Teacher in Training
Sarah Foster-Agg, graduated from Swansea with a Politics and International Relations degree
This article was kindly provided by ROK Student
Current Job: Halfway through teacher training at Birmingham University.
A day in the life of a graduate
Being on a graduate teacher-training programme is rather like being a superhero. I know we all thought our schoolteachers weren’t human but I don’t mean it like that. Some days you are a student who learns core national curriculum subjects such as English, mathematics and science. On others you are a teacher, in control and dominating, giving the impression that you know everything about the Victorians or electricity, for example. Desired super-powers are: super hearing and a special set of eyes in the back your head. The downside is that the costume just isn’t as cool as Wonder Woman’s. A definite plus is that it is an extension of University life (at times). Go out drinking on weekdays, shop with student discount and on other weeks you’re expected to be a proper grown-up, discover 7am exists and enjoy rush hour traffic.
Did I always want to be a teacher?
In short: no. It wasn’t a solid career choice until the third year of University.
I went to University at 18, to study Politics and International Relations. Three years later it was all over, I had only planned as far as graduation. I realised it was time to think carefully about what I wanted to do next. Unfortunately, I had no idea. So, I returned to my student job as a supermarket checkout-chick for six months while I applied for other jobs.
I started a job in West Midlands Police as project support/ administration person for a team. This provided me with experience and an insight to the work environment. My thoughts told me that I wasn’t going to sit behind a desk and wear Ally McBeal type suits, something I had always dreamt of doing (its all about the practicalities with me!). This was a really positive step as it taught me what I didn’t want do, so even if you find yourself in a job you don’t like after University use it as a planning, fact-finding and soul-searching time!
Why teaching?
Being a people person, I felt I have all the natural abilities required to teach. In the sixth form I had done some tutoring of both less able students and students that needed extension. I had also taught dance to children for a few years. These experiences gained, and having a close relative as a teacher had shown me the more negative aspects of my new career, which are important facts to know about any job.
How do you get onto a PGCE?
The most important aspect regarding the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is to apply early. Applications for Primary places start as early as September the year before you wish to start. I applied through the GTTR (Graduate Teacher Training Registry), which is similar to UCAS and filled in an application online. This requires personal information, exam information and also a personal statement about why you would like to be a teacher. The other important factors are the two references required. One can be a normal reference, i.e. from your current employer or university but it is helpful if one can be from a teaching situation, such as work experience or volunteering in a school. It costs £12 to apply for one cycle of application. Within the form you should choose primary places to study. This form is then submitted to the GTTR and they pass the form onto the first place of study on the list to offer them your application. This could then be followed by a rejection or an interview offer.
I was lucky; I was offered an interview at my first choice place of study. The interview consisted of set tasks, group discussion, an essay on an unseen subject- in which our spelling and grammar were under scrutiny, and finally an interview with one of the course tutors. This was an intense day, more so than my original university undergraduate interview. The challenge continued; I ended up being interviewed by the course director. Her first words to us on that day were “There are 60 of you in this room and only ten place left on the course, do not be disappointed if you do not get into this course.” This was a realism that I faced and left prepared for the rejection.
I was one of the lucky ten- being accepted was a brilliant feeling. I don’t think that any person can be guaranteed an interview and acceptance, but perseverance is a very important quality. If you are not accepted in the first year of application, yet feel it is still what you want to do then go and volunteer at a school, nursery/after school club or apply for employment within an education environment. These activities may all improve your application, plus make sure you are applying subject relevance. Your original degree can bring other skills to teaching or you could be suited to secondary teaching in your specific subject.
Starting the course - September 2005
Be prepared! I felt like child on the first day of school, my superhero powers had not yet been developed, and I didn’t know anyone. A harsh reality to face is that you will be thrown in at the deep end. We must learn to answer four questions at once, always be three steps ahead of the children and make the most tedious subjects fun and exciting (with division this is very hard, trust me). Teaching is an intensive career that can use all of your time, after school and at weekends, especially when you are learning the job. This is not to say that it is not rewarding and fulfilling. It isn’t easy, and those who aren’t fully prepared leave the course. The workload is large and the stress levels are quite high-you are learning a while new set of skills and techniques. Within two weeks you are expected to use these on a real set of children.
The block practice in school, being the superhero side of you alter ego is tough. You learn as you teach, while being supervised and scrutinised at all times and there is a barrage of planning and preparation to do for one lesson, let alone a whole days worth. Wonder Woman is tested to her limits as your working day runs for approximately 13 hours. You do have to contend with the rush hour traffic, getting up in the dark, photocopier malfunctions, the register, classroom disputes and that is without the children coming in!
The student side to the PGCE: you have a full day at university the majority of the time. The lessons are to refresh our subject knowledge, to assess and test the core subject knowledge (with tests we must pass to graduate) and to show us how to teach these subjects, what methods are used and how to explain them. Specific sessions are also about us reflecting on our own teaching and time in school this allows our group to share ideas and tips.
I enjoy the layout of the course, and am impressed with the size of my group- about 25 students. Primary courses tend to be female dominated. The LEA pay my fees for this course as teaching is considered a shortage for the country but you do have to personally apply as you would for undergraduate courses. The central government also gave me a bursary of £6,000 over the duration of the course in monthly instalments, paid from the university. The student loan is also available for this course if it is needed.
In the future
I can see myself as a classroom teacher with my own class, helping and nurturing them whilst they are in my care, providing a safe, secure and fun environment. In the distant future I would like to become a head teacher, to run a while school, creating an ethos and helping a wider selection of children to succeed and prosper.
Mostly, I want to merge my alter egos, to change that split personality into one whole teacher, to bring myself as Wonder Woman into the classroom each morning and even now I still want to change the world! If you would like a career that is totally different each day, constantly developing, and allows career progression then teaching may be for you; try it, you might like it!
