Chemistry degree with open university -- Teacher

K.Evans

Can I become a chemistry Teacher in a secondary school if I do an open university Chemistry degree.

Am I too old to start now? Im 23 almost 24

DizzleUK

You're never too old to start a degree. I'm 34 this year and will be doing a degree in Biomedical Science over the next few years.

I did an ACCESS course about 7 years ago and there were plenty of people in their 20s and 30s that were doing the same course with a view to becoming a teacher after they finished their degree.

So I say, if you want to, do it!

hcb42

Never too old! (Don't know the specific answer though, but would expect you would then just need to do the normal teacher course afterwards)

Lokolo

Also you can't be a teacher just by having a degree, you will have to do a post graduate teaching course of some sort.

I believe PGCE is one of the most popular routes.

http://www.tda.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options.aspx

agrinnall

K.Evans wrote: »

Can I become a chemistry Teacher in a secondary school if I do an open university Chemistry degree.

Am I too old to start now? Im 23 almost 24

Too old at 23 :rotfl:

I'm 52 and I'm half way through a full time MSc 30 years after my BSc (in Chemistry as it happens, although I never used it as anything other than a qualification to tick the box when applying for a job). You're never too old, although I am more than twice the average age of my classmates and older than most of the lecturers. And a friend who is the same age as me is doing a PGCE at the moment.

GothicStirling

K.Evans wrote: »

Can I become a chemistry Teacher in a secondary school if I do an open university Chemistry degree.

Am I too old to start now? Im 23 almost 24

Once you qualify with the BSc, register on a post-grad teaching course [lasts about a year] and you'll be qualified to teach.

Good luck.

jadorevintage

K.Evans wrote: »

Can I become a chemistry Teacher in a secondary school if I do an open university Chemistry degree.

Am I too old to start now? Im 23 almost 24

Of course not! I'm the same age as you and have just completed 120 points of an OU business studies degree. 240 to go...:D

GothicStirling

jadorevintage wrote: »

Of course not! I'm the same age as you and have just completed 120 points of an OU business studies degree. 240 to go...:D

For a proper chemistry degree, the OP is going to probably start from scratch again.

Oldernotwiser

You don't need to do an Access course to study with the OU although you may want to start with taster modules if you left education at 16. An OU degree is perfectly acceptable for teaching and you can also do a flexible PGCE with them for secondary science teaching when you have got your degree. You will also need a GCSE grade C or over (or equivalent) in English and Maths before you can train to teach, although not before you start with the OU.

Good luck.

mrcow

K.Evans wrote: »

Can I become a chemistry Teacher in a secondary school if I do an open university Chemistry degree.

Am I too old to start now? Im 23 almost 24

The short answer is no you can't. You need a teaching qualification with QTS to become a teacher.

So you do your chemistry degree first - and then another year (if you're full time) completing your teacher training to gain your QTS.

bristol_pilot

Let's hope this is not yet another person who failed most of their school exams and now fancies being a teacher. It is to be hoped that the OP has A-level chemistry at least. In answer to the OP's question - no you are not too old at 23/24, you will still be in your 20s when you qualify.