Teacher Training?

Oldernotwiser

Vejovis wrote: »

are you sure they're teaching assistants and not classroom assistants?

In some areas, the terms are interchangeable.

laurenweird

What would I be looking at studying at the OU? This is where I always get lost. I have absolutely no idea what I'd be looking to study, there seems so many variations.

I'm so rubbish when it comes to stuff like this

heretolearn_2

If you call the OU they have a careers advice service, and can tell you which degrees are appropriate for teaching.

The most important thing is to remember you need to get a degree in a subject area you will be teaching - which for primary is quite wide, so for example, you could do any degree from the OU areas of Maths, English, History, Science etc. Basically a normal 'subject' degree.

A big mistake people make is to go for child development type courses and degrees, they are worthless for teaching careers. Your teacher training is for that side of things, they need you to have good knowledge in the subject(s) you actually want to teach - you can't teach what you don't know! Also for teaching you need to have GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English as well as your degree.

So for primary teaching, pick a subject you enjoy and you are good at, and go for that.

thegirlintheattic

Pick a subject you enjoy and then do an OU course first. However, be aware that competition for primary PGCE (which is the qualification you need after your degree) is tough and the competition for primary jobs is very, very tough in most areas. Once you have your degree you could try the GTP route, which will get you a teaching qualification in a year but you get paid while doing it - competition for these is much harder than for the PGCE but if you have extensive experience working in schools you stand a better chance of getting in. Have you checked your GCSEs are up to scratch? You need Cs or above in English, Maths and Science.

Vejovis

laurenweird wrote: »

What would I be looking at studying at the OU? This is where I always get lost. I have absolutely no idea what I'd be looking to study, there seems so many variations.

I'm so rubbish when it comes to stuff like this

i would start looking here http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/g02.htm

laurenweird

I'm pretty sure my GCSEs are fine - I got nine As and an A* (was always very proud of that! Haha) and I also have an A grade A-level for English Literature, so would probably pick English.

Thank you for all the help and information, I really appreciate it. It has certainly helped me out and cleared things up!

thegirlintheattic

Vejovis wrote: »

i would start looking here http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/g02.htm

Don't choose that! It's not a full degree and is not the type of subject that will get you far in teaching. The OP should be looking at subjects on the national curriculum or associated with it - English, Maths, Science, RE, History, Geography. That course and associated ones are more for people working as TAs and wanting to advance rather than teachers.

You need 360 credits for an undergraduate degree to be accepted by the TDA for teacher training. You should be looking at something like this - http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/b39.htm

If you need extra help OP call the TDA, ask at your local teacher training provider or contact the OU themselves.

heretolearn_2

Agreed. That's a vocational qualification for teaching assistants. If that's what you really want to do, fine, but if you want to be a teacher that's the wrong thing altogether.

The OU site isn't that hard to navigate around, after 10 minutes or so it all clicks into place. Look at undergraduate qualifications, degrees, and then there's a clear explanation of all the different options. BUT as I said you need to get on to a course pronto if you don't want to pay fees - there's only a few left still to start. If you look at the individual courses lists then it'll show you the next start date. You need one starting before August. And it needs to be a minimum of 30 points. There's still a level one maths course, and the intro level 1 humanities (for english, history, art etc) open, and I haven't really looked at science.

Vejovis

the op wants to become a teaching assistant first, hence the link. far better to do that course and have 240 points toward a degree, than an NVQ and then have to study a full 360 points.

dawyldthing

You might be able to do evening school for the TA course which will be far cheaper than the OU or any degree. I did a Primary Education degree, failed final placement (but still got my degree), but it is a rewarding profession to get into, just difficult job wise and i have many friends that have left as it is really stressful.

To do it you will need A* - C in English, Maths and Science, know computers well, possibly do an access course (as after being 21 I think it is you are classed as a 'mature student'.) if you don't have your a-levels. I fully agree about the childcare degrees and the like, most won't help you get onto a PGCE as there not specific as per say. If you like English stick with that, I did all the way through as one of my A-levels and then my specialism for my degree. You'll need a lot of experience as they ask for lots of examples through your interview.

Not sure where you are in the country, but a similar course like this may be of interest, and its not too expensive (admittedly has to be paid in one go, but works out 20 pounds a week nearly) http://www.wnc.ac.uk/Courses/Level-3-Diploma-in-Specialist-Support-for-Teaching-and-Learning-in-Schools