Narinder Kaur

I am overseas qualified with a BA degree from New Delhi University, India.UK NARIC decided that my degree had an equivalent compatibility in the United Kingdom, but I could not enrol on a teacher training course due to my lack of GCSEs in English and Maths. Being a single parent of three children and teaching EAL/Panjabi at a local school, I had to be very determined and proactive to find a suitable part-time course. I eventually took a course at East Berkshire College for one evening a week across two terms and I passed my Maths and English GCSEs at the required level.

Having completed my GCSEs, my next aim was to enrol on a PGCE course offering Panjabi, but very few options were available. I was then offered a great opportunity to work at the Ministry of Defence, teaching British soldiers Hindi, so I delayed my plans for a couple of years. I then discovered that Goldsmiths College at the University of London offered a Flexible PGCE in Panjabi. I enrolled on a two-year PGCE course with my extremely supportive tutor, Jim Anderson. This flexible course enabled me both to carry on working and to spend a good amount of time on my studies.

Jim recommended that Cranford Community College, a Specialist Language College in Hounslow, employ me because he was aware that the school was seeking a Panjabi teacher to improve standards in the Panjabi section after a disappointing Ofsted report. Working at Cranford Community College, and with Jim’s help, I managed fast-track completion of my PGCE in less than a year, including the QTS skill tests in Literacy, Numeracy and ICT.

Using the knowledge gained on my PGCE course, I was using better lesson plans and teaching skills with the students at the school and was able to give my section colleagues my full support. A rigorous internal review subsequently reported that Panjabi teaching at the school had improved from unsatisfactory to good. As well as teaching Panjabi up to A level, I have taught some Hindi and become a Year 10 form tutor. I have also arranged several assemblies to raise awareness about religious festivals, which my Years 8, 9 and 11 students thoroughly enjoyed.

I am still learning something new every day! While I was doing my PGCE, I was juggling single-parenthood and an array of jobs. Despite this, I still managed to complete my PGCE and I believe that if I can do it, then anyone can! Finally having a recognised degree and qualified occupation gives me a sense of confidence, security, and achievement, along with greater financial benefit, and I would advise anyone in the teaching field to try their hardest to become qualified.

To find out more about the Flexible PGCE at GoldsmithsCollege, which is also offered in Arabic, Mandarin Chinese and Urdu, please contact Jim Anderson atj dot anderson at gold dot ac dot uk