6 Top Tips to Survive Your PGCE
16 Jul, 20241-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- 6 top tips to survive your PGCE.
- How stressful a PGCE is and the number of students who drop out.
- Whether a PGCE is harder than a degree.
- Where the latest Early Career Teaching jobs are and how to apply for them.
Attention aspiring educators! Are you currently working towards your Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)? Experiencing stress and feelings of overwhelm as a result of the workload and pressure? Don’t worry because you’re not alone!
Trainee Teachers go through a lot of revision, training and hard work to survive their PGCE and achieve that all important academic qualification. A PGCE can be challenging which is why in our latest blog, we delve into how to not only survive your PGCE training, but thrive during the process.
What is a PGCE?
A PGCE or Postgraduate Certificate in Education is an academic qualification that gives trainee Teachers a better understanding of teaching practices, theory and educational research.
A PGCE is a one year-long course if studied full time. It is possible to study part time over two years and involves both school placements and academic theory. A PGCE qualification introduces trainee Teachers to some of the real life problems, instances and situations that they may encounter in their Teaching career.
Trainee Teachers may encounter obstacles or setbacks during their training, but it is crucial that they know how to survive their studies and come out stronger on the other side either as a Qualified Teacher, Qualified Teacher with a PGCE, or a complete PGCE without Qualified Teacher Status.
6 top tips to survive your PGCE
6 top tips to survive your PGCE:
- Manage your time.
- Make mistakes.
- Network.
- Don't compare yourself to others.
- Prioritise self care.
- Keep learning.
Manage your time
Staying on top of your PGCE workload can be a struggle and at times feel overwhelming, but there are ways to be organised and stay on track. One of the first lessons students need to learn is how to manage and make use of their time.
When it comes to studying for your PGCE qualification, it is important to consider how you manage your time. Effective time management is crucial for trainee Teachers and a core teaching skill to balance coursework, lesson planning and daily tasks as well as personal commitments.
Trainee Teachers need to be able to manage lessons and work commitments in order to use their time productively and effectively. Create a schedule or plan, and allocate time for each task and responsibility to better manage your workload and stay organised.
Make mistakes
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because even the most experienced Teachers make mistakes. Trainee Teachers are expected to get things wrong and learn as they progress in their PGCE. As long as you recognise when something doesn't work, find a different way or discover how to fix it, the more likely you will improve as a Teacher.
Everyday is a learning experience, and it is important to be able to learn from your mistakes and not be embarrassed or disheartened. Ask for help or advice from your mentors, peers or course leaders.
Network
It is important for trainee Teachers to engage and network with other educators and university tutors to tap into their collective wisdom and experience in order to gain useful teaching strategies.
PGCE students can benefit from building a support network and sharing experiences and resources with fellow trainee Teachers to ensure they have words of encouragement, advice and support along the way. Expand your network and see what you can learn from experienced and qualified professionals.
Through collaboration and networking with peers, trainee teachers can expand their knowledge, increase their confidence and have a positive impact on others including their students. All of this can enhance your learning experience within your PGCE qualification as well as prepare you for a career in teaching where collaboration is common practice.
Don't compare yourself to others
It’s easily done, but comparing yourself to others can be detrimental to your own study, mental health and chances of success and development. The best way to survive your PGCE is to stay motivated and remember why you wanted to become a Teacher.
Your experience, success and skills are unique to you, and while it’s easy to compare your progress to others, it can only have a negative impact on your experience and attitude to learning. Even if you’re finding it harder than your colleagues, focus on your journey and how you can improve to get your head back in the game.
Although you might feel like quitting at times, it’s important to not let the pressure get to you. Even if your course mates are finding it easier than you, it doesn't mean that you’re not good enough to carry on and thrive. Focus on your strengths and ensure that you ask for help, guidance or support from others in the same boat as you.
Prioritise self care
During your studies, it is important to balance self care with your study time and personal life. While training for your PGCE, it’s important to focus on your own wellbeing; while training or studying for exams, self care can be one of the first things to be neglected.
However, it is important to look after your wellbeing to ensure that you give your students the best learning experience, so you can survive your PGCE and thrive! Training to become a Teacher can affect your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing and self care enables you to be a more effective educator.
Incorporate self care into your routine to try to maintain a healthy work life balance. Find time to socialise and relax as well as revise, plan and prepare. Keep up hobbies or activities that you enjoy and ensure that you are rejuvenated and motivated.
Keep learning
While you're studying for your PGCE, it is important to stay updated with educational trends and to commit to continuous learning.
Ensure that you attend workshops, webinars and lectures to stay on top of your learning so you are able to learn teaching practices theoretically and academically as well as in the classroom. This will set you apart from others and portray you as a dedicated and knowledgeable educator.
Not only can Teachers continue to educate themselves, but they can utilise their resources and maximise opportunities for students to get started on meaningful work straight away and work right up to the end of the lesson. Continuous learning and development is crucial to become a skilled educator and can positively impact your future pupils as you embark on your teaching career.
How stressful is a PGCE?
Like most courses and qualifications, studying for a PGCE can be stressful, overwhelming and intense. The long hours, increasing workload and pressure to persevere and succeed can all take its toll and affect students' ability to manage their time and maintain a healthy work balance.
The national requirement for students is to teach for a minimum of 150 hours over the period of the course. This is an addition to a minimum of 150 hours of non-teaching hours over two placements. Not only are students learning and teaching in the classroom, but combined with assessments, coursework and understanding how theory implicates practice can be overwhelming and stressful for students.
What percentage of PGCE students drop out?
According to the gov.uk, 7% of postgraduate trainee Teachers did not complete their PGCE training in the academic year 2021-2022. Of the 23,334 postgraduate trainees who began their courses, more than 2,000 did not complete their training.
The dropout rate has remained consistent with previous years, and it is difficult to say why so many students are withdrawing or not achieving Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Dropout rates can vary depending on the subject with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects experiencing higher non-completion rates.
Various factors can influence students' decisions including pressure, workload and other difficulties that many face during Teacher training or even the realisation that joining the education sector isn’t right for them.
Is a PGCE harder than a degree?
A PGCE is a postgraduate academic qualification which means it is harder than your undergraduate degree. The credits for a PGCE are earned at the Masters level as it is a higher level of learning.
A PGCE requires students to undertake a work placement as a Teacher and train in the classroom 4 days a week. Students are also expected to study teaching techniques and the theory of education and attend lectures or classes.
Studying for a PGCE can be stressful and demanding, and it requires perseverance and commitment to not only survive your PGCE, but succeed. A PGCE is a huge achievement and no matter what route you take to get into teaching it is important to be able recognise the hard work and perseverance that goes into becoming a Qualified Teacher.
ECT Teacher jobs
If you’re searching for an ECT Teacher job, why not take a look at the latest ECT Teacher vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
Recruiting Early Career Teachers?
As experts in mainstream and SEND school recruitment, we support schools with their temporary, permanent and temp-perm staffing needs.
We currently work with hundreds of schools and have exclusive access to some of the best Teachers, Teaching Assistants and Early Career Teachers in the North West.
If you’re struggling to fill an Early Career Teacher vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?
Primary schools - Jimmy Callagher
Secondary schools - Liam Jones
SEND schools - Jamie Heath
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re a vibrant and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West.
We continually reimagine the recruitment process to challenge convention and defy expectations; from creating a better recruitment experience to remodelling employee engagement, we thrive off doing things differently and turning heads along the way.
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