me back in the uk wudnt that mean they cudnt teach in irealnd to!!

I suppose at the end of it all I want to teach and I know id be great at it and would really enjoy it. if only i was as sensible as i am now when i was 17!!

whiteandlight

I can see where you are coming from but you haven't done PE in that degree so hence the unqualified. Teachers from England/abroad would still have to apply to have their qualifications assessed and if in your situation would only be approved for business.

You would have to complete additional degree level modules in PE to have it recognised and be permitted to teach it

witgirl85

If there was a way I cud complete additional degree levels moduels to teach p.e back home I would certainly do it. what ever it takes in order for me to get teaching qualification i suppose.

Im kinda leaning towards primary again but its very difficult to decide. some of the unis offer external exams for maths so i cud sit them. If i got accepted for either primary or p.e I would be over the moon. I done 6 months teaching experience in primary and tho at times challenging i loved every minute of it.

thank you for all your kind advice..hopefully if the gods are good ill be accepted on a course in the uk and i can take it from there!!

whiteandlight

Best of luck with the decision, I'd also advise getting into a secondary school for a few weeks even in a voluntary/shadowing capacity-its quite different to primary!

witgirl85

Musicmental85 wrote: »

Best of luck with the decision, I'd also advise getting into a secondary school for a few weeks even in a voluntary/shadowing capacity-its quite different to primary!

Have it sorted..my thesis is very much linked to secondary school so I will be spending some time at one. Im looking forward to it. Yes apparently they are worlds appart -should be fun!!! Many thanks again

aleeha ali

hey i am moving to uk next year and i am doing my junior cert in the summer and after that i will move
i dont really like maths and i am 16 would i have to repeat the gcse because i dont really want to ??

katydid

witgirl85 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I am in need of some advice regarding the entry requirements for the PGCE Primary courses in London and would really appreciate your advice, expereinces and knowlege.

First off some academic info about me.I am a mature student (28) and will be graduating with a 2:1 degree in January and am now completing my honours degree. I sat the Junior Cert with results of D in (H)English, C (O)Maths and a C (O)Science. I sat the Leaving Cert with results of B(O)English, D (O) Biology and unfortunately on the day i took the foundation Maths paper and got a B result. (I no stupid choice!!! I have always regretted it. I just got very nervous and at last minute took the foundation!!)

So anyways what i suppose I am asking is:

Are the GCSE's the same or similar to the Junior Cert? (both exams are taken at the age of 15/16)
Are the O/A Levels the same or similar to the Leaving Cert?

I was thinking of just sending in my junior cert resutls and not my leaving cert and hoping for the best..Has anyone done this before?I already rang St Marys in London and the girl basically said No to me as of my Leaving results. However this was before I realised that the GCSE's are apparently equal to our Juniour cert.

Also seen as I have not officially graduated with my degree can i still apply on the first of November for the PGCE courses??

thank you so much for reading..
Please reply...any info or experience that you've had might help me..however small you might think it may be.

from,

feeling hopeless..

The JC is really the equivalent of GCSE's in terms of standard, but the British don't recognise that. They take them as the equivalent of LC, which is crazy as they are way easier.

They offer special tests to bring your maths up to the standard they want; you can get sample papers on line. My daughter had to do it and she got a bit of coaching and sailed through.