Career Change - Teaching

beccals

Hi everyone,

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post...

Basically I have been working in Construction for the past 4 years, I absolutely hate it! I know that I am very lucky to even have a job, but I am so desperate for a new career.

I recently decided that I want to go into teaching. I am 100% set on this idea, but obviously this would mean making a huge change and in my current finanical situation I am not too sure how feasible it is.

I owe £16,000 (and considering I am only 24 this makes me cringe!!). I am a lot better with money than I used to be but obviously I want to pay off the debt as soon as I can!

I have come up with 2 options for re-training.

1: Go to University full time and get a part time job to support myself and continue to clear my debt

2: Continue to work full time and take a part time degree course to qualify.

Both of these options are doable (and i have already had an offer for a full time place) but I dont want to spiral back into my old habits and rely on credit for everything.

Also, to go part time, I would have to fund the course myself as tuition fees and student loans are only offered to full time students.

Sorry for the long winded post...any advice that you are able to offer would be great

Thanks

flutterbyuk25

Have you got a degree already and intend just to do PGCE? Or would you need to do full 4 year course?

x

beccals

No, I don't have a degree so it would be the full four years that I would have to do. Worth it but just don't know!

flutterbyuk25

beccals wrote: »

No, I don't have a degree so it would be the full four years that I would have to do. Worth it but just don't know!

Worth it yes, but it will mean you severely cutting back on things to be able to afford to do it, yes you get grants/loans etc but you will still have to pay out for things. Plus you say you already have debt.

Is teaching in a school actually what you want to do? or is it just a career option you have looked into?

There are many similar roles to teaching that you could explore. For example I am a youth worker for a charity. I 'teach' key skills but am not a qualified teacher. I also teach life skills, communication, teamwork etc. I needed no formal qualifications to do my job, just experience and passion. That said I am now studying to become a learning coach for 14-19 year olds, which my employer is paying for. Also, if the legislation changes as it is expected to, I will have to do a teaching qualification, which again my employer will pay for (I have a degree already).

So what I'm saying is don't limit yourself to teaching in a school, there are many different roles.

Have you looked at teaching construction? maybe post16?

HTH and good luck!

x

Voyager2002

If you hate your job then it makes sense to study full-time, rather than continuing to suffer and studying when you are already worn out.

beccals

Thanks for the advice

I think the problem I've got is that I'm not qualified and have no experience in anything else. I have only ever worked in Construction and have tried to apply for other roles but to no avail.

Just getting so fed up now. want to try and be a pro-active and positive and find a way to do something that I love.

Thanks for the great advice though, I'd never really considered other kinds of teaching

x

hellokitty08

What do you want to teach? We have some construction teachers at our college who are getting their degree and techining qualifications whilst being employed here. Also you can start off as a class room assistant (facilitator) and work up this way to a teaching post to.

beccals

I wanted to teach Primary School ages 6-9. I have applied for a few classroom assistant positions but everywhere asks for an NVQ. I looked into getting an NVQ but was advised that you have to complete it in an appropriate environment (eg. working in a school) so it seems to be a vicious circle really.

I havent given up hope yet though

CHARDONNAY_3

Firstly, you need to consider your living circumstances - who do you live with? What are your living costs? etc etc. This will help you assess whether full or part time education would be best for you.

Secondly, you need to see for yourself what it would be like to be a student again & what being a teacher actually involves. Most unis have shadowing schemes where you would follow a student around to get a 1st hand feel for the course & ask any questions. I would also advise you to do some work experience as a volunteer classroom assistant, if you can't fit this in around your job, use annual leave, as this experience will be essential when applying for teaching courses.

Also, as negative as it may sound, it is worth researching whether primary teachers are in demand in your area. Where I live there are alot of supply & short term contracts, but I have a couple of friends who are teachers, with experience, who can't find a permanent role.

With all this in mind, it really is worth researching every avenue first, as it may that you're just so fed up with your current job, that anything seems better.

Good luck

babyshoes

I would advise against teaching, but then I may just be jaded. Have you done any classroom observations? I would strongly recommend that you get yourself into a classroom for a while, either as a simple observer or as a part-time/volunteer teaching assistant. Speak to teacher, especially those who have been in the game for 'donkeys years' and see what it REALLY involves. I used to want to teach, but after a few years as a teaching assistant then cover supervisor I decided not to go ahead with the degree.

Luckily, I am now working in an alternative education setting, which is so much better in many ways - the staff are more laid back, the students (despite being some of the most challenging in the whole education sector due to their behaviour) are usually lovely, and we have far less behavioural issues than I used to encounter in a mainstream school!

Gazing_On_Sunsets

The need job for NVQ/need NVQ for job thing can be got round by volunteering too, as it's a foot in the door so to speak. And also you really, really need to do some volunteering to get a proper grasp of what it's like, and it helps to get onto the course too.

I taught secondary and now teach in a prison. Prisons employ construction teachers - yes, a far cry from primary but it's interesting work! Also our brickworks teachers come from industry and are gaining their teaching certificates on the job. Post-16 has a slightly different route. Maybe worth a thought...