Renovations and Repayments.

AlexLK

maman wrote: »

That'll be fine until your mother meets a scummie walking a pitbull!;):rotfl:

...It's not my mother whom ought be worried. :eek: :rotfl:

maman

AlexLK wrote: »

...It's not my mother whom ought be worried. :eek: :rotfl:

Exactly!!:rotfl:


Loving the lightness in your posts recently Alex. Hope that the only black dog you see for a while is Issy! Good that MrsK 'apologised' for booking the holiday on impulse. It may not change the outcome but at least it shows she's aware and she may think twice in the future. I'd call that progress.


No harm in doing your PGCE to add a string to your bow (no pun intended) but you certainly won't get rich teaching. 40% of teachers are leaving after the first year so probably doing just that and just getting the qualification for possible future use. Sadly even more are leaving within 5 years due to excessive workload and stress from Ofsted etc. However it might still be a good idea especially if you can use contacts to get some part time hours in your old school. Are you you aware that your NQT year will have to be class teaching rather than individual/group instrumental?

AlexLK

Thanks, maman.

Mrs K has always been someone to act before she thinks ... that's probably how she ended up with me. :rotfl:

I suppose looking into getting properly qualified for the teaching is more because it's something I'm interested in rather than for a career but I am aware about the NQT year (that's the thing that's putting me off the most as I see it as something you need to do full time, really). I cannot see me working as a teacher full time in all honesty but as I enjoy teaching it makes sense to get the qualification and make a little money alongside my business interests.

I can see how people leave teaching due to stress, I found when I had a full time job it was all consuming, no hobbies, no time with Mrs K (before my son was born). It was the only thing I thought about from the moment I got up until the moment I went to sleep as there was always something else to do. I find the music teaching to be the same, there is never enough you can do, if I were doing it full time, I know I'd make myself ill again. However, I have a different attitude to part time work interests and it doesn't become obsessive.

littlegreenparrot

Have you thought about a role as a teaching assistant?
It might be a bit easier to be part time, and you can do qualifications while you work. Based on what you've said it might be a bit easier for you manage (although I don't doubt you could mange the NQT anyway). Although if you were shocked at Teachers pay you should brace yourself.

It's funny, sometimes I have to remember you and I have a different frame of reference for pay. One of the reasons I decided to do PGCE in my 20's was that doing it meant I got a 3 grand pay rise! No-one gets rich teaching, but they are mostly not on the breadline.

I have always had an issue with this thing about the 'best' graduates. Best at what? Being good at getting qualifications does not necessarily equal being good with children/young people.

maman

littlegreenparrot wrote: »

Have you thought about a role as a teaching assistant?
It might be a bit easier to be part time, and you can do qualifications while you work. Based on what you've said it might be a bit easier for you manage (although I don't doubt you could mange the NQT anyway). Although if you were shocked at Teachers pay you should brace yourself.

It's funny, sometimes I have to remember you and I have a different frame of reference for pay. One of the reasons I decided to do PGCE in my 20's was that doing it meant I got a 3 grand pay rise! No-one gets rich teaching, but they are mostly not on the breadline.

I have always had an issue with this thing about the 'best' graduates. Best at what? Being good at getting qualifications does not necessarily equal being good with children/young people.

I suppose that depends where you live and what your commitments are but agree it's not minimum wage. Couldn't agree more about the so called 'best graduates'. Teach First infuriates me as it's almost like a system of VSO but in this country! So for many it's like a holiday job/internship before they move on to a 'proper job' which pays a decent graduate salary.Fortunately Alex isn't looking at it as his only source of income and there are two earners in the family (plus other assets;)).


Alex, I'd advise you(if determined to be a teacher)to do a PGCE which would only be part time (in the sense of attendance at college) except for School Experience. Then if you could get a school (preferably one you know) to accept you part time you could do his NQT year across two years. Otherwise bite the bullet and just do one year full time. After that you'll be free to do as much or as little teaching as you want.

AlexLK

littlegreenparrot wrote: »

Have you thought about a role as a teaching assistant?
It might be a bit easier to be part time, and you can do qualifications while you work. Based on what you've said it might be a bit easier for you manage (although I don't doubt you could mange the NQT anyway). Although if you were shocked at Teachers pay you should brace yourself.

The thing I enjoy the most about teaching is taking a "problem" and devising a series of lessons to provide the pupil(s) with knowledge of how to solve the initial problem. I'm interested in educating rather than helping somebody else to educate and whilst I am very open to new ideas from other people and sources, ultimately there is nothing like your own lesson being the one to switch on the lightbulb.

Whilst I have lots of respect for teaching assistants, it is not a post that interests me.

littlegreenparrot wrote: »

It's funny, sometimes I have to remember you and I have a different frame of reference for pay. One of the reasons I decided to do PGCE in my 20's was that doing it meant I got a 3 grand pay rise! No-one gets rich teaching, but they are mostly not on the breadline.

I have always had an issue with this thing about the 'best' graduates. Best at what? Being good at getting qualifications does not necessarily equal being good with children/young people.

Teacher's pay doesn't seem so bad once they reach senior manager / Headmaster level. Therefore, I suppose it's not too bad if you're considering it as a career even if the starting salary is not good. As a potential part time member of staff, I am well aware I can forget any notion of being able to gain any sort of promotion though.

I happen to think doing well at degree level shows a certain level of skills in communication, problem solving and resilience; all attributes vital to being able to educate others, no?

maman wrote: »

I suppose that depends where you live and what your commitments are but agree it's not minimum wage. Couldn't agree more about the so called 'best graduates'. Teach First infuriates me as it's almost like a system of VSO but in this country! So for many it's like a holiday job/internship before they move on to a 'proper job' which pays a decent graduate salary.Fortunately Alex isn't looking at it as his only source of income and there are two earners in the family (plus other assets;)).

Alex, I'd advise you(if determined to be a teacher)to do a PGCE which would only be part time (in the sense of attendance at college) except for School Experience. Then if you could get a school (preferably one you know) to accept you part time you could do his NQT year across two years. Otherwise bite the bullet and just do one year full time. After that you'll be free to do as much or as little teaching as you want.

Thank you for the advice, maman.

From what I've read the NQT year only applies to the state maintained sector and not to independent schools and academies? I presume if one teaches within the independent or academy sector after the PGCE, a move into the state maintained sector is difficult?

maman

AlexLK wrote: »

Teacher's pay doesn't seem so bad once they reach senior manager / Headmaster level.


Thank you for the advice, maman.

From what I've read the NQT year only applies to the state maintained sector and not to independent schools and academies? I presume if one teaches within the independent or academy sector after the PGCE, a move into the state maintained sector is difficult?

I need to check this out but I believe that if you don't complete your NQT year then you wouldn't have qualified teacher status (QTS) so could only be paid as an unqualified teacher. That's in a state school. Academies, free schools and Independents do employ unqualified teachers and the pay tends to be agreed locally.


Oh and I think you need to learn the word Headteacher.;)

littlegreenparrot

I happen to think doing well at degree level shows a certain level of skills in communication, problem solving and resilience; all attributes vital to being able to educate others, no?

From what I've read the NQT year only applies to the state maintained sector and not to independent schools and academies? I presume if one teaches within the independent or academy sector after the PGCE, a move into the state maintained sector is difficult?[/QUOTE]

In order to teach in the state sector you must hold QTS, or be working towards it. It is not required in the independent sector, but many establishments ask for it.

I agree that a teacher must be ale to communicate, problem solve, be emotionally resilient and have many other skills. I don't think that someone having a good degree automatically has those skills. I know very well educated people who are appalling at communicating, because things come easily to them they simply cannot understand how it might be difficult for someone else. I also know people without degrees who are amazing at it.

In related news they have just dropped the requirement for nursery workers to have a C at English GCSE. Being able to write an essay about a book does not mean one can communicate effectively with a three year old.

What I dislike is the general assumption, there are many skills that are not tested at all by the ability to pass academic quals.
A persons capability and worth cannot be measured in that way, any more than it can be measured by their wealth.

AlexLK

maman wrote: »

I need to check this out but I believe that if you don't complete your NQT year then you wouldn't have qualified teacher status (QTS) so could only be paid as an unqualified teacher. That's in a state school. Academies, free schools and Independents do employ unqualified teachers and the pay tends to be agreed locally.

Oh and I think you need to learn the word Headteacher.;)

Thanks, there seems to be a lot of jumping through hoops with regard to school teaching.

I'm old fashioned, you may blame my parents for that but the person running a school will always be Headmaster / Headmistress to me...

littlegreenparrot wrote: »

In order to teach in the state sector you must hold QTS, or be working towards it. It is not required in the independent sector, but many establishments ask for it.

I agree that a teacher must be ale to communicate, problem solve, be emotionally resilient and have many other skills. I don't think that someone having a good degree automatically has those skills. I know very well educated people who are appalling at communicating, because things come easily to them they simply cannot understand how it might be difficult for someone else. I also know people without degrees who are amazing at it.

In related news they have just dropped the requirement for nursery workers to have a C at English GCSE. Being able to write an essay about a book does not mean one can communicate effectively with a three year old.

What I dislike is the general assumption, there are many skills that are not tested at all by the ability to pass academic quals.
A persons capability and worth cannot be measured in that way, any more than it can be measured by their wealth.

Thanks for the clarification.

Whilst I can understand your view, how would it be possible to measure one's capability in a limited amount of time without any prerequisites?

maman

AlexLK wrote: »

Thanks, there seems to be a lot of jumping through hoops with regard to school teaching.

I'm old fashioned, you may blame my parents for that but the person running a school will always be Headmaster / Headmistress to me...



Thanks for the clarification.

Whilst I can understand your view, how would it be possible to measure one's capability in a limited amount of time without any prerequisites?

And I told anyone who addressed me in that way, I don't want to be anyone's mistress!!;)


I can understand lpg's point of view but I believe the ability to work to the academic standard of a degree is necessary for teaching. It's the PGCE and NQT year that measure one's ability to communicate, manage people and resources and transfer the learning skills to the curriculum. And it doesn't end there as Performance Management is ongoing career long.


It does seem like a lot of jumping through hoops but it is designed so that those entrusted with children's learning have been assessed as being fit for purpose. I think that's essential. Imagine that I could pass myself off as a doctor because I've got a caring manner and reasonable knowledge from my science background, first aid courses and trips to the surgery! That's unthinkable and yet there are those who think anyone could walk into a classroom and be a teacher:mad:.