going to university 60 miles away and having a 9 month old?!

[hanfromman]

Hi there!
I am currently considering going back to uni to do a PGCE. This will be in September 2013, and by that time I will have a 9 month old! The university is an hour and a half's drive away from where we live, so a long commute every day! For that reason I may have to stay away from home on nights where I finish late and have an early start, and that could be 4 nights a week. Neither me or DH wants to relocate to be near the uni, as it would be so much hassle - we'd have to rent our place out to afford somewhere up there, meaning putting stuff in storage, and we also have a dog, and finding a rental property that accepts dogs is v difficult!

Do you think this is practical or possible? I'm still considering doing the commute, but that's 3 hours of travelling a day. I'd do it on the train so that at least I can get work done, but still, that's a long time especially if it was 5 days a week!

We also have the potential problem that my husband would be basically a full time stay at home dad, so where would our income come from? I know the government gives extra help to students with children, but still. I don't like living off the state, and what if it still isn't enough money?

I know this is only 1 year and even if it's tough, the long term benefits could be very good - I'd be able to earn a good wage as a teacher, and have holidays and weekends to spend with DH and child/children. Therefore I do want to do it but I'm getting a bit concerned about the practicalities!

Does anyone have any experience of this, or advice?!

 

[Rainbow82]

Hi there,
I have just finished a PGCE and also attended a university 1hr 45 mins away as when I applied we were intending to move. It should be entirely possible to do a PGCE in your situation but having said that it will be difficult. As I understand it although the funding for pgce's is changing this year if you are studying science or maths there will still be some grant money available in addition to loans and grants from student finance and the university. The majority of the course is spent in schools so speak to the university early on as they may be able to find you a placement school much closer to where you live, this year I had to commute 1hr 30 each way for my first placement but for the second the uni found me a placement only 20 mins from where I live. Alternatively look at doing it through the open university or on a GTP scheme where you are paid a normal wage. Although PGCE is a popular course as a teaching career offers great benefits to mums check the job availability in your area as if you were considering a primary PGCE or certain secondary subjects there are an awful lot of new teachers who haven't managed to find jobs at the moment.

A PGCE is a huge commitment but it will be possible.

Good luck.

 

[fantastica]

Hey,

I've not quite been in the same situation as you, but fairly similar. Although commuting that distance daily would be tiring, you would get the opportunity to get all/most of your work done..which would leave you free to spend time with LO when you're not studying. And as Rainbow said, with a PGCE they may help you find placements closer to where you live.

I commuted for my second year in uni, Jacob was just over 1year old. I actually stayed where my uni was for 3nights a week...it was really really tough being away from him, but like you, the benefits of gaining a degree seemed worth it. We didn't really have a choice..we couldn't afford to move, and it wasn't possible to do it daily. Although at times it was exhausting, I really would do it all over again if I had to. A friend of mine actually recently did a PGCE with around the same commute as you would have daily, and she's managed it fine (although she doesn't have a child to look after too!).

I'm not sure on the funding side of things though as I was technically an international student at the time, but i'm pretty sure there is a lot of support available for student parents...including help with daycare if needed.

Good luck

 

[hanfromman]

Hey thanks for the replies!

It's really good to know that other people have managed it

I think I've decided that I defo would do the commute, and would just have to be organised and motivated enough to make sure I did my work on the train! But I don't think that should be a big problem - I'm not even half way through my pregnancy yet but already I find myself feeling a lot more motivated about things like this, when I think about how it is for our child

I've talked to the uni and they say they can't guarantee that they'll get me a placement near home, but I'm hoping that if I volunteer to take a placement that's so far from uni that no-one else wants it, then I might get it!

I've also found out that as I am doing a primary PGCE I will get more than half my fees paid by the government Well that's as long as they don't change the funding drastically by the time I get there!

I'm feeling quite excited about it now!

 

[nugget80]

Wish i was getting half my fees paid by government...! Im also doing primary pgce but have to pay £9000! Does that payment depend on that university you attend? Depending on your degree class you could also get a bursary. For primary if you got a 1st you get £9000 & £5000 for a 2:1. You would also be eligible for all loans and maintenance payments.
I think where i am andstudents who are parents get priority placements with minimum travel and around half of timetable is independent study so don't need to be on campus for that...

 

[hanfromman]

Wish i was getting half my fees paid by government...! Im also doing primary pgce but have to pay £9000! Does that payment depend on that university you attend? Depending on your degree class you could also get a bursary. For primary if you got a 1st you get £9000 & £5000 for a 2:1. You would also be eligible for all loans and maintenance payments.
I think where i am andstudents who are parents get priority placements with minimum travel and around half of timetable is independent study so don't need to be on campus for that...

Ah yeah the bursary is what I meant

That's good that parents get priority placements - I don't think my uni does that by the sounds of it Although maybe my tutors could sort something out

 

[lola_90]

Although you do get summer holidays and weekends a lot of it is spent planning lessons and preparing resources etc. Some will let you do some of your placements closer to home if you can arrange the placement with the schools.

Most uni's will have lots of links around the area, so if the area your in isn't covered then you would need to locate a school as otherwise it's extra work for the uni.

I've just finished my second year of a four year degree in education with qts and placements are tough, in school at least 8-5, often longer and then work to do in the evenings.

Maybe try and see if you could gain some work experience in a school locally to see if it is something you definitely want to do before going ahead with it. A lot of people dropped out of our course in the 1st year as they didn't realise how much hard work it is! Not saying that this will happen to you as i don't know what childcare related background you had. But experience would definitely be useful and put you in a great position for starting your pgce

 

[hanfromman]

Thanks Lola!

Luckily I do live in an area covered by the uni, so I at least have some hope Yeah I'm preparing myself for a lot of hard work and probably being knackered for the whole year!! I'm hoping it will be worth it in the long run though - if it means I get more time to spend with my family once I get a job, holidays, weekends etc, then I will be happy I know some of that 'time off' will be spent marking, planning etc, but being at home is half the battle won I think - at least I'm there and not stuck in the office apart from 4 or 5 weeks a year!

I have some arranged for me to get some voluntary experience at a local school starting in September and they've said I can do as many days for as long as I want which is really great I don't have a lot of experience in education so I want to make sure it's a job I'd be happy doing, as you said So I should be able to get in alot of days experience before I have to start thinking about accepting a uni place and committing myself

 

[Cat_pj]

Just saying very pleased there are other mummy-PGCEers out there, I start mine in 6 weeks (secondary history) and I'm soooo terrified! Its also a long commute for me, well around an hour, its in London, but I've asked for local placements.

BTW its incrediably competitive to get onto a PGCE, it took me 3 years of applying to get accepted, and I have a good degree and Master's. So get loads of experience!! I was planning on doing it when my LO was 9 months also (January babies= the best haha!) but had an interview and didn't get in that time. I reapplied to the same uni having been working as a Cover Supervisor and virtually begged them to accept me and they did!

ETA: my LO will be 20 months in September.

 

[nugget80]

Just saying very pleased there are other mummy-PGCEers out there, I start mine in 6 weeks (secondary history) and I'm soooo terrified! Its also a long commute for me, well around an hour, its in London, but I've asked for local placements.

BTW its incrediably competitive to get onto a PGCE, it took me 3 years of applying to get accepted, and I have a good degree and Master's. So get loads of experience!! I was planning on doing it when my LO was 9 months also (January babies= the best haha!) but had an interview and didn't get in that time. I reapplied to the same uni having been working as a Cover Supervisor and virtually begged them to accept me and they did!

ETA: my LO will be 20 months in September.

Agree... Its very competitive here too and the interview process takes a whole day and is very draining!
My lo Will be 15 months when i start!

 

[sj22]

As others have said, teaching (including the PGCE) is a very demanding job. Yes holidays are fantastic but when I was working full time I would typically be in school 7:30am - 5:30pm, especially with staff meetings, year group meetings and running a club. Hence why when I had LO I returned 3 days a week and still work in the evenings when LO is in bed. If you are prepared for this then it is the most rewarding paid job I can think of. Definitely ask for placements as close to your home as possible as not ideal to spend nights away.
Whatever you decide, good luck xxx