SSA deadline extensions and views on the PGCE

I haven’t posted much on the progress of my PGCE course over the past few weeks and a general update is well overdue. I am now over half way through the PGCE and last week submitted my Subject Studies Assignment (SSA) which was the first piece of individual assessed coursework. Getting the work in on time was a real challenge for me as I had a seasonal cold followed by bronchitis, but I managed to drag myself into work every day. Fortunately I managed to get all the SSA lessons completed, but I was definitely run down and could have done with some time to rest before finalizing the report. In retrospect, I should have asked for an extension but was reluctant to do so, thinking they were only issued in extreme cases. Although I don’t know the numbers, I now realize that many (or at least “several”) people were granted extensions, but I’m glad I’ve got my work submitted and out of the way – at least until it comes back to me for modifications!

Some people have been noticeably absent and/or consistently late on the course in recent weeks, and I’m not sure whether this is a sign of stress or fatigue. We have had only one student leave the course, but of the 19 students remaining only 12 or 13 came to classes today. Although I cannot speak for everyone, the general opinion tends to be that university days are too academic and focused on the master’s level assignments and that days spent in school are generally more worthwhile. This is not unique to King’s College London as I have heard students from other universities express exactly the same views.

The university has repeated said that it believes that teaching will become a master’s level profession, but I have my doubts that this is necessary or even desirable with other needs left unaddressed.