PGCE / Teaching Programme's accepting late applications

[Shicky]

Unfortunately I missed the application deadline of my old university long ago, though they've said they will consider me if any positions are remaining, there simply won't be as its 100+ candidates for 12 positions (or it was when I last was offered a place.)

Are there any pgce programme's that start in January for example or anyone likely to consider applications even at this late stage based on merit rather than waiting to see if there are any spots free at the end?

Perhaps there's something else teaching related I could do to gain experience while waiting for next year's applications to open? Unfortunately teaching english abroad for a year is not a possibility with a missus in the UK who can't travel for a year at least.

 

[ringo747]

The PGCEs are seriously competitive to get into so you may as well get as much experience in this year as possible. Stuff like doing a day a week in a school is pretty good. Any experience of working with kids is beneficial - maybe even doing sports clubs or something?

I guess you need to be as well prepared for the interviews as possible, have so much experience, and use this experience as a way of showing your enthusiasm what why you are applying etc.

My other half is currently on a course like this and it is absolutely chaotic.

 

[Shicky]

The PGCEs are seriously competitive to get into so you may as well get as much experience in this year as possible. Stuff like doing a day a week in a school is pretty good. Any experience of working with kids is beneficial - maybe even doing sports clubs or something?

I guess you need to be as well prepared for the interviews as possible, have so much experience, and use this experience as a way of showing your enthusiasm what why you are applying etc.

My other half is currently on a course like this and it is absolutely chaotic.

I was accepted to QUB last year but went with a graduate job as I had the potential to earn lots of money in it, unfortunately I've discovered it probably isn't for me. I've a first in CS, generally nail interviews, I'm male and have around 2years industry experience, so I feel if I can get to interview anywhere I will get in.

Definitely agree with you I need more experience but I'm in a full time job so was hoping to time it so i'd pick up two months or so before starting the PGCE.

 

[kristmace]

Some recruitment agencies supply TAs to schools. That would be ideal experience, and it would certainly let you know if teaching is right or not for you.

 

[aproctor]

My GF is currently finishing hers. She was in a similar position and did quite a few placements and a TA course.

On her first application she didn't get an interview with 12 places, In the end she got 1 of 6 places.

Most schools are more than happy to take people on, especially if you already have a CRB from the last 12 months.

 

[ringo747]

I was accepted to QUB last year but went with a graduate job as I had the potential to earn lots of money in it, unfortunately I've discovered it probably isn't for me. I've a first in CS, generally nail interviews, I'm male and have around 2years industry experience, so I feel if I can get to interview anywhere I will get in.

Definitely agree with you I need more experience but I'm in a full time job so was hoping to time it so i'd pick up two months or so before starting the PGCE.

The IT scene locally is fairly dry so doesn't surprise me you want out of it. What do you plan on teaching? To be honest I would say you have far more opportunity to earn good money in IT than teaching. A teacher would do well to get over 25k wouldn't they?

 

[Tummy]

The IT scene locally is fairly dry so doesn't surprise me you want out of it. What do you plan on teaching? To be honest I would say you have far more opportunity to earn good money in IT than teaching. A teacher would do well to get over 25k wouldn't they?

iirc the basic starting salary for a teacher is 23.5k

 

[Ripper]

A teacher is on 25k after basically two years. The salary goes up by roughly 2k every year for the first 6 years, then up to roughly 36k at the top of the upper pay scale (without any responsibilities).

 

[Shicky]

The decision to move on isn't remotely based on money, I could make a ton in my current field however I just don't feel much love for it and I'm finding myself frustrated by many things in it. The decision is mainly based on the fact that I'm not finding much love for what I do, yet I have enjoyed the feeling of getting people to grasp concepts they previously couldn't (worked as uni demonstrator and tutored some friends.) The old cliche of doing something worthwhile and that matters I guess, definitely not based on me thinking I will get more money!

 

[Deiwos]

The decision to move on isn't remotely based on money, I could make a ton in my current field however I just don't feel much love for it and I'm finding myself frustrated by many things in it. The decision is mainly based on the fact that I'm not finding much love for what I do, yet I have enjoyed the feeling of getting people to grasp concepts they previously couldn't (worked as uni demonstrator and tutored some friends.) The old cliche of doing something worthwhile and that matters I guess, definitely not based on me thinking I will get more money!

Having trained as a secondary IT teacher I would never recommend it. Kids/A-Level students are not the same as Uni students and teaching them I found hellish.

If you enjoy working with/training adults I'd recommend looking at Life Long Learning teaching qualifications, however I think jobs are harder to come by in that area.

 

[ringo747]

iirc the basic starting salary for a teacher is 23.5k

A teacher is on 25k after basically two years. The salary goes up by roughly 2k every year for the first 6 years, then up to roughly 36k at the top of the upper pay scale (without any responsibilities).

It must be different in England then. My other half and other classes were told to expect starting around 18k at best and working up to no more than 25k. A head of department would get more I'd imagine. I cannot imagine any normal level teachers to ever get near 30k - I could well be wrong though.

 

[feriso]

It must be different in England then. My other half and other classes were told to expect starting around 18k at best and working up to no more than 25k. A head of department would get more I'd imagine. I cannot imagine any normal level teachers to ever get near 30k - I could well be wrong though.

Really! My wife is a head of dept and is on a fair bit more than that. You'll be suprised how easy it is to work your way up the payspine unless you do absolutely nothing and **** about at school. (like the kids do)

 

[Shicky]

Having trained as a secondary IT teacher I would never recommend it. Kids/A-Level students are not the same as Uni students and teaching them I found hellish.

If you enjoy working with/training adults I'd recommend looking at Life Long Learning teaching qualifications, however I think jobs are harder to come by in that area.

Is this the field you're now in? It's certainly something I would consider but I imagine its better to get to people a bit younger so you can really turn around lives if lucky.

AS/A level computing is certainly what I'd be interested in with the Raspberry Pi development and potential overhaul of the systems.

 

[Shicky]

Anyone aware of any programmes accepting applicants at this late stage then? Or PGCE's etc starting around January?

 

[Deiwos]

Anyone away of any programmes accepting applicants at this late stage then? Or PGCE's etc starting around January?

Best thing to do is contact the GTTR and TDA I think. They'd be the best starting point.

I currently work for the Open University and I've been looking at lecturing through them. I was tempted by the Life Long Learning teaching qualification but went for Secondary IT as entry process was less competitive.

Something I found when I was training was the opportunity to be innovative with something like the Pi was slim to none, often due to simple lack of money. I really wanted to do video projects but having 3 video cameras for a class of 35 made that impossible. Yes the Pi is cheap but schools don't want to spend money, in my experience at least.

 

[DanielMMS]

PGCE / Teaching Programme's accepting late applications

Or PGCE's etc starting around January?

Inappropriate use of apostrophes should result in an automatic life ban from teacher training

 

[timbob]

I think you'd be very lucky to find a course that takes people on in January - as far as I know, I think all teaching qualification courses run over the course of an academic year.

You may be able to get onto a course by way of a late application. You might want to look into doing a GTP course, rather than a PGCE. I'm not sure what the setup is like in NI, but I did a GTP last year. It's more set up to accommodate people who are moving into teaching from a previous job, rather that students straight out of university. You're employed by a school, and work there full time, training on the job, as it were. My training salary was £14k, which beat the £6k bursary the PGCE students got. On the course I was on, the GTP ran parallel to the PGCE, and I gained full QTS at the end of the course.

 

[DanielMMS]

It must be different in England then. My other half and other classes were told to expect starting around 18k at best and working up to no more than 25k. A head of department would get more I'd imagine. I cannot imagine any normal level teachers to ever get near 30k - I could well be wrong though.

In England and Wales, qualified teachers start on £21.5K if outside London going up to £31.5K. Inner London, outer London and London fringe based teachers get more. Latest pay scales here.

 

[Shicky]

I think you'd be very lucky to find a course that takes people on in January - as far as I know, I think all teaching qualification courses run over the course of an academic year.

You may be able to get onto a course by way of a late application. You might want to look into doing a GTP course, rather than a PGCE. I'm not sure what the setup is like in NI, but I did a GTP last year. It's more set up to accommodate people who are moving into teaching from a previous job, rather that students straight out of university. You're employed by a school, and work there full time, training on the job, as it were. My training salary was £14k, which beat the £6k bursary the PGCE students got. On the course I was on, the GTP ran parallel to the PGCE, and I gained full QTS at the end of the course.

I had no idea this existed, thank you VERY much. Will hopefully get a chance to do some research and go from there, exactly the type of information I was looking for. May I throw you an email in future after I've had a chance to read up? Just on your experiences of it etc?

 

[Shicky]

Best thing to do is contact the GTTR and TDA I think. They'd be the best starting point.

I currently work for the Open University and I've been looking at lecturing through them. I was tempted by the Life Long Learning teaching qualification but went for Secondary IT as entry process was less competitive.

Something I found when I was training was the opportunity to be innovative with something like the Pi was slim to none, often due to simple lack of money. I really wanted to do video projects but having 3 video cameras for a class of 35 made that impossible. Yes the Pi is cheap but schools don't want to spend money, in my experience at least.

The open university was the only starter in January that I could find but seemed to lack hands on experience and was more for those already exposed to teaching. I also like the idea of getting into a trainer type role. I'll have to look into Life Long Learning teaching qualifications. Secondary IT was through open university or elsewhere?

I can imagine this would be difficult with regards to raspberry pi but simply getting coding into classrooms would be awesome and there's plenty of open source software to use out there.