Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fred zepplin]

I have recently started looking at PGCE courses and was quite shocked by how many different types exist. I thought there would basically be two types 1. primary teaching 2. secondary teaching ( with obviously a variety of subjects). Can somebody tell me what these type is generally labelled as, or alternatively what the different types (with very different tuition fees) are for etc.

I would love to be able to work and earn money while taking course so I looked into online options, which was also quite confusing. I looked at these unis offering it http://www.postgraduatesearch.com/pgce/courses/uk/distance-learning/postgraduate-browse.htm.
So can somebody tell how the practical element of a online PGCE works, do you return home after finishing the course and complete a prescribed number of weeks of teacher practice in the UK, or how does it work?

Also what are your opinions on an online PGCE? Is it a waste of time? Is it significantly less valued because its a distance learning?

Basically any input you have on the subject would be great. This post might sound lazy, but, this is a board full of teachers, some of whom I'm sure have been through this so I thought its the best place to get solid information.

[Charriere]

As a fellow Brit I have looked into this myself before. From what I gather, if you want to be a teacher in the UK, the best (only) way to go about doing this is by doing a PGCE in the UK. This will give you NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher) status. You will then have to complete another year during which you are regularly observed. If you are successful, you will be awarded QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) and you are then able to apply for jobs in schools throughout the UK.

By opting to do the distance PGCE, I don't think you are able to obtain QTS. This means that you wouldn't be able to work in UK schools. I have read that some international schools are willing to overlook this. It should be noted however that 'proper' international schools typically ask for at least 2 years post QTS experience in the UK.

As the distance PGCE is a fairly new course, its acceptability may increase over time. That said, for the time being at least, the traditional route certainly seems to open up more doors both home and abroad. Whether you want to teach in the UK is of course another topic entirely!

[alistaircandlin]

Sorry, I've not checked out the link above, so apologies if I'm missing something obvious here, but I just thought I'd write a quick note:

I don't see how you can do a distance PGCE unless you are working at a British school. There is some academic component to a PGCE - you have to write a few essays - four, as I remember - but the large part of the course involves classroom experience.

It varies from course to course but mine went something like this: Two weeks involved in seminars at the university. 1st placement - about three weeks in a school, observing lessons, going to talks, getting involved in some activities. A couple more weeks at university, doing more seminars, workshops, writing essays etc. Then, your first teaching placement - six weeks or so, from half term up to Christmas, I think, teaching a reduced timetable in a school. In the new year you get a few more weeks back at uni, then you get your final placement that runs from February, through the Easter holiday, and on until the end of the course.

So for an academic year, I think you are at Uni for six to eight weeks, and either observing, or teaching at schools for the rest of the time. Passing the PGCE largely depends on your mentor's assessment of your teaching ability. Ultimately, if he thinks you are up to it, you will pass; if he doesn't then you'll have problems.

Charriere is right - passing the PGCE makes you an NQT but you then need to complete a full year teaching - which again is observed and assessed - to finally get QTS. (Qualified Teacher Status). You'll have a mentor in your NQT year, too.

If you want to teach and earn money at the same time - and actually, in retrospect I would recommend this, especially if you already have teaching experience, the way to do it used to be the GTP - Graduate Teacher Program. This means that you get taken on by a school as an unqualified teacher, and you train on the job. It's pretty much the same as your PGCE placements - you'll have a mentor to hold your hand, give you advice, and observe you. He or she will assess your teaching, and hopefully make sure you tick all the boxes you need to pass. The only difference is, you get paid for it. You probably have more teaching hours though. Having said that there is - or was - a pretty good grant for a PGCE.

It seems to me that doing a distance PGCE would be similar to the GTP program. But, like the GTP program, you'd have to be employed in a British school to do it. There's no reason, as far as I know, why you couldn't do that at an International school, like Dulwich College in Seoul, or NLCS Jeju, but you'd have to get them to agree to take you on first. The people I met doing GTP while I did my training, and while I was teaching in the UK were mostly taken on as teaching assistants. They worked well, got on well with people in the department, and made it known that they wanted to train as a teacher. If the head of department liked them, they'd take them on as a trainee if and when they needed a new teacher in the department. The other people I met on the GTP programme were South African or American trained teachers, who had married a Brit. and come to live in the UK. Tell the truth, they were probably on the Overseas Trained Teacher program, actually. But it's similar.

That wasn't a quick note, actually, was it? To answer your question: you would definitely have to do a certain number of weeks teaching practice. I'm guessing its about 22 weeks, but I don't have any records here. There's no way to do a PGCE as a theory-only qualification, because essentially it's a practical course that assesses your teaching skills in the classroom.

I'm not sure if this experience would have to be in the UK, or whether you can work at an international British school. When I applied for my PGCE though, I had to be in the UK to do the interviews. You also had to have a number of weeks recent experience in a British school, even before you could apply for your PGCE.

I would guess that an online PGCE has the same value as any other one - I think the OU used to offer one, and my experience with the OU is all very positive. I would recommend them highly.

My advice: if you want to earn money while you qualify, you should look into the Graduate Teacher Programme:

http://www.tda.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/gtp.aspx

All the best with your applications,

Alistair