I Want To Become A Teacher!

Tayus

hi all, i want to become a primary school teacher, i currently work on a building site (lol!) but this is not fulfilling my ambitions! my question is what do i have to do and where do i start?! my current qualifications are, 9 Gcse's 7 B's 2 C's and an NVQ level 2 + 3 in heating and ventilation.

steve222_2

you could get a job in the school doing the boiler central heating then have a word
with the teacher once she gets to know you nudge nudge wink wink

helen21_2

steve222 wrote:

you could get a job in the school doing the boiler central heating then have a word
with the teacher once she gets to know you nudge nudge wink wink

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

sarahlouise210

check out www.canteach.gov.uk ..tells you everything you need to know.

equine_induced_poverty

Try the OU. You can carry on working then whilst you get a degree. This can take up to five years but I think a bright chap like you could probably get it quicker. This at least means you dont run up the serious debts that full time uni can cause.
Alternatively, try getting a job teaching in further education, teaching heating and ventilation. The hourly rate is quite good and the college will help you get further teaching qualifications. You can always then have your Uni experience for your one year TTP or PGCE. Look on the website mentioned, or the ou at https://www.open.ac.uk, and contact your local colleges.
AND GOOD LUCK!

equine_induced_poverty

By the way three points just occured to me.
As a mature student you may not need the standard entry qualifications to get into Uni, it depends on what subject you wish to study. (The OU doesnt need any, but can award you credits for any qualifications you have. this reduces the amount of study you need to do for you degree.)
Making a huge assumption that you are male (!) there is a desperate shortage of male primary school teachers so you wouldnt be unemployed.
There are several routes into teaching, and several ways of getting a degree. Find out which combination will suit you, both in time and money.

Fleur_2

I looked into this last year.
To qualify as a teacher you need a degree. I studied over 6 years for my with the OU and obtained a BA Hons

The next thing to do is register on the Can teach website your interest in teaching.
There are a couple of roots in.
You can do a year long PGCE full time at University. This used to be free, but I read the other day that it will now be £3000 but bursaries and hardship funds are available. I think you still get your £6000 welcome (more for shortage subjects such as maths and sciences in senior schools)

Another way in is through the Graduate Training Scheme which you register for through your LEA. The places are hard fought for. In Oxfordshire, in 2004, there were 60 odd places and over 200 applicants. This scheme is also similar to SCITTS (school based training) and in both cases you are attached to a school where you are appointed a mentor and spend 1 day a week at University. These schemes seem to be aimed more towards people who have class room experience. I was told that, to be successful, I ought to find a school willing to allow me to volunteer my time to gain experience of a class room environment, and that I'd need to find a school wiling to take me on as GTTR centre (although I could have help from a list held by the LEA).
Finding a school willing to take me on though wouldn't guarentee me a place on the GTTR scheme.

I didn't follow up any of the GTR stuff last year due to my work not allowing me to do a half days volunteering (even though we have a communitee sceme in place which should have allowed this) and I was therefore unable to gain the minimum 2 weeks in school experience prior to the last date for applications.
It sucks.

Anyway, to summerise:
Get your degree either part or full time (3 or 6 years)
Apply for either PGCE full time or SCITTS / GTTR work based on the job learning. You can study for Senior School PGCE on a part time basis through Universitys and the OU (subject specific) but Primary has to be either full time or GTTR / SCITTS

You will need to prove your GCSE / GCE / CSE qualifications.
You need a minimum C in English and Maths and if you didn't do a science then you will need to go and do a Science GCSE I believe.

All info available from:
http://www.gttr.ac.uk/
http://www.teachersupport.info/index.cfm?p=654
http://www.tda.gov.uk/

Sobraon

Tayus, suggest you talk to the specialist teacher education colleges (such as Bishop Grosseteste College in Lincoln - funny name but a lovely place).

I have just had a look on their website and there is a guide for mature students at: http://www.bgc.ac.uk/?_id=894.

Flexible entry requirements are mentioned but I suspect you would have to do an 'access course'. I don’t work at BGC and have no connection with the college. However they have a very good reputation and run 'taster days'.

Sobraon

Prudent

If you are resident in Scotalnd there are no fees for the pgce and you will get your travelling expenses to placements paid.

Tayus

just thought id point out that im not that "mature" only 21!

pinky8

Does anyone know whether you can get help with OU fees?

Thanks,

Becci