Your experience please - College vs Training Provider vs Online Courses

Hi,

My first post since the website was re-jigged. Hope everyone is doing well.
Anyway -
I'm after TAs experience.

I took my Level 2 STLS Apprenticeship with a Training Provider and now want to progress to Level 3.

My local college runs the STLS Certificate from September-July.

The Training Provider runs the L3 Apprenticeship from Oct  for 15 months.

The online can be done at my own pace.

Now - I know from experience the College or Trainers are the most sensible options as you get to mix with other students.

I've noticed TAs on here saying they have got a job from doing an online course.

I've also noticed TA's saying the online courses are a waste because they are not recognised.

Would application form sifters look to see where the course was taken or just that you have a L3 qualification.

What your experience?

Thanks:bounce:

Most would look at the awarding body and level of qualification. They would go for most recognised awarding body that they know and validity of said qualification in terms of how recent and units taken.

Personally I would not go for an online qualification as it does not take into account competence and focuses on knowledge.

Hope this helps

Thanks Lil MS,

My current L1 contract expires in March so I was aiming to get a L3 qualification before then to give me a better chance of getting another job.

The only way to gain L3 by then is online, with a hope that the fact that I've been working as a L1 TA in various temp contracts for 3 years would balance out that it is just knowledge based qualification. But as the LEA application forms ask for the address of the college then it would be obvious it was a distance learning course.

The college route would let me have my L3 by July next year, so too late to apply for L3 jobs.

I've applied to the local college already but have been told that it's a very popular course and priority is given to learners who did the L2 course with them.
So that may not be an option.

Funding is changing for all level 3 courses which makes colleges focus more now on level 2 courses You could do the level 3 fast track, it is possible. I have one learner who began level 2 in may and will finish by end of august subject to observed elements. She is putting in the hours ad storming through her coursework. You can apply for level 3 job whilst you are doing the course and most workplaces would look at this favourably.
But good luck in what you choose and keep us all posted

Arghh, received a letter today from the college stating that the course is full for Sept and that I'm welcome to try again got Sept 2014.

So frustrating.

Now what?

the t.a.'s at my school are doing a level 3 diploma which is run in school. I will get the details and post them here

Are you a GMB member as you can get the level 3 diploma in supporting teaching and learning fully funded at your school?

funnily enough I was going to say this as this is what the t.a.'s are doing in my school
although it came from gmb not all the t.a.'s are in gmb but they are still getting it funded as long as they register before 31st July. This is the providor
[Only admins are allowed to see this link]

Thanks for advice - will look into it.

I'm not GMB.

I did ask one local training provider but they couldn't help me as my temp contract runs out on March and the course runs til June. Unless my school assures them I'm employed for the whole of the course duration, then I cannot have funding.
My present HT says it's likely my contract will just carry on, but as she's leaving (new HT in Sept) then it's not her decision.

Caffeine - what was the link? It's just saying (Only admins are allowed to see this link)

if you google cms training it will come up - wonder why it says that!!!!!!!!

caffeine needed wrote:if you google cms training it will come up - wonder why it says that!!!!!!!!

Pah, they don't cover where I live.
Thanks anyway.
 

oh hecky we will not give up there must be something!!!!

Where are you peardrop as they do cover Leeds as it is miles away from their office. Give them a ring, if enough of you all want to do it, it would be worth their while. Give it a go x