Job Discussion Forums

[wangdaning]

There is a possibility that I might take on the PGCEi, I am curious if anybody has experience with it. I am a bit confused about it, and when I search for it I don't find much information.

[tttompatz]

Just heresay... that it won't get you a credential that is worth anything if your plan is to go mainstream in the UK or the international school circuit.

As an actual employer (K-12) I wouldn't hire anyone because of it nor would it give you a leg up on any other candidate ... basically, at the bottom of the stack behind all certified teachers (B.Ed/QTS) and at about the same level as someone with a generic BA in anything other than education.

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[wangdaning]

I have heard that you can do the QTS part later to make it a full certification.

[HLJHLJ]

In England, PGCE and QTS are separate and independent. It's possible to pass the PGCE and fail QTS, and vice versa. QTS is required to teach in state schools, PGCE is not.

If you can get on one of the school based training schemes like GTP you can get QTS without a PGCE. The PGCEi would be irrelevant.

[wangdaning]

[HLJHLJ]

Yes, unfortunately the whole system has been tinkered with and added to so many times, it makes absolutely no sense anymore. It also differs in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, although there is a lot of overlap between their regulations. My info is mainly about English regulations.

QTS (qualified teacher status) is required to be licensed to teach in a UK state school. It's essentially a skills test. There are many different ways you can get it. It requires a certain skill set, subject background, qualities portfolio, assessed teaching practice, etc.

ITT (initial teacher training) courses such as B.Ed and PGCE provide an opportunity to gain all of these things at the same time as taking various theoretical courses. The theory side leads to the qualification, the skills set is submitted in application for QTS.

Other schemes like GTP (graduate teaching programme) skip most of the theory side of things and instead offer on the job training that provides the skills, portfolio, etc required to apply for QTS. Some GTP providers have an option to let trainees continue to study to get a PGCE as well, some just offer QTS.

There's also a couple of options for experienced teachers, including assessment only for a very limited range of subjects at secondary level, and special arrangements for teachers who qualified overseas.

[Matt_22]

[wangdaning]

[tttompatz]

Yes, but it is that home country certification and not the PGCEi that gets you beyond the glass ceiling that entry level EFLers hit.

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[Matt_22]

Also, it really doesn't matter where you want to settle - unless you're going to settle in the UK. US teaching certification will give you the potential to work at the vast majority of international schools in the world