Teacher Training?

doogle_chick

Hi all - looking for some advice if anyone can help.

I am 35 and mum to two kids and work part time - two days a week. I am currently studying through distance learning for an HND in business and management (which is due to finish in October) and my original plan was to then do a further year to "top up" to a degree in business and management.

However, I became a school governor last year and have recently spent several days in school as a parent helper and also as a governor. This has rekindled my teenage desire to be a teacher!

Have I left it too late? I have an A grade A level in Psychology and also maths and english O level passes.

Can anyone offer any advice as to what I should be doing to find out about undertaking teacher training. I cannot afford to study full time at Uni as we need my income to help pay the household bills. I have heard about graduate teacher training but would my degree count? I want to do primary teaching.

Feel quite excited but also very confused as to where to start!
Many thanks for reading this far!
Mandy

merlinormartin

35... pfff... thats not to late .. your still in your "prime"

have a look at the website below .. also give them a call .. they are very helpful .. good luck!

http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit.aspx?ilewa=10000062

Mrs_pbradley936

There are a few routes into Qualified Teacher Status. If you are a graduate you have to have a degree in which about 40% is a National curriculum subject. Not sure that business would do it unless there was a sizable maths content. You can also train while you learn but I am not sure if you can do that part time BUT if you can teach maths, science and one or two other subjects they pay you £9000 a year as a bursary and give you a nice "golden hello". Google "teacher training" and see the sites and options available.

dmg24

Definitely not to old. If you look at the Prospective Student Teachers Forum on https://www.tes.co.uk, you'll find lots of information and support.

Good luck x

Oldernotwiser

Consider topping it up to a degree with the OU, choosing subjects relevant to the national curriculum (eg maths, IT). Then you could look at getting on the Graduate Teachers Programme and being paid while you train. Be aware that entry into primary school teaching is very competitive and the GTP even more so; do all you can to boost your CV in the next couple of years. By the way, as well as English and Maths you'll also need a Science at GCSE for entry to primary teaching.

Oldernotwiser

pbradley936 wrote:

There are a few routes into Qualified Teacher Status. If you are a graduate you have to have a degree in which about 40% is a National curriculum subject. Not sure that business would do it unless there was a sizable maths content. You can also train while you learn but I am not sure if you can do that part time BUT if you can teach maths, science and one or two other subjects they pay you £9000 a year as a bursary and give you a nice "golden hello". Google "teacher training" and see the sites and options available.

Golden Hello only for secondary teachers of shortage subjects. No shortages in primary!

andyrules

Yup, older is correct - if you were to teach science at secondary, particularly physics, you'd be welcomed. But primary is currently in danger of being oversubscribed to.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=384180

you're not too old to retrain for almost anything I'd have thought.

beachlou

I agree with andyrules-primary tecahing is oversubscribed-I qualified in June and have no job and have only had 1 interview. Less than 20% from my course got jobs. I don't mean to sound negative but I want you to know the reality of primary teaching. It does depend on what part of the country you are from though. The further West and North you go, the worse things are.


If you do go ahead, then there is a 1yr full time course (PGCE) and that pays (well it did last yr) a £6,000 training grant. Or the GTT training that you talked about. I found the TES website the best for info and advice when I was training. hth and good luck

doogle_chick

Thanks for your replies everyone. (for some reason my thanks buttons won't work at the mo so can't thank you individually).

The TDA site looks really useful and I will call them tomorrow when DD is at pre-school.

I have also decided to have a chat with the teachers at DS's school and get a "real life" view of the current situation re vacancies etc. I am also planning to help out in school on a regular basis to build up my experience in case I do take this further.

Thanks again guys!