Primary School Teaching

sunshine__

Hi everyone, i'm 23 and currently work in an office but have so many aspirations and dreams which hopefully over the years I can fulfill!!

I'm seriously considering looking in to training to become a primary school teacher. I have no A levels, however have been told that you can possibly train up with your GCSE's and look into it this way.

Does anyone have any knowledge on this at all? Would greatly appreciate some advice.

Thanks x

agrinnall

As far as I'm aware every new teacher needs to have a degree now. You have a long haul ahead of you I'm afraid.

molerat

http://www.barkingdagenhamcollege.ac.uk/courses/access-to-teaching-level-3/

Something like this to get you into uni to do teacher training (google "access to teaching"). 1 year course + 3 years at uni (4 in Scotland)

Round here there are loads of primary teachers doing other things as there are no jobs so I would really ask around to see what the job situation is really like.

dizzyrascal

The traditional route is a (good) degree followed by a PGCE, a one year postgraduate course with classroom training. Or you can do a 3 year primary teaching degree. Both the routes give you qualified teacher status. QTS.
For primary you will GCSE's in English, Maths and Science.
You will also need to start getting classroom experience (as a volunteer) in order to eventually take a teaching qualification.

MrChandlerBing

Becoming a teacher is incredibly over subscribed right now. A lot of my friends did it due to the economy. I would seriously worry about the amount of jobs (and the wage) in 4 years time.

I know wages in the public sector are often protected against supply, but I don't see how they can stay so high with so many unemployed teachers in the pool

leftieM

You may have to do a bridging course to get into university. I suggest getting work as a TA in a primary school and do your A-levels/bridging course in the evenings. I then recommend a BEd rather than a degree followed by a PGCE. You will be better trained (the placements happen over 4 years so it's less rushed and intense).
The job market is tough but it will change over time and children will always need to be taught. Yes, competition is fierce but make yourself the best. If you have an extra curricular something (music or sport) that you can offer, this will make you more desirable to schools.
This will take time and dedication. If you start now it should be done by the time you are 30. Talk to the universities and talk to the FE colleges to see what you need to do. Get signed up for A-levels this September and get the ball rolling. You may need excellent A-levels too. My local uni is looking for 3 As to get onto the BEd this year - nuts!
Good luck! At least you are young and you have the time.

dizzyrascal

Teachers salaries are decided by the government, it's not like they're part of the private sector where the market dictates your value.
Mr Gove wants to have high calibre graduates and he says he is prepared to pay them well!
Time will tell

Who?_me?

Gove also wants to have all these free schools and accadamies where the pay scales are not dictated by the gov and more to the point, you don't have to have teacher training. The man is a fool and a dangerous one at that.
However, to the OP, you do need a degree, you need Maths / English and Science at grade C and above GCSE, loads of experiance and even more luck.

milliebear00001

Yes, just to echo, teaching is an all-degree profession. You will need one if you want to teach, and that means that first, you will need qualifications to get you onto a degree course (doesn't have to be A Levels). You will also need GCSE level qualifications in English, Maths and Science for primary teaching.

If you haven't already, I would seriously consider trying to get work as a TA, so you get a good flavour for what the job is really like. Nobody should ever embark on this career path (and especially if you are starting from GCSE point) without knowing that they are going to enjoy spending everyday with young children, with all the frustrations and joys that go with that. Additionally, you need insight into the enormous amount of (often tedious) paperwork and other work that teachers do outside the classroom.

Good luck - you are still young and have plenty of time if you decide this is what you really want to do.

dawyldthing

Although there has been a baby boom in the last 2 years, so there will be a need for more schools and teachers soon. I trained as a teacher, unfortunately failed final placement. You'll need English, Maths and Science GCSE's to grade C or above, A-levels or an access course and then a 3 or 4 year BA degree in Primary Education or a 3 year degree of your choice and then a PGCE.

If you want to teach I would possibly say look into PTLLS to teach in the lifelong learning as you could go on to teach English and Maths to adults as there is a need for these too and it will be quicker to train up

MrChandlerBing wrote: »

Becoming a teacher is incredibly over subscribed right now. A lot of my friends did it due to the economy. I would seriously worry about the amount of jobs (and the wage) in 4 years time.

I know wages in the public sector are often protected against supply, but I don't see how they can stay so high with so many unemployed teachers in the pool

cainkapow

Do not fear, there is an easy way.

Im 25 and decided eventually to chase my dream of becoming an ICT teacher in a secondary school.

I have just completed a corse at my local college called an 'Access to Higher Education Course' or just an Access Course. What this does is gives you credits to get into University doing either Healthcare or education.

In the class, the youngest person was 19 and the oldest was 48, all training towards becoming a teacher, and all 11 or us were accepted into University.

This is a great way to do it, however you may have to quit your job to do so, but although you may be worse off, it will only be for a year, look at the long term benefits.

Im glad i found out about this after years of random jobs and thinking that I could never achieve it. In september i start Sunderland University studying towards an ICT degree for 3 years then 1 year for my PGCE.

Go for it I say, contact your local college as sign ups will be starting very soon and interviews start at the beggining of august.

Good Luck