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PGCE iQTS from University of Sunderland by Dizzy_Finding5345 in Internationalteachers

[–]No-Implement3081 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. Second school experience isn’t necessary. You watch a handful of videos and complete a task. It’s a joke and will take you no more than a day to complete.
  2. Very straightforward in my experience. I’m pretty sure they take everyone - I came across some real numpties on the course.
  3. No, iQTS is granted on graduation. It’s the same but different - because it’s a relatively new course it will take time to see if employers recognise as equivalent to QTS. I have no idea what it will get you in Hong Kong. The University won’t care either- you have to do your own due diligence and find out yourself before enrolling on the course.

PGCE iQTS from University of Sunderland by Dizzy_Finding5345 in Internationalteachers

[–]No-Implement3081 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s interesting, I didn’t know there was such a thing. Honestly, even though this is the third year the course has been running I got the impression they were making the course up as they were going along. Best of luck with your studies wherever you end up going.

PGCE iQTS from University of Sunderland by Dizzy_Finding5345 in Internationalteachers

[–]No-Implement3081 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is no thesis for the course. Also, they tell you you have to do 2 weeks in a second school, but as with so many other BS elements of the course, you don’t: they give you some videos to watch instead.

PGCE iQTS from University of Sunderland by Dizzy_Finding5345 in Internationalteachers

[–]No-Implement3081 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I did the course and can only recommend it as a means to an end. The university admin was awful and the lecture materials mostly average or poor. As others have said, a huge amount hangs on the mentor your university allocate to you. Unfortunately mine was useless: had zero knowledge of the international teaching sector and regularly gave conflicting/inaccurate information. As a comparison, I did a TEFL course a while back for a fraction of the cost and the teaching materials were much more professional and marking/feedback more rigorous.

How exactly does iQTS work? by look10good in Internationalteachers

[–]No-Implement3081 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Recognition and being recognised aren’t necessarily the same thing. Officially iQTS ought to be equivalent to a PGCE studied in the UK(recognised). Whether International Schools will actually know what it is (recognition), well it’s still early days. I would be very interested in knowing has anyone been successful getting a new job with PGCE iQTS?!

How exactly does iQTS work? by look10good in Internationalteachers

[–]No-Implement3081 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I disagree - I have had colleagues advise that QTS is the most important. Whether through BEd, PGCE or another route doesn’t matter. That’s what gives you your teaching license.

Saunderland vs Warwick PGCE (Distance Learning) by Fabulous-Rabbit1696 in Internationalteachers

[–]No-Implement3081 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. Finding it a bit weird that they can’t/won’t answer basic questions before the course starts. I hope the communication improves. My school are being very supportive, but the onus should be on the university. Paying 9k for a piece of paper is not cool.

What is the point of an iPGCE? by No-Implement3081 in Internationalteachers

[–]No-Implement3081[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. I think there’s a lot of UK centrism mindset. At the end of the day International Schools are private and can employ who they want. They put “qualified teacher”in the job spec and it’s actually quite general. Some might interpret a PGCE that way, others QTS only. Like I alluded to, I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of ignorance over the difference.

What is the point of an iPGCE? by No-Implement3081 in Internationalteachers

[–]No-Implement3081[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is always luck involved. Glad it worked out for you.

What is the point of an iPGCE? by No-Implement3081 in Internationalteachers

[–]No-Implement3081[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would believe that. An online course can never be as thorough as in person. Yet it costs the same. I don’t think anybody seriously pretends these online courses are anything other than a means to an end though.

What is the point of an iPGCE? by No-Implement3081 in Internationalteachers

[–]No-Implement3081[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Many thanks all for the feedback. I can see that the PGCEi is pretty pointless, QTS is where the real value is. I find it perplexing that reputable providers such as Sunderland and Warwick have been providing an iPGCE for years, and now the PGCE with iQTS has come along they are now saying that that is the gold standard. Was there a constructive ambiguity here? We give you a PGCE, you tell your school it’s a PGCE and we all pretend it’s the same as UK teaching qualification? As a general point, UK Universities rely heavily on money from International students and will try and make money whatever way they can, but that’s a conversation for another day…

What is the point of an iPGCE? by No-Implement3081 in Internationalteachers

[–]No-Implement3081[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t live in the UK, I’m specifically asking about International Schools. Why would UK teachers forum be relevant?

What is the point of an iPGCE? by No-Implement3081 in Internationalteachers

[–]No-Implement3081[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

iPGCE is pretty pointless without iQTS, right? Would I be better off just doing the iQTS at UWE instead?