Becoming a teacher with no degree

TopQuark

I think it depends on the subject, but for anything academic, the teacher should have a degree in the subject they are teaching.

My PhD is in chemistry and I nothing could convince me that secondary and A-level students could be taught chemistry to the required level by someone who does not have a degree in the subject.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

You'd think...wouldn't you.

elisebutt65

I did my degree (1st! go me!!!) in Business Management at Birmingham, commuting daily from Leamington (7.30 train ugh!) as a single mum but with a helpful bf, who dropped my 3 & 8 yr old off at nursery and b/fast clubs. Then I did my PGCE in PCE at Oxford Brookes; more early trains ugh! I did my 150 hours practice at my local college who then took me on to initially teach travel & tourism at level 3, then level 4.
Then I moved into teaching the foundation business degree as well.

The last 2 years I've moved over into pastoral care/ tutorial side of thi gs & only teaching a few lessons a week at level 3, and providing cover when required. If it wasn't for stewpid cancer, I'd have been full time this year, but am returning in September ft. Salary isn't great in FE, but the hours fit perfectly and the holidays are even longer as we break at the end of June instead of July, but we have our training in the summer instead of term time.

Ds2 is hitting 13 now so it's been a long haul to get where I want, but I totally love it, unlike years of slog in hr at the council, and accountancy for a multinational (booooooring!).
I also got my QTLLS this last year as well, so I could teach at secondary, but don't really fancy that.

It was a blooming hard slog though. Early mornings, getting kids up & out, studying until 2 am cos the kids always needed something at night and I can't work in dribs & drabs. Had to sit and write in blocks of a few hours, do research, spend hours on the online library (major benefit). Also lots of group work, which meant arranging meetings with other students out of Uni time.

Work wise is easier now. Ds1 has just left home & ds2 gets himself to school. I get to work (on foot) about 8.30 for a 9.15 start, so I can have breakfast & coffee, get all booted up etc. then I leave around 4.30ish, get shopping on way home, do tea and chill. I do marking on a Friday night as I only do 2 double lessons so no major planning apart from making sure my lessons meet current industry standards and I do a bit of research into current practise etc. Its still a bit tiring but so satisfying. The OU do modules in education as I was looking at doing one on equality & diversity to go with my current tutorial role, but money's too tight on sick pay right now.

Dunroamin

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

Actually, during the last 3 years when I have been teaching SEN teenagers, many of the people that are working in the schools and PRUs haven't got any higher level qualification. Some haven't even got teaching quals.

It's scary, and not right - however the fact remains that you do not NEED a degree to teach, there are other ways into teaching without having to go to uni.

I agree that's terrible but I would assume (I'm sure you'll correct me if I'm wrong) that they're being paid on the unqualified teacher or an instructor's scale.

With the introduction of academies, things will only get worse.

Dunroamin

RichardD1970 wrote: »

To be fair, you were insistent that you needed a degree. You didn't mention any other relevant qualification.

Yes I did, it was in the post you replied to!

RichardD1970

Dunroamin wrote: »

Yes I did, it was in the post you replied to!

Sorry, thought you were the one agreeing with SOA that a degree was absolutely necessary to teach.

Dunroamin wrote: »

SOA is correct, the DTLLS is now accepted for QTS but that doesn't mean that you can, as a non graduate, teach in schools.

From http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/faqs/~/link.aspx?_id=BD52823303624F65AA32692941D004C7&_z=z

"You need a degree to be a teacher".

The DTLLS replaces a PGCE rather than a degree.

You only later changed it to

Dunroamin wrote: »

A degree is still required or professional qualification

or have I got it wrong :huh: (good job I'm not a teacher eh!)

PuddleP

Yo can also work in a private school without any qualifications at all. My wife has been working for the last 12 years as a teacher with no teaching qualification in a number of private schools and state schools both employed and self employed.

Who?_me?

Thanks to Gove (Who wants all teachers to have a 2:1and on the job teacher training so they are of the very best quality) you don't need to be a qualified teacher to work in an academy, free school, and you have never needed to have one to teach in Indpendent schools. Many secondary schools now employ "cover supervisors" who aren't qualified teachers, but are left in charge of classes with (occasionaly) set work.

ViolaLass

TopQuark wrote: »

I think it depends on the subject, but for anything academic, the teacher should have a degree in the subject they are teaching.

My PhD is in chemistry and nothing could convince me that secondary and A-level students could be taught chemistry to the required level by someone who does not have a degree in the subject.

I'm not convinced you're in the position to expound on this when you're not a teacher.

I don't have a degree in maths but my A-level students seem happy with me. Over 50% of them got an A in their mock exam beating the departmental average (of a very good school) and I expect them to do even better this summer.

It doesn't prove that a degree is irrelevant but does suggest at least that a degree in the same subject isn't vital.

Who?_me?

ViolaLass wrote: »

It doesn't prove that a degree is irrelevant but does suggest at least that a degree in the same subject isn't vital.

In the current jobs market for teaching, every little piece of paper will count towards getting you an interview. Interviewers are looking for the slightest reason to remove someone from the 100s that will apply for one job. In the past, may be not vital or even a requirement, but if a history teacher wants a job, they need to have a history degree. Infact, the OU will want a transcript of your degree cert to show you have over 50% of your degree in the subject you want to teach.