Why if you do a primary PGCE are there no jobs?

dandelionclock30

They still have to do lesson plans and show how they meet targets and there's SATS and things.
I've a couple of friends who have done primary teaching and its quite hard work. Its not all singing and painting.
Plus there is apparently a lot of bullying in teaching,with tyrannical heads etc. I dont think its a walk in the park.

the-mango

I use to work as a Teaching assistant in primary and I know how hard it was for the teacher not just lesson plans but yes schools politics and pressure from OFSTED and assessment. It's not just teaching then goign home at 3.30

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

Sounds like a lot of waffle, do they also talk about blue sky thinking?

The half that leave will do so because its very hard work, the pays not brilliant and they have to work at home on a night and weekends.

Policy making? after doing a couple of years as a primary teacher, really?

This is the Teach First website
http://www.teachfirst.org.uk/TFHome/ You can make up your mind


and yes, policy making, they have contributed to educational policy through something called Policy First

paulineb_2

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

They still have to do lesson plans and show how they meet targets and there's SATS and things.
I've a couple of friends who have done primary teaching and its quite hard work. Its not all singing and painting.
Plus there is apparently a lot of bullying in teaching,with tyrannical heads etc. I dont think its a walk in the park.

Absolutely, I would say particularly in primary schools, I have a relative who has taught in both secondary and in primary schools and the bullying they suffered was particularly apparent in primary schools.

Its definitely not all singing and painting. Im a fitness instructor and doing a course in childrens fitness and as part of my course I had to instruct a 40 minute session with a group of ten 8 year olds. And by the end of that, even though they were great kids, I was shattered.

I have absolute admiration for people who make teaching their profession and who can work with children day in and day out.

I went down the community and learning route, I did a post grad in community education and worked with young people in youth groups and homeless shelters.

I come from a family of teachers and that made my mind up that it wasnt for me.

In my area, there are very few jobs for people who are graduating, lots of people spend years on supply until they get a full time teaching post.

kloana

When I graduated (2006), PGCEs were relatively easy to get on to (this has since changed), and depending upon the level and subject, were also relatively well-funded (this has also changed somewhat).

I was looking at secondary courses in History and RE. I have little interest in either of those subjects (RE in particular), but my degree (sociology) met the requirements for potential acceptance. Then there was primary, which I also could have opted for.

I was in it purely for the money (i.e. the prospective funding), plus the fact that I didn't know what I really wanted to do. Looking back, it was a selfish viewpoint, but the 'system' was set up to be taken advantage of, as far as I could see.

I didn't, in the end, make any applications for PGCE at all. But I know many who did - lots of whom were in the "uninterested but need money" boat as me. Some now teach (despite no 'passion' for it), whereas others are working in other fields.

Suspect that this scenario may have contributed to the current glut of teachers, and lack of jobs.

dawyldthing

I've got several friends teaching as I studied for a 4 year BA Primary Education. It is hard work, but for the PGCE it is even more so as you have to learn 14 or so different subjects in one year so end up being a jack of all trades but master of one. But you will still be expected to pick it all up in that time as well as placements and everything that goes with it. I unfortunately failed final placement but I don't think I will ever go back into teaching regardless as at times it made me really ill. Its the paperwork, planning, meetings, training, assessment, after school clubs and more that teachers have to do. Theres a viral that does the route every now and again, i've just found it on one of my e-mails and it is very true:

Subject: this made me chuckle

Aren't you sick of all those high paid teachers?
Their hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work nine or ten months a year!
It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do...baby-sit!

We can get that for less than minimum wage. That's right. I would give them £3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked, not any of that silly planning time. That would be a day (7:45 AM to 4:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch).

Each parent should pay £19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now, how many do they teach in a day... maybe 30? So that's 19.50 X 30 = £585.00 a day.
However, remember they only work 180 days a year!
I am not going to pay them for any vacations.
Let's see . . that's £585 x 180 = £105,300 per year.
(Hold on! .. My calculator must need batteries!)

What about those special teachers and the ones with Master's degrees?
Well, we could pay them minimum wage just to be fair, £5.52 an hour.
That would be £5.52 times 6.5 hours times 30 children times 180 days = £193,752.00 per year.
Wait a minute, there is something wrong here! .....There sure is, duh!

Make a teacher smile; send this to someone who appreciates teachers!
(Average teacher salary £21,000/180 days = £116.66 per day/30 students = £3.88/ 6.5 hours = £0.59 per hour per student.)

Very inexpensive babysitter, and they even educate your kids!
Crazy, eh!



Its very true sadly, teachers don't get the recognition they deserve

DKLS

Hasn't the primary sector always been over subscribed?, having said that a mate of mine who qualified 15 yrs ago but went into the insurance industry has recently secured a job as a primary teacher shortage of male primary teachers so he was told.

As an alternative I know a primary school teacher who now creates e-learning for children.

bap98189

Just because you have a PGCE doesn't mean you have to be a school teacher. There are loads of other jobs which require a qualification in teaching, or which can make use of an education qualification.

Training, college lecturing, adult education, counselling to name just a few.

harrys_dad

the-mango wrote: »

Ah well I have a place with teach first who only work with schools with a high proportion of children from low socio economic backgrounds and they are geneRally challenging schools anyway. I'm just undecided. I'm pretty sure I'll stick with primary as I only plan to teach for a few years and id enjoy primary more

Primary and Secondary teaching are almost two completely different occupations, one being subject based and one being much broader. Yes some of the skills are the same, but day to day they are chalk and cheese.

As someone who has employed teachers in schools for many years i can only advise you to sort out your ideas before going for any interviews. If I knew you were the OP of this thread I would not look at you as a potential employee.

harrys_dad

Oh, one other point. Do you like young people? Do you prefer younger ones or older ones? This is what should determine your decision, not some vague thoughts about employability. I remain to be convinced as to why you want to be a teacher, or even if you should be a teacher, let alone which age group is better for you, or more importantly which age group you can contribute more to.

Reggie_Rebel

Missme wrote: »

Perhaps, as a skilled/educated person you migh research your local jobs market...

Perhaps, as a would be pedant you could learn to type properly