GTA or PGCE?

Question

what is the difference between a GTA and a PGCE? and which one would you advise taking?

Answer 1

GTA means you have a job set up and you won't be joining the ranks of the unemployed teachers... basically, you find a school that wants a teacher in your subject area and see if they want to take you on as a trainee teacher while you go part-time to uni to do a few courses. We had a couple of GTAs with us when I did my PGCE at Portsmouth (btw, don't go there unless you're an egalitarian communist feminist who doesn't want to think for him/herself). To get a GTA contract, you usually need quite a bit of relevant experience either in the subject itself or with children.

Answer 2

I did my PGCE at UEA , apparently the best place for it. Not sure about GTA but can tell you that the PGCE was good when out on placement, but spent too much timein uni doing boring stuff- subject knowledge- like we wouldn't look it up if we had to teach it anyway! We enjoyed being able to swap tales about schools, but got thoroughly fed up and frustrated with lectures and workshops. Maybe if the GTA is more practical based you could try that. Also know that places have been cut on every PGCE course in the country now (bar the UEA) and I believe that you only get £3000 now ( I htink it works that you get £6000 but have to pay £3000 fees) due to the high levels of unemployment amongst teachers (that includes me, who will be 'leaving' teaching after xmas) .Good luck, hope it works out better for you!