
How To Prepare For Your PGCE Effectively and Hit the Ground Running
So you’ve secured a place on a PGCE course, sorted your professional
skills tests and feel ready to delve into the world of teaching.
Firstly, congratulate yourself for your achievement; you’re now well on
your way to becoming a teacher! Initial teacher
training courses in England rose by 23 per cent
last year, so you’ve picked the perfect time to start your teaching
career.
While you may be months away from your first day at your new school, it’s worth considering how you can start preparing for your PGCE school training year. A bit of pre-planning can make all the difference to your PGCE experience, and these tips will help you make it as enjoyable and productive as possible.
Conduct some pre-reading for your course
You’ll probably now have a fairly large chunk of time between accepting your place and starting your training programme. By dedicating a portion of your free time to pre-reading, you can get a head start on your course and hit the ground running. Check with your course provider to see if they have a suggested reading list, or any pre-programme activities to complete before you begin.
As well as course texts, there is a plethora of teaching guides available to support your learning and provide tips for your teaching career.
Brush up on your subject knowledge
Many prospective teachers feel anxious before embarking on their careers about their subject knowledge. This is a common issue and even teachers with years of experience will still have moments where they simply don’t know the answer.
This is why revising the key topics in your subject knowledge until you know them inside-out will be incredibly beneficial, especially in areas you know you are weaker. The national curriculum will have changed dramatically since you were at school, so spend some time conducting some valuable research on the current topics of study and anything related to them.
Buy all your equipment beforehand
You need to have the correct equipment on hand to run a successful lesson. If you haven’t procured it all before your course start, you might struggle to stay organised and on top of your work. Although the school may provide you with some of the equipment that you will need, that can’t always be assumed, so be prepared to buy your own in advance.
Laptops are an important purchase and with the amount of lesson plans, worksheets and student material that you are likely to need throughout your year, an external hard drive will make up one of your more expensive outlays. Some other essentials include:
-
A large backpack/work bag
-
A planner
-
Whiteboard markers
-
Post-it notes
-
Colour highlighters
Folders
It sounds obvious, but good organisation is the key to good teaching. You will grapple with deadlines for everything from homework marking to internal school reports, and your organisation will make all the difference when it comes to staying on top of your tasks!
Buy yourself a teacher’s planner or diary and build a habit of writing down tasks or to-do lists for the day. Before you start your pre-reading for the day, write down everything you want to achieve from your revision and list any documents you need to create. By getting into the swing of being organised and task-driven, your transition into teacher training will be much smoother.
With all of this in mind, the most important tip that we can give is to enjoy yourself. Staying calm and savouring every moment is the best way for you to tackle a PGCE, and leave fully prepared for your NQT year .
Get all your latest teaching tips and news from Teaching Personnel
Now you know exactly what you need to do to make the most of your PGCE course, it is time to decide your next step. We would recommend finding out more about our NQT Pool, our programme that gives NQTs access to thousands of schools across England and Wales. We also have a wealth of tips and advice on teaching and the wider education sector that you can apply to your PGCE course.
Sign up to posts
Related jobs
Salary
£77 - 95 per day
Location free text
Ossett
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Primary SEN Support
Location
West Yorkshire
Description
Job Title: ADHD Support AssistantLocation: WF5Employer: Teaching PersonnelSalary: £77 - £95 per dayStart Date: NovemberAre you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of students with A
Reference
wakta071223
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Robert HigginbottomAuthor
Robert HigginbottomSalary
£115 - 150 per day
Location free text
Devizes
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Secondary
Location
Wiltshire
Description
Flexible Supply TeachingLocation: DevizesStart date: ASAPTeaching Personnel are looking for passionate Supply Teachers to work in Secondary Schools in Devizes and the immediate surrounding areas.Due t
Reference
dev987
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Georgia HunkinAuthor
Georgia HunkinSalary
£100 - 150 per day
Location free text
Harrogate
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
SEN General
Location
Harrogate
Description
Are you a compassionate and dedicated Special Education Needs (SEN) teacher looking to make a significant impact in the lives of students who need it the most? If you're passionate about providing ta
Reference
SM-TEACH-071223-HG3
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£130 - 150 per day
Location free text
Manchester
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Teacher
Location
Manchester
Description
Teaching Personnel is currently recruiting for a supply teacher to join one of our client schools to work across a range of secondary schools in the Manchester.Throughout this role, you will work on a
Reference
279
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Robert JordanAuthor
Robert JordanSalary
£550 - 750 per week
Location free text
Stockport
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Secondary
Location
Stockport
Description
Supply Teacher role available in the Stockport Area - Are you a qualified teacher looking for flexible work in the Stockport area? We are currently seeking supply teachers to work in a range of second
Reference
272
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Robert JordanAuthor
Robert JordanSalary
£1.5k - 1.7k per month
Location free text
Denton
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Greater Manchester
Description
Teaching Personnel is pleased to offer a role in one of our client schools, the role is an English Graduate Teaching Assistant starting January 2024 in Denton and will last for the entire academic yea
Reference
151
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Robert JordanAuthor
Robert JordanSalary
£1.5k - 1.8k per month
Location free text
Levenshulme
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Greater Manchester
Description
Teaching Assistant Opportunity: Supportive Learning EnvironmentAre you a dedicated and compassionate individual with a passion for aiding students in their educational journey? Teaching Personnel is s
Reference
5561
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Robert JordanAuthor
Robert JordanSalary
£385 - 485 per week
Location free text
Cheadle
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Greater Manchester
Description
Graduate Learning Support Assistants needed at Ofsted good, 11-16 mixed secondary school in the Cheadle area. This is a full-time post starting in January until the end of the academic year. £385 - £
Reference
1561
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Robert JordanAuthor
Robert JordanSalary
£11.85 - 11.85 per hour
Location free text
Blandford Forum
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Autism
Location
Blandford
Description
Confident, resilient and adaptable Teaching Assistants required in Blandford Forum.This is a full time position, starting ASAP. Permanent opportunities are available for the right candidates. The scho
Reference
blantga
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lauren WatersAuthor
Lauren WatersSalary
£11.85 - 11.85 per hour
Location free text
Wimborne Minster
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Secondary SEN Support
Location
Wimbourne
Description
As a Teaching Assistant at this college you will be working with young people between the ages of 16-25 with additional needs cluding Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).You will work under the instructi
Reference
tasree
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lauren WatersAuthor
Lauren WatersRelated posts

Teaser
Multi-Academy TrustsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
Laura Williams is an education leadership coach with fifteen years of leadership experience in education across business, operations, HR, finance and governance. She is a former Business Manager, CO

by
Scott Owen

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
Creating a safe and nurturing environment for pupils is paramount in the age of evolving social dynamics. One issue that has gained significant attention in recent years is the distinction between
by
Adam Davies

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson addressed the Labour Party conference in October, where she announced plans to reform primary maths. Currently, one in four children leave primary school

Teaser
Tips and AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD10YY
Summary
Mock exams are a crucial milestone in a pupil's academic journey, serving as a practice run for the real deal. As educators, you play a pivotal role in helping pupils navigate through these trial ex

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
In the fast-moving world of education, headteachers and schools face the challenge of ensuring a continuous and reliable supply of qualified teachers. Unforeseen teacher absences due to staff sickness

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
Embarking on the journey to become an educator is both exhilarating and demanding. The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is crucial to achieving your teaching ambitions. The road ahead
.jpg)
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD08YY
Summary
Teaching is a rewarding profession that plays a crucial role in shaping our society's future. However, it comes with its challenges. The workload can be demanding, which might sometimes lead to feelin

Teaser
Tips and AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD07YY
Summary
Being a Teaching Assistant (TA) is a rewarding and challenging role that requires a diverse skill set. One of the responsibilities of a TA is supporting the teacher in managing classroom behaviour eff
.jpg)
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD06YY
Summary
Teaching is a noble profession that holds the power to shape young minds and inspire future generations. Many people find great joy and fulfilment in pursuing a career in education. One avenue within

Teaser
Education NewsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD06YY
Summary
There are around 295,000 teaching assistants (TAs) working in schools across England and Wales. Today, teaching assistants play a crucial role in supporting students and teachers. In 2022, TAs account
Register with us
for a choice of classroom roles
Register today
Recent job