Hello Sarah,
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.
I have previously asked you a few questions about the PGCE and you told me that you completed your PCGE at the University of Plymouth. I was wondering what you enjoyed the most about the course and also what it was like studying at the University?
S: The course at University was well run though we were always late in finding out where our next placements would be! Besides that the lectures and seminars were really useful and ideas could be taken from these to help us develop as teachers during our teaching practices. The course was really hard work and was a test personally and professionally but at the end of the course you can appreciate how beneificial the course was as I had really developed as a teacher and felt more confident in my teaching ability. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to visit different schools and observe great teaching as you could pick up ideas and resources along the way which I could incorporate into my teaching in my classroom.
Obviously a PGCE is a lot of work however I am sure it is very rewarding in the long run. Did you enjoy working on placements?
S: I enjoyed having the oppoirtunity to visit a variety of schools during my teaching placements and expereince their school ethos. I found this to be incredibly beneficial to my teaching as I was able to witness a variety of teaching styles which I could adapt into my practice.
What challenges did you come across whilst studying the course?
S: I found the course to be really rewarding both professionally and personally, though it was also extremely challenging. The workload was very demanding both at University and during teaching placements so time management was essential to complete the course. I definitely learnt to prioritise during the course, this was crucial to complete all of the work that was required at University and on placement!
What where your lectures like?
S: They were a mixture of lectures and seminars in groups as well as the whole cohert. Some lectures were given by tutors at the University and others were external visitors from local primary schools and children’s services. In each lecture we always had the opportunity to discuss their focus with other students and share ideas. The seminars were for each of the subjects within the Nataional Curriculum to give us teaching ideas to take into school, but some were better than others!
When you started the PGCE did you have to decided straight away what age group you wanted to work with or did you get to work with all ages during your placements?
S: Before getting on to the course I decided that it was a PGCE in primary that I wanted to take, but when on the course we had to specify our prefered Key Stage which for me was Key Stage One (4 to 7 year olds). We had three school placements during the course, two were in Key Stage One and the other was in Key stage Two so we had experience of both throughout the year.
What opportunities have you had since completing your PGCE?
S: Since completing the PGCE course I have been able to work as a supply teacher at a variety of primary schools across the city. I have also looked at the opportunity of completing my Masters at some point in the near future as I gained some credits during the PGCE course.
Thankyou for taking the time to answer my questions, do you have any additional information that you think I should know about the course?
S: If you decided that the PGCE wasn’t an option for you due to the increasing cost of fees, the Graduate Teacher Programme is a good alternative where you would be able to receive a wage. This is similar to the PGCE but you need to find a school willing to invest the programme as that school would be the centre of your learning as opposed to being based at University and then going on teaching practice. You would still be assessed through assignments and the QTS standards but you would be based in one school throughout the year.
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