Going back to college

pooraspiringjourno

I went straight into teaching at the age of 22 and have stayed there for 5 years. I have decided to change career direction this year and am leaving my well paid job in December to go to Lambeth College and gain my pre-entry NCTJ qualification. The course is 18 weeks and commences in Feb. I am really worried about funding myself and would like to know if there is any kind of support available. The course fees are £800 and I can cover these. I would like to know if I can get any discounts on rail travel as a student; whether I can refrain from paying NI or tax; what I need to do about my pension and if anyone has any suggestions for what I can do to earn a quick buck now and while I'm studying. I am an experienced English teacher with a 2:1 degree and PGCE in Secondary English.

Lokolo

You won't get any funding because it looks as though you are going backwards (as you have a degree).

You won't get discount on rail, as the student rail is only for under 25s from what I can remember.

Sorry!

celyn90

Young persons rail cards always used to be available to anyone at University regardless of age - my mum had one when she was at uni - all she did was get her uni to stamp the form to say she was a mature student. Not sure about college students, but it would be worth asking. Failing that if you travel alot off-peak on the rail network, invest in a network rail card, which does the same thing.

For NI and tax, you won't be taxed if you are earning under the taxable limit whilst you are studying. Other than that, tax and NI work the same for students as they do for anyone else. For your pension, phone the pension company and ask what happens.

I'm not sure what will be available in terms of funding as you already have a degree, but I'm sure somebody will be along to help with that.

In terms of making some cash, private tuition, exam marking, teaching evening classes or supply work spring to mind immediately if you want to use your education qualifications although a lot of this is seasonal. It might be work asking at the college you are going to study at if they have work around, my mums college even timetabled her work around her classes and paid her fees as she was staff best of luck, cel

Lokolo

Erm are you sure?

The student railcard website says otherwise:

http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/

Helix

Lokolo wrote: »

Erm are you sure?

The student railcard website says otherwise:

http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/

No it doesn't, on the homepage under Am I Eligible it says:

As the name suggests, you're eligible if you're aged 16-25! You can also apply if you're 26+ and in full time study.

Lokolo

Helix wrote: »

No it doesn't, on the homepage under Am I Eligible it says:

ooooo ok cool! thanks

pooraspiringjourno

Thanks for help- will definitely apply for rail card. Pension is through government for teachers so I guess it will just be frozen and stay as it is. Hope I don't lose what I've saved already.
I know tutoring is an option but, as you say, no kids want to be tutored at the moment! Have an interview at a posh restaurant now so hopefully I will get that. Good idea about the college though- I'm sure they run ESL courses that I might be able to get involved with.

lilysgarden

I don't know if it apply's to college courses as well, but students get discount on council tax. If you share the house with one other person, it'll be a 25% discount (You'd pay single person council tax). If you live alone or with another full time student, then you don't pay any! I'd contact your local council to see if it covers you at college as well.

As for your pension, when you leave your job, you should be given information about deferring your pension. All this means is that you stop paying into it and whatever you've paid to date, remains there until you retire. You should also get all the info you need about this and a yearly statement telling you what the pension is worth. It's your bosses responsibility to do this, so make sure you ask when you leave if they haven't given you anything by then.

As for work, how about tutoring foreign students? I live in Gloucester and we have loads of foreign students, plus immigrants, who want to improve their written and spoken english. You need a TFL qualification to charge the going rate of around £25 an hour, but alot of the people looking for this kind of tutoring are usually happy to pay less just for someone with a good knowledge of the language, who can help them improve.

Oldernotwiser

Have you looked at the Career Development Loan? As far as I know this is the only funding available for this kind of course. You can borrow money to live on as well as course fees although it has to be paid back soon after you finish, unlike the student loan.

Titch89

Can you apply to the Access To Learning fund? Depending on how often you travel, it might be cheaper to buy a season ticket than a rail card and tickets however often you need them.

mummytofour

Lokolo wrote: »

You won't get any funding because it looks as though you are going backwards (as you have a degree).

You won't get discount on rail, as the student rail is only for under 25s from what I can remember.

Sorry!

Sorry thats wrong. You can get a discount student card but its for off peak and you need to get the UNI to stamp the application.