The interview went pretty well I feel, I really hated the campus, I just hate Manchester in general really! I was horrified when I arrived and found there were 40 of us - there is only one teacher training place - but thankfully all but me were being interviewed for PGCE courses, I was the only one for School Direct training. They are interviewing three other people for it so the odds are not that bad - 1 place, 4 people in with a chance, and I'm pretty happy to have made it that far when there were so, so many applicants.
Because I lived furthest away, after presentations and written tasks, they let me go for the first interview so I could get home! Glad they did as traffic was not good and it took double the time it should have to get back.
I wouldn't like to drive down that hill in the snow! Good luck with the interview - you've done well to get so far. Is the teacher training still in Didsbury? - if so it's not a bad place to be in or get to.
If I get on today;s interview, yes, it'll be mostly based in a Stoke on Trent school - a salaried position, with no uni fees - with odd days at uni in Didsbury or Crewe. I've already been accepted on an unsalaried position - £9000 fees and no wages for a year - and that's at Derby uni and a school in Stoke. I'd much rather train at Derby, I did my other degrees there, but obviously, I'd also much rather have the free, salaried training too!
Good luck Louise. Hope you get to follow your dream. I went to university in Manchester - 30 years ago!! Loved the place, but guess things have changed since then.
@jantan
Thank you :)
Whatever happens with today's interview, I have a place on a teacher training course. It's such a relief as it's the third year I've applied. It's at least 10 applicants per place every year, after two rejections, I thought I was never going to do it!
Oh that's great news Louise. The last time I caught up with you I don't think you had a place - so pleased for you. Just read through the previous comments here - fingers crossed for the 9K!
@jantan
I had an interview on 29th Jan, for the unsalaried place. I didn't think I had done too well but I actually went back to the school today to discuss the place they have offered my and found out that so far, they've had 120 applicants and counting, have interviewed over 60 people but only selected 19 for the programme out of those. There are 24 places available (all unsalaried). It's a real confidence boost to be chosen with such strict criteria, and to be in the top 4 for the salaried position, out of hundreds of applicants.
I've actually made the decision that whatever happens with Manchester, I'm going to take the unsalaried route. I don't really want the student debt, but on the other hand, it's not always about the money. I like Derby Uni and I know the course is better there, the school and training programme are better and there is better chance of a job at the end of it. Plus I'm much happier taking the rural journey to Derby that a traffic heavy route to Manchester! I think it's worth the debt to feel happy with my university and training. It feels good to have decided!
If I get on today;s interview, yes, it'll be mostly based in a Stoke on Trent school - a salaried position, with no uni fees - with odd days at uni in Didsbury or Crewe. I've already been accepted on an unsalaried position - £9000 fees and no wages for a year - and that's at Derby uni and a school in Stoke. I'd much rather train at Derby, I did my other degrees there, but obviously, I'd also much rather have the free, salaried training too!
Thank you :)
Whatever happens with today's interview, I have a place on a teacher training course. It's such a relief as it's the third year I've applied. It's at least 10 applicants per place every year, after two rejections, I thought I was never going to do it!
I had an interview on 29th Jan, for the unsalaried place. I didn't think I had done too well but I actually went back to the school today to discuss the place they have offered my and found out that so far, they've had 120 applicants and counting, have interviewed over 60 people but only selected 19 for the programme out of those. There are 24 places available (all unsalaried). It's a real confidence boost to be chosen with such strict criteria, and to be in the top 4 for the salaried position, out of hundreds of applicants.
I've actually made the decision that whatever happens with Manchester, I'm going to take the unsalaried route. I don't really want the student debt, but on the other hand, it's not always about the money. I like Derby Uni and I know the course is better there, the school and training programme are better and there is better chance of a job at the end of it. Plus I'm much happier taking the rural journey to Derby that a traffic heavy route to Manchester! I think it's worth the debt to feel happy with my university and training. It feels good to have decided!