I was studying for a Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS) since September 2009. I say ‘was’ because I’ve had to give it up, but taking something positive from the disaster I’ve been accepted onto a full-time PGCE at Sunderland Uni subject to me getting my third CRB of the year (fourth to follow for some imminent photography work) and my getting the necessary loans from Student Finance.
So what went wrong with the DTLLS?
Thanks for asking because I feel the need to vent my spleen to the uncaring worldwide web. The course was a part-time, three hours-on-a-Tuesday-evening, arrangement with a requirement to get <mumble> hours of relevant (numeracy) teaching practice. I was assured that Student Finance would pay the course fees because it was covered under the shortage subjects mullarkey.
So all I had to do was support myself for the two years to which end I got part-time work, first as an ICT support drone in a private school then as a Physics Technician at Newcastle College. Both these were ideal as I could arrange the necessary teaching around them.
Then, a few weeks into the course, I learned that I could get £500 a month bursary as a pre-service teacher-training student. result!
There were a few problems getting teaching hours: the first place I went fell through, then I did a few weeks in the Art&Design school at Newcastle College before they passed me on to a Photography group. All now looked pretty good and nobody was telling me I was doing anything wrong. Come January, with the usual essay-writing problems, I achieved part one, the PTLLS.
Through this time I was claiming Housing Benefit from Gateshead Council (GMBC) but, because I was working part-time and trousering £500 a month on top they pretty soon stopped paying me anything. Fair enough. No complaint.
On to part two of the course, CTLLS. Workload started to pick up a bit and by now I was in the job at Newcastle College which was putting more demands on me than could be fitted into two-and-a-half days a week. And I was recommended to get some practice in with another group so took on observing/assisting a fellow DTLLSer and a group of engineering students.
Then I got a demand from GMBC to repay all benefits back to September 2009. No explanation why, so I went to ask and got no answer other than they would review my case. Around six weeks later they told me they had reviewed the case and repeated their demand for repayment. I went back again, gave them all the facts of my income for the period and they said they would re-review the case. Finally in April I got word from them that, since I was a full-time student I wasn’t entitled to Housing Benefit (but apparently I was liable for Council Tax.) Another visit pointing out that a three hour evening class isn’t full-time studentry prompted a letter that told me, according to their information, I was entitled to a student loan for the year and therefore ineligible for Housing Benefit. I visited Student Finance’s website where it clearly says don’t bother applying if you aren’t a full-time student. Further, an email from Newcastle College confirmed to me that, as far as they knew, I was not entitled to a loan.
But GMBC stuck to their guns for another month so I thought, what the hell, I’ll apply for the loan and when they tell me to bugger off I’ll take the letter to GMBC and they’ll have to back down.
Imagine my surprise, given that nobody at Newcastle College had ever suggested the possibility, when Student Finance awarded me the full loan and grant for the year.
Time has now moved on a bit, I’ve been happily burying myself in geeky Physics work, teaching practices, presentations and essay planning (not so happy at that). Then, with but a few weeks to go, I’m told that none of the teaching practice I’ve done is any use because it wasn’t with a numeracy DTLLS-qualified tutor and could I start with an Applied Science group immediately. Well, yes, I could, and did for three weeks. Then I’m told that the group isn’t having any more teaching hours.
Meeting with course leader to work out what we might do and she tells me there’s an evening class I can work with that will run through the summer to hopefully make up the required hours by the start of second year DTLLS in September 2010. Immediately emailed the tutor to say I’d be happy to take her offer and would be there at the next class. Emailed her the day before to confirm I’d be coming and she mailed back saying ‘thanks but no thanks, I’ve got someone else.’
So that’s where it ended. Apparently there was no chance of retaking the first year with a view to catching up and I’d be too far behind to make up the teaching practice requirement to go on to year two and try to make it up.
End of story? Of course not.
It’s now a month since I got the notification of my loan and after a couple of weeks watching my bank account and not seeing the money arrive I rang Student Finance to ask when I could expect it. Oh, they say, we’re waiting for confirmation of your attendance from Newcastle College. Go to the college, “we need to see your payment schedule from Student Finance”. Back to Student Finance, “we won’t be sending a schedule because it’s the end of the year and you’ll get everything in one lump.” Back to College, “We need to see the schedule.” “But SF say they aren’t sending a schedule”. “We have to see the schedule.” Back to SF, “we aren’t sending a schedule, tell college to call the helpline.” Back to college, “We need to see the right bit of paper.” “this is the only bit of paper they’re going to send.” “All right I’ll copy that but we need to see the schedule, please send it when you get it.” “They’re not going to send a schedule, will you call the helpline please?” “No. Send us the schedule when you get it.” “So if I don’t get the schedule, as SF have told me I won’t, am I ever going to get my money?” “You’ll get your money. Send us the schedule when you get it.”
I wonder if I will ever get the money? Rent due in two weeks and a gas bill to pay….
I feel a visit to Dave Anderson is imminent.
