Any advice on becoming a maths teacher?

dawyldthing

2ft = 2 years full time, 3ft means 3 years full time. To do a maths degree you will more than likely need an a-level in Maths as it will be extremely difficult, you will need to get a C in maths at the least, but for a-levels they usually say you drop down a level each level up, so as a-levels would be equilivant to an e technically at the moment and so on. Are you sure its maths in particular you want to do? As it is very difficult from the start. 120 credits for a maths degree isn't many, generally they ask for at least 200 plus. Unless your a mature student (25+).

http://www.ucas.com/students/ucas_tariff/tarifftables/

heres the tarrif tables.

Good luck in what you choose

EllaBeagle wrote: »

Thanks everyone!

Ahhhhhh can´t get my head around all the abbreviations such as 2ft hon bsc and 3ft hon bsc.

It says on the 2ft hon bsc the entry requirements are:

Relevant HND or HNC or Part 1 of a degree course (120 credits) plus GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above or equivalent. Please consult Edge Hill for confirmation of acceptable alternatives or availability of Entry Tests. Evidence of secondary school experience is recommended. Medical Clearance and Enhanced Disclosure from CRB will be required of all entrants.

I take it I won´t qualify just yet? I got a D in GCSE maths too

How do I find out how many credits I have? Or UCAS points? omg I think I need to read up on all of this beforehand otherwise I´m going nowhere.

EllaBeagle

Its opened my eyes to be honest. I´m still interested but a little apprehensive as it seems an even bigger commitment than what I´ve done before and with two children under 6 it will probably kill me off.

The thought of having debt afterwards it a bit scary too I´m not sure if this still applies these days as I haven´t read up on it much.

Will have a good read tomorrow while the boys are at school and see if it starts to make sense.

MoneySavingUser

EllaBeagle wrote: »

Its opened my eyes to be honest. I´m still interested but a little apprehensive as it seems an even bigger commitment than what I´ve done before and with two children under 6 it will probably kill me off.

The thought of having debt afterwards it a bit scary too I´m not sure if this still applies these days as I haven´t read up on it much.

Will have a good read tomorrow while the boys are at school and see if it starts to make sense.

Have you considered tutoring? you could perhaps do things like A Level Accounting/Bookkeeping courses - I doubt you would earn much but it could be something to do whilst you decide what to do long-term

For loans see: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/student-loans-tuition-fees-changes

patchi

You can always train to become a Primary School teacher, but this still requires GCSE Maths, English (and many Universities - Science) with C grades or above.

However, I have to warn you that at present, there is a large surplus of qualified teachers and therefore they are many NQT's (Newly Qualified Teachers) and those with years upon years of experience, who are currently unemployed. By the time you qualify, if you still choose to take this path, this may have change and their is a shortage of teachers. Happens from time to time.

You will still need to gain experience, skills and knowledge of working with children. Could try and get a Teaching Assistant, but these two are like gold dust.

As a previous poster stated - Think wisely. Teaching isn't for everyone. Getting experience in schools as a TA/volunteering will give you an insight into this but being a teacher is a whole different ball game.

mandragora_2

This isn't meant as a criticism, but just food for thought. There's lots of talk in your posts about maths, but nothing much about children and learning.... I interview trainee teachers as part of my work, and the one that worried me most this year was a former accountant who was training to be a maths teacher. He told me a lot about his ability with maths, the bits of paper he had proving it, but nothing at all about teaching, learning or children.

Blackpool_Saver

I hope the replies haven't upset you.......

dizzyrascal

There are some 2 year degrees with QTS for shortage subjects, Maths and Science. But you have to have the equivalent of 120 credits or 1 year of university study. You also must have English & Maths at GCSE grade C or above in order to teach now, and a science GCSE for primary teaching.

If you do a traditional degree then 50% of your degree must be in Maths if that is what you want to teach. Maths at degree level is very hard, even people who have an A at A level sometimes struggle. I would say the most successful students are passionate about Maths, that is they really love it.
The routes into teaching are changing rapidly at the moment and may not be the same by the time you have completed your studies.
I would bear in mind that the government are working towards making it a Masters level profession and that the current government is working towards only having graduates with a 1st or 2:1 class of degree.
I would look at part time study with the OU and maybe combine that with working as a Teaching Assistant to gain some experience. (if this is an option). It was possible to train via the SCITT route with 240 university credits or two years of HE education. I don't know how long this method will remain

There are supposed to be more options for people to train via the classroom route (coming in the next year or two)
In the meantime you should look into getting back into study and work on passing some exams. Get a feel for what you like to study. It might not be what you think.

EllaBeagle

mandragora wrote: »

This isn't meant as a criticism, but just food for thought. There's lots of talk in your posts about maths, but nothing much about children and learning.... I interview trainee teachers as part of my work, and the one that worried me most this year was a former accountant who was training to be a maths teacher. He told me a lot about his ability with maths, the bits of paper he had proving it, but nothing at all about teaching, learning or children.

I have always had an interest in teaching. From a young age I´ve wanted to be a teacher and when I left school I went on a college interview where I told them I wanted to be either a primary school teacher or an accountant. After much discussion I decided to go ahead with the teaching but they put me on a nursery nursing course which wasn´t the age group I wanted to teach. I´m not sure if all people wanting to teach primary school age children have to start off in nursery nursing but I just ended up leaving college and it was 7 years later I returned and did the accounting.

EllaBeagle

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

I hope the replies haven't upset you.......

No not at all You´ve all been a big help and sometimes you need someone to tell you their opinion/criticism/correction to make you stop and think ´well actually that does make perfect sense´ xx

Moneybot

patchi wrote: »

However, I have to warn you that at present, there is a large surplus of qualified teachers and therefore they are many NQT's (Newly Qualified Teachers) and those with years upon years of experience, who are currently unemployed. By the time you qualify, if you still choose to take this path, this may have change and their is a shortage of teachers. Happens from time to time.

.

Actually there is always a shortage of maths teachers. Mostly because if you have a maths degree there is usually something better paid you can do instead.

A D grade at GCSE does suggest a basic lack of understanding of maths which would not make teaching it to other easy.