pgce assignment pass rate

• mrsstrickey
• Sep 9, 2020

What to expect on your PGCE

Miss K joins us for Wednesday Wisdom this week... Having trained in Performing Arts at University, Miss K made the decision to be a TA with special needs children in a mainstream secondary school. After 3 years of working as a TA, she took the amazing step into teaching. She completed a PGCE in Secondary English at Bath Spa University. Like many of you, she is starting her NQT year in September and has some advice for those who are just starting their PGCE (being fresh from the course!). You can follow Miss K on Instagram @missenglishnqt and Twitter @missenglishstar

I would like to start by congratulating you on considering or securing your place on a PGCE. Becoming a teacher is hard work, but like anything that is hard work, the rewards are worth it. Every day you will have an impact on the lives of young people. There is that famous quote that says ‘they may not remember what you said, but they will not forget how you make them feel’ my advice is to hold that close as you start this journey. This is my golden tip because developing strong and positive relationships with students will make all the difference to your experience as you train to become a teacher.

I am going to separate this post into sections related to some of the phases of training on your PGCE, as well as some of the most common concerns and things I wish I had known at the start of my training year. There may be some variations to your training depending on your specialism e.g Early Years, Primary or Secondary, but I will try to keep this as generalised as possible to suit all specialisms.

University Phase

To begin your training most of you will have a university-led phase. During this time, you will engage with a variety of sessions, from tailored lectures and activities with your subject specialism, as well as lectures that apply to the whole cohort like SEND and behaviour management. You will have subject mentors for secondary and I assume primary also have their own mentors. These will be the tutors who will supervise you during your PGCE and be your main point of contact. Ahead of your PGCE, my best suggestion is to familiarise yourself with the national curriculum and your subject. Find out what is taught most and what your responsibilities are, as these are discussions that are likely to take place at university. If you are not already familiar, then my next suggestion is to familiarise yourself with these key terms and their abbreviations:

Pupil Premium – PP

Free School Meals – FSM

Special Educational needs and disability - SEND

Looked after child – LAC

Assessment for learning - AFL

The reason I suggest this is that you will hear them during your university phase and as soon as you get into school. Teachers often talk with just the acronym, so the sooner you know them and understand the basics of what they entail, then the quicker you will be comfortable with ‘Teacher Talk’ as I like to call it.

Assignments

Perhaps the most time-consuming focus of your university training will be the written assignments that you need to pass in order to gain the PGCE qualification. There are 3 assignments and they vary in length depending on your training provider, however, the general summary of them goes as follows; two 3000-word assignments and one 5000-word assignment. The titles of them may differ, but they will generally cover the following topics: SEND, Assessment for learning, and a whole school policy. The main piece of advice here is don’t panic about these! You can resubmit if the assignment is not right the first time. There are also lots of sources that your provider will point you towards in order to support your writing.

Placement 1

Placement 1…your first real dive into teaching. An incredibly exciting time, but also a time that lots of you will feel apprehensive about and that is completely normal. Let me start by saying this. No one expects you to be perfect! Your first placement is all about finding your feet as a teacher, working out who you are and what works best for you. I coined this the ‘trial and error placement’ because it gives you the chance to make mistakes and learn from them.

By the time Christmas arrives, you should be teaching around 10hours a week. You will be given a lesson planning outline that will help you think about the key events in a lesson, as well as timing, differentiation, and assessment. Be aware, these can be time-consuming and most teachers will want to see them before you teach the lesson. Take the time to trial a multitude of different strategies and teaching methods because this is the best way to find your stride in the classroom.

While on placement, you will have a training mentor who will oversee your timetable and progress. You will have regular review meetings, most providers will ensure this happens once a week, where you discuss your progress and targets for the following week. It is crucial that you are honest about any struggles you have had; I don’t think enough trainees ask for help when they need it. Sometimes you are just in need of a little advice or reassurance. The biggest rush you will experience is the first time you teach a lesson that was successful, and it will happen more often than you think if you regularly reflect on your practice.

Placement 2

This is the longer of the two placements (primary and SCITT may have more) and the placement where you also face an increase in teaching hours. You will start with around 10 to 12 hours teaching and increase to 16 by the end of the placement. This may vary and I was certainly impacted by the arrival of Covid-19 on my placement. However, virtual teaching is an experience in and of itself, you should really have a go at teaching at session online and who knows? It may become part of the next scheme of teacher training.

You might start this placement feeling like you take a step backward because there is quite a gap between placement 1 and 2. It is absolutely okay to feel this way and have a wobble, but you will very quickly find your feet again. This placement is all about gaining the confidence in your teaching and improving your classroom practice. By placement 2 you may feel ready to start moving away from detailed lesson plans because you already know how to structure a lesson. This is individual to each teacher, don’t compare yourself. You will gradually be handed more independence and take on more responsibility, not only within your teaching but also in wider school responsibilities like parent’s evenings and lunchtime or after school commitments. I also think it is important to say that, although at this point you will be close to finishing your training, you are still a brand new teacher and you have lots still to learn and your practice still has a lot of developing to do. It is okay not to be the finished article by the end of your PGCE, but I promise you will have a lot more confidence in your ability, who you are in the classroom, and what works best for you and the students you teach. This way you can go into your new school as an NQT ready to work on yourself and enjoy the freedom to make your lessons suit your style and the needs of those students you are working with. As always, your students are your priority and if you shape your practice around them you are doing the best you can do.

Student relationships – This is my go-to mantra. Relationships are key to success in the classroom. Show them who you are from the moment they meet you, be kind and welcoming, and take an immediate interest in getting to know them. Learn names as quickly as you can!

Don’t compare yourself – Every trainee moves at a different pace and you will all have different backgrounds so some may find adjusting to school easier than others. There is no right way, you need to do what is best for you. Also, remember most teachers you meet have been doing their job for years and will appear to know everything…. they have taught it repeatedly for years, of course, they know more! so don’t feel inadequate everything comes with time.

Keep in contact with people on your course – This one may seem obvious, but it is ridiculously important. Keeping in touch will get you through some of the tougher times (because you will have them) and it also means you have a space to let off a little steam when you need to. Don’t bottle emotions up, talk about it, you will feel relieved once you do.

Time management – The PGCE is a balancing act and if you don’t time manage you will find yourself feeling overwhelmed. Decide what your priorities are for each day/week and get them done. Try to get ahead on assignments; it will make them feel like less of a mountain. Most importantly allow yourself downtime! Take some time off to do what you love and have a breather you will feel all the better for it.

Just make the most of the experience and enjoy it.

Good Luck! X

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PGCE Study Expectations

24 th August 2022

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Got some questions about what to expect and be aware of when applying for a PGCE? Lucky for you, we’ve got answers to some of the most asked PGCE questions right here. The PGCE qualification has become a popular option for those wishing to pursue a postgraduate qualification. Teaching is a particularly rewarding career, both emotionally and financially (the minimum starting salary for a newly qualified teacher is £25,714 as of the time of writing), so it is no wonder that so many talented graduates are looking for a career within this field. Read on to find out what you can expect from taking a PGCE course... 

Which PGCE option should I take?

You should choose a means of study that is suitable for your chosen career. Most universities offer PGCEs tailored to specific age groups, so if you wish to teach in a primary school you should take a PGCE (primary) qualification, whereas you will need a PGCE (secondary) qualification to teach 11-14 year-olds.

However, a PGCE is not the only way into teaching and there are a number of other qualifications available.ff

Go to: Read more about Different Teaching Qualifications

What will I learn?

The PGCE course will not teach you anything new in terms of your chosen subject. What it will teach you, though, is the theories behind different teaching practice as well as the requirements of the national curriculum.

You will also be expected to gain hands-on teaching experience within a classroom environment to reinforce your own learning. Most universities have specific partnership schools where they place their PGCE students in a classroom environment, and a significant proportion of the University’s contact hours will be school-based learning.

Go to: Five Reasons to Study a PGCE

How will I be assessed?

The way in which you are assessed will depend upon the module and the university. Practical class-room based modules will be assessed through supervised sessions, after which students will be graded on their teaching abilities. However, some of the more theory based modules will be assessed through individual presentations or through written assignments.

What are the PGCE funding options?

One of the great things about PGCE programmes is that there are a number of different means of funding your course. For subjects such as science and maths, where teachers are in short supply, there are a variety of bursaries available.

Those who are self-funding their studies may wish to take out a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of their studies. This funding is available from Student Finance.

Go to: Read more about How to Fund a PGCE

Next: Search for a PGCE course

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• FindAMasters
• The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) – A Guide

Written by Ben Taylor

A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is one of the main qualifications that allows you to become a teacher. Offered in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, most PGCEs give you Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and make you eligible to teach in countries across the world. A PGCE is not a Masters, but modules taken during a PGCE can count towards a full Masters degree.

There are many PGCEs available, each designed to prepare you for life as a different kind of teacher. We’ve put together a guide to some of the PGCEs on offer, and what you need to know before you apply.

If you’ve already decided that you want to apply for a PGCE, you can begin the search for your perfect course with us. Alternatively, you can read our guide to the different types of PGCE funding .

What does PGCE stand for?

PGCE stands for Postgraduate Certificate in Education . It is a postgraduate qualification designed for prospective primary and secondary teachers. You'll usually graduate with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which is a requirement to teach in most English schools. PGCEs give you substantial teaching experience through school placements, along with a grounding in important educational theory .

There are PGCEs aimed at different subjects and each stage of the school system, so you can pick a qualification that’s tailored to the learners you want to teach:

• Lower Primary Education, ages 3-7 – The youngest learners are the focus of this qualification.
• Primary Education, ages 5-11 – These courses generally concentrate on the core primary curriculum, although some programmes allow you to specialise in a particular subject.
• Secondary Education, ages 11-16 – Secondary Education PGCEs are centred on specific subjects.
• Post-16 and Further Education – Completing one of these PGCEs means you can apply for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QLTS) status, a separate classification to the QTS you need to be able to teach in primary and secondary schools.

Is a PGCE a Masters?

PGCEs award up to 60 postgraduate credits at Masters level. This does not mean you'll graduate with a full Masters (which is worth 180 credits), but you'll often have the option to transfer your credits to a full Masters in Education once you've completed your PGCE.

Read more about the difference between a PGCE and a Masters in Education .

Types of PGCE courses

As well as these options, you’ll also have to decide whether you want to take a university-led or a school-led course.

As you might have guessed, university-led teacher training courses are based at a university, but offer plenty of practical teaching experience. You can expect to:

• Spend a minimum of 24 weeks on placement at schools
• Receive QTS and a postgraduate qualification (usually a PGCE)
• Learn about pedagogy (the theory of teaching)

Meanwhile, school-led teacher training courses, delivered by school-centred initial teacher training ( SCITT ) providers, differ in a number of ways and won’t always offer a PGCE (although many do). With these programmes, you can expect to:

• Gain the QTS you need to teach in England and Wales
• Get first-hand experience from day one of your course , working with and learning from colleagues at your placement school

If you already have three years of work experience (not necessarily in education), you could also be eligible for a salary while training with School Direct .

Both university-led and school-led programmes come with the possibility of generous Government funding .

How much does a PGCE cost?

Most PGCEs have tuition fees of £9,250, but there are lots of funding options available in the form of bursaries, scholarships and loans, as well as paid salaries. We’ve covered the different funding routes you can take.

What are my options for studying a PGCE?

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A Postgraduate Diploma in Education is a completely different qualification to the Scottish Professional Graduate Diploma in Education, even though both are referred to as a PGDE, somewhat confusingly!

The main difference between a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is the fact that the Postgraduate Diploma in Education gives you the opportunity to gain 120 CATS credits – twice as many as a PGCE. This means that if you want to convert your PGDE into a 180-credit Masters, you have fewer additional credits to complete than if you’d done a 60-credit PGCE.

A Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) is an ideal option if you plan on putting your credits towards a Masters qualification. Most PGDEs take one year of full-time study to complete – the same as a PGCE – but with the additional CATS credits you’ll be earning, you can expect to spend a bigger proportion of your time on academic rather than teaching work.

Scottish PGDE vs PGCE

A Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) is effectively the Scottish equivalent of the PGCE .

PGCE entry requirements

You’ll usually need at least a 2:2 degree in the subject you want to teach. In some cases, it may be possible to apply with a joint honours degree, provided 50% of your time at university was spent on your PGCE subject.

Similar requirements apply if your degree subject (and experience) is broadly related to the area you wish to teach in.

For example, if you’ve studied a maths-heavy degree like engineering, you will normally be eligible to begin a PGCE in Secondary Maths. Or, if you studied German at A-level but French for your degree, you should be eligible for a PGCE in Modern Languages. These requirements differ from university to university and course to course, however, so always make sure you read the application guidelines carefully.

You’ll also need to have achieved the following to begin teacher training:

• GCSE grade C / grade 4 in English (or equivalent)
• GCSE grade C / grade 4 in Maths (or equivalent)

Finally, some courses will require you to observe teaching in a classroom before you apply. Even if this isn’t a stated requirement, it’s worth doing. Read some tips for arranging school experience .

What is the PGCE application process?

Once we’ve helped you find the right PGCE for you , you should begin the application process through UCAS . You’ll need to write a personal statement, find suitable referees and pass professional skills tests in literacy and numeracy.

If your application is successful in the initial around, you’ll be invited for an interview , before finding out if you’ve been offered a place on the PGCE course.

What’s it like to study a PGCE?

The variety of PGCEs on offer means that no two courses are the same. If you’re studying a university-led PGCE , you’ll spend around two-thirds of your time on at least two school placements. You’ll gradually take on more responsibility, working closely with an experienced teaching mentor before giving your own lessons.

These placements will offer you a window into different learning environments, allowing you to broaden your educational horizons.

Back at university, you’ll take modules covering topics like the pedagogy of teaching and curriculum studies, learning from academics and attending lectures and seminars with your coursemates.

If you choose a school-led PGCE , you’ll benefit from being placed in a school right from the start of the programme. This might sound like a worrying prospect – being dropped in at the deep end, so to speak – but you’ll be eased into classroom life gradually. Significantly, many PGCE trainee teachers are offered a job by the network of schools in which they complete their qualification.

School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)

Interested in school-led teacher training? Take a look at our guide to SCITT courses .

What can I teach with a PGCE?

If you want to teach a subject that you don’t have a degree in, you may have the option of completing a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course to top up or improve your understanding of a certain area. These courses are fully funded and aimed at people who:

• Have a degree in a subject that is closely related to the one that they want to teach
• Hold an A-level in the chosen subject
• Want to refresh their knowledge of the subject
• Know how to use their professional experience in the classroom

SKEs are excellent if you want to teach a subject that is eligible for a bursary, but don’t have the particular degree needed to do so. Find out more about these bursaries, along with other funding options for PGCEs .

Where can I teach with a PGCE?

A big advantage of having a PGCE is that it will widen your opportunities for a career overseas. A PGCE is an internationally recognised qualification , so you'll be able to seek work in countries such as America, Canada and Australia – to name just a few. A PGCE is not strictly required to teach in England and Wales (a QTS alone will technically qualify you for this) but if you want to teach outside the UK – or even in Scotland – you'll probably need one.

What are the other advantages of studying a PGCE?

Although PGCEs aren’t the only way to become a teacher , there are some benefits that set them apart from other options.

As we've already covered, having a PGCE allows you to seek work abroad. It can also be the ideal springboard for those seeking to complete further postgraduate study. Many PGCEs allow you to gain up to 60 credits at Masters level , which can then count towards a full Masters qualification once you’ve finished. You could put these credits towards a Masters in Education, for example.

Other ways to become a qualified teacher

A PGCE isn't the only route to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). You can read about other options in our guide to postgraduate teacher training courses .

PGCE Funding

Funding for PGCEs works a little differently to other postgraduate courses. You won’t be able to use a Masters loan for a PGCE, but you can benefit from various bursaries and scholarships specifically intended for postgraduate teacher training.

PGCE bursaries

The UK Government offers tax-free bursaries to graduates looking to teach certain, in-demand subjects. Trainee teachers in these areas could receive bursaries of up to £22,000.

This kind of support is currently available in:

Students with a sufficiently high degree classification (and / or a Masters or PhD in their subject) may also be eligible for additional funding. This can offer between £7,000 and £10,000 in the following subjects:

PGCE scholarships

Scholarships are another funding option for gifted candidates. Offered in place of a bursary, scholarships are supported by professional subject associations and give additional benefits such as access to extra resources and networking opportunities through your training. Scholarships of up to £26,000 are available in the following areas:

If you train on a School Direct (salaried) programme , most of which offer a PGCE, then you can earn a salary as an unqualified teacher.

Student loans for PGCEs

Even if you receive a bursary or scholarship, you can still apply for a tuition fee loan or maintenance loan through Student Finance England. The tuition fee portion isn’t income-based, but the maintenance loan part is.

This is part of the same student finance scheme run for undergraduate degrees, not the postgraduate loans we’ve covered in detail elsewhere on FindAMasters.com. For more information on these student loans, please visit the Government’s student finance page .

There are many PGCEs listed on FindAMasters.com

Find the one for you – start your search now .

Our postgrad newsletter shares courses, funding news, stories and advice

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Studying A PGCE

Find your perfect postgrad program search our database of 30,000 courses.

• by Charlotte King
• In Courses , Study in UK , Jobs and Careers , Study Advice , PGCE

Studying a PGCE is a popular way of training to become a teacher in the UK after studying an undergraduate degree, as not everyone who becomes a teacher knows that's what they want to do when they are applying for their initial degree..

If you've done a little bit of research into PGCE study, you'll probably have read about how tough the course is! It’s true that it’s a lot of work, but it’s also worth the effort.

So, what's it really like to study a PGCE?

Is there a difference between primary and secondary level PGCE courses?

Primary and secondary level PGCE courses are similar in many ways and the costs are basically the same. Being a PGCE student on either PGCE course will involve lectures, coursework, teaching placements and critiquing of your teaching skills, however there is a reason they are taught separately. This is because different age ranges require different approaches, so the trainee teachers need to be taught different skills dependent on what age group they wish to work with.

Primary school teachers need to have a large range of general skills, along with creative and artistic talents, to make lessons fun and interesting for younger children. Older children and teenagers at secondary schools require a different style of teaching and support to younger ones. So, primary and secondary PGCE courses will train the teachers differently, so they are specialists in their chosen age range.

How much time will you spend studying and attending lectures?

A PGCE is usually taught as a full-time postgraduate course, so expect at least 35 hours a week of lectures, as well as time needed to complete written assignments. There are some part-time PGCE courses that take two years to complete, but the majority of courses are full time. Most former PGCE students will advise you to get your assignments out of the way quickly to leave your mind free to get on with planning lessons and improving your teaching skills.

How much time will you spend preparing lessons and teaching?

When studying a PGCE course you are learning to teach, so initially you are going to need to spend more time planning lessons than a teacher with 20 years’ experience. You’ll probably hear stories of student teachers taking two hours or more to plan a single lesson. However, in real life students can usually whittle this down to about 30 minutes of planning per lesson, and then add in the time to create the resources needed for the lesson. You'll spend at least 24 weeks in teaching placement throughout your PGCE course, and during your teaching placements, you also need to factor in the time you'll spend reflecting and critiquing your teaching skills.

PGCE study – how will you fit it all in?

Your PGCE year is likely to be the busiest year you'll ever have, but you can do it! Complete your assignments as soon as you can, always avoid leaving them to the last minute. Try to spend your time on your school placements efficiently, making good use of all your time by arriving a little early and planning to stay after school time ends until at least 5pm to plan the next days’ lessons and catch up on any marking.

When you're not teaching, you should be doing your marking, planning lessons and creating resources. Make life easy for yourself by using resources that already exist, as well as creating resources that can be easily adapted for future lessons. Take advantage of all the support your fellow teachers, students, lecturers and mentors offer. Use other support as well, like online communities such as the Times Educational Supplement online community of student teachers.

Prepare the people in your life for the fact that you're going to be busy for the foreseeable future, so they’ll know what to expect and when to offer that vital support. Also, make sure you find out about any PGCE funding opportunities so you're not too worried about financing your studies.

Day in the life of a PGCE student

Bearing all of this information in mind, we asked a PGCE student what it’s really like to study a PGCE.  Georgia Flint is a School Direct PGCE student at the University of Winchester, and one of our recent Postgrad Solutions Study Bursary winners . This is what her usual day as a PGCE student is like.

“I am currently studying for Qualified Teacher Status on a School Direct PGCE and am the trainee class teacher for a fantastic Year 4 class. This is what a typical day looks like for me.

6:30am – The dreaded alarm, luckily at this time of year it’s light outside so getting up doesn’t seem so bad.

7:15am – This is when I leave for my drive to school, making sure I’ve got my lunch and my laptop I start my commute always listening to Heart radio.

8:00am – Arriving at school, the first thing I always do is turn on my computer and check my timetable for the day’s lessons.

8:15am – Time to get printing. Any worksheets that we need for the day will need to be printed and trimmed to go into the children’s books. Usually this is extra maths challenges and some reading pages for English.

8:30am – After I’ve written the new date on the whiteboard me and my mentor will decide on a morning task. Usually some kind of brainteaser.

9:00am – The school day starts! We have a maths and English lesson followed by a topic lesson like science or PSHE (Personal, Social, Health & Economic education). At the moment I’m teaching decimals and we’re writing about the digestive system.

1:00pm – Usually in the afternoon we do more hands-on learning, like creating a digestive system out of a pair of tights!

3:00pm – Just like that the school day is over for the children. This is usually when I catch up with my mentor about the day and what we’ve got planned for tomorrow. We’ll look through the children’s books and do a bit of marking to see how they found the work today and if we need to go over anything again tomorrow.

3:30pm – Time to check I’ve got everything ready I can for tomorrow and have a look over my planning to see what tomorrow’s activities are and if I need to get any resources for them like Play-Doh or cubes for maths. Then, I check my printouts for tomorrow and send them to the printer if I’m feeling organised!

4:00pm – As a trainee my day finishes usually around this time depending on how much we have to do in the classroom or if we’re working on classroom displays.

4:10pm – Now it’s light in the evening I like to meet a friend for a run after school, we have a lovely common near my school and it’s been really nice to get some fresh air and have a chat. Unwinding like this is vital to staying positive especially in the current environment.

5:45pm – Finally home and first on the list is dinner! I eat early and usually spend the evening watching some TV. I try to be organised and do my school planning during my PPA time (planning, preparation and assessment time). Some evenings I will catch up on some uni assignments but that’s only if I have one due imminently! Having a work/life balance is really important so you don’t burn out.

9:00pm – I shamelessly go to bed very early and usually read for a bit before watching a show before I go to sleep. Most days I am tired but still very happy to get up the next day and do it all again.

I hope it’s been helpful for you to see what a normal trainee teacher day is like! If you’re thinking about going into postgraduate teaching, I would highly recommend a School Direct route. The School Direct route means that the PGCE student spends 80% of their time in school for the duration of the school year. This is different from the PGCE route, which has more time spent at university with placement times at schools throughout the year.”

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12 comments

Thandekile edista vezi dec. 22, 2018, 11:03 p.m..

I am young woman in 40's, I like working with people especially children. I did social worker at UNISA, now I wish to add teaching in my box as both will allow me to interact with children and people. I don't have enough funds for my studies, how can I get help in teaching bursaries I tried Funza lushaka but my application was not completed as it reject my ID number and my password. I am looking forward to further my studies but my dream will not be success without your help Thanks Regard Thandekile

Charlotte King Jan. 4, 2019, 9:25 a.m.

If you have an offer on a PGCE course you are eligible to apply for one of our Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries worth £500 > https://www.postgrad.com/psuk_study_bursaries_apply/ The UK government also offers great funding and financial support for PGCE students - this article should help you work out your options > https://www.postgrad.com/subjects/teaching_education/pgce_funding/ Good luck.

Jeanette Farrell May 23, 2019, 3:55 p.m.

If I have already completed an MA (self-funded) am I eligible for a tuition fee loan? With thanks.

Charlotte King May 31, 2019, 5:08 p.m.

Hi Jeanette, I think you should still be eligible for tuition fee funding as you haven't previously done a PGCE - but check the Government website to be sure > https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-my-teacher-training You are eligible to apply for one of our £500 Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries once you have been offered a place on a PGCE > https://www.postgrad.com/psuk_study_bursaries_apply/ Good Luck! Charlotte

Bonisile Nov. 23, 2019, 5:43 p.m.

I did an undergrad degree in tourism and I would really like to take on PGCE as my additional qualification because of the love of kids and imparting on them

Charlotte King Dec. 1, 2019, 6:30 p.m.

Hi Bonisile – that sounds great. Once you get offered a place on a PGCE course you will be eligible to apply for one of our Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries worth £500. Good luck with your future plans!

Claire Pritchard Dec. 3, 2020, 12:43 a.m.

I did level 4 teaching / lecturing course . 1 year ) I also did a placement at a further education college . I’m interested in studying for a PGCE Can you advise how long it will take to qualify ? Will having level 4 lecturer qualification help in any way ?

Charlotte King Dec. 11, 2020, 1:01 p.m.

Hi Claire – a PGCE takes one year of full-time study. Our section on Teaching & Education has plenty of helpful advice > https://www.postgrad.com/subjects/teaching_education/

Vineet Sabharwal Jan. 15, 2021, 1:40 a.m.

Hi, I am a primary teacher residing in India. I am scheduled to move to UK along with my husband this year. If you could be kind enough to guide me on the following: 1. Is it possible to find work as an overseas trained teacher in the UK without QTS? 2. To study PGCE, are overseas students eligible for any financial help? 3. How many hours in a day of classes do we have to attend at the university while studying PGCE? Thanks again. Brgds.

Charlotte King Jan. 26, 2021, 7:51 a.m.

1. It is sometimes possible to find work at private (prep) schools in the UK without a PGCE. 2. This is the UK government's advice on funding > https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/ Also once you have been accepted on a PGCE program you are eligible to apply for a Postgrad Solutions Study Bursary worth £500 > https://www.postgrad.com/psuk_study_bursaries_apply/ 3. The ratio of class hours versus study hours varies, sometimes on a daily basis on – and tends to be higher if you opt for a School Direct PGCE program. Good .luck!

Bruno Grubb March 9, 2023, 12:59 a.m.

Your posts are always well-written and easy to understand.

Charlotte King March 13, 2023, 4:58 p.m.

Thanks – glad we can help!

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For Modern Languages applicants, we expect you to be able to offer two Modern Languages (from Chinese (Mandarin), French, German and Spanish), and can provide a range of placements for various combinations of these languages. We may not be able to offer you an interview if we do not have school placement capacity in your preferred language combination. It is important that you have qualifications in both the languages that you wish to teach. For your main language, these qualifications should preferably be at university level, or you should have it as one of your first languages, e.g. have spoken it from a young age. You will be expected to teach your main language up to and including A-level. For your second language, your qualifications should preferably be at A-level or equivalent (B2 CEFR level). You will be expected to teach your second language up to age 14 as a minimum.

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I just found out that I missed my pass mark for a PGCE assignment by 2%. I'm gutted, obviously, but my tutor has noted that this was only because I didn't include enough in-depth discussion for one of my learning criteria - the rest of the criteria have been met and the quality of writing is fine for Level 7.

Of course, this suggests a relatively simple fix for resubmission, but I've also been offered to move down to the ProfGCE, which operates at Level 6.

My instinct would be to stick at the PGCE and resubmit, but does a ProfGCE with QTS actually present barriers to gaining employment? I'm not going to be pursuing further academia, and I just wanted a little bit of input on the ProfGCE itself before I make a decision.

Note: I'm on a School Direct programme.

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PGCE pass rate?

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