Thinking of going back to uni..

nicki_2

I'm a 28 (getting close to 29) year old full time mum and I am seriously considering going back to university to train to become something like an IT teacher or webdesigner or something like that. BUT I have no idea how to even start.

One of my problems I've got is that I think I would be classed as a post graduate since I attended LIPA (Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts) and came out with a diploma of higher education in "performance and production technology".

I don't understand this new points system for entry onto courses ("in my day" it was certain grades and thats it) so could someone give me some idea what A-level grades D, E & N would be classed as I do have, 10 GCSEs at C or above but not one of my qualifications are IT based :rotfl:

I also have no idea whether I should try and go all out and go back to university "properly" as in on a campus with lectures etc, or go the Open University route.

Can anyone give me some advice? Either where to start or even just share their experiences? I have had a look at a local uni thats got a fantastic OFSTED result for their teacher training but thats as far as I can manage - everything else makes no sense to me

I've been putting this off for 3 years, it's time I just bit the bullet and did something Okay, I don't expect to go to uni this September, but I don't see why I shouldn't next September

Karnam

i think the OU and brick university binary is misleading. the OU is not the perfect solution for people who are maybe mature students, or students who have worked for a few years, nor is a traditional brick university the best for students who want to leap in to the deep end.

there tends to be a binary here that believes the OU is best for people such as us (by that I mean parents) and that brick universities are best for young 18yr olds. i sincerely do not believe this is the case. a LOT of universities are not campus based. warwick university might exist in its own bubble, but other universities (particularly ones in cities) are not this at all. if anything university can just be a more academic form of college. you can easily be a 'out student'.

i speak only from my own experience, but i ADORE my traditional university. the academic environment, the fact that you can practically breathe in the research, innovation and pure learning that happens is priceless. i actually like attending lectures and being persuaded to think in different ways and of different points of view. i like discussions and talks and working together. and although my daughter might not run around the table and draw on my notes when i am trying to work (big fan of the british library here), i dont think this is a bad thing, allowing me to work in my own space and environment without the need to label myself as a 'student mother' and therefore somehow in capable of writing my essays or thinking in solitude. but then again maybe im not a great multitasker!

i study English, a completely different subject to IT and have little idea of what is the best environment to study such a subject, nor what is best for you. i do know quite a lot of people who have used these IT training schools/recruitment offices, who essentially privately tutor you and test you so that you become windows certified (or linux, or C+ etc) and then help you find a position in a decent firm. from what i have heard this is the single best way to enter the IT professsion.

but again this depends on what you want out of university.

Karnam

by the way, you need not convert your grades to points (most 'better' universities just odnt bother and stick with traditional grades) simply ask the admissions tutor what is best for them. at my university, points are practically meaningless, you need an A in A level english to do an english degree for example. no number of points in sociology or business are going to be enough unless you meet the standards

student_advisor

Nicki

It sounds like you need a careers interview (your local college/uni or learndirect can help here). Not only will they be able to help you decide on a career, but will be able to tell you how to get there. You may need to do an Access course if you've been out of education for a while, but you may be able to get on a degree course straight away.

Funding will depend upon whether or not you received funding for your diploma. Contact your local authority to see what your chances of funding are. Find your LA here

Savvy_Sue

Did you get a student grant / loan to do your DipHE? if you did, you might not get another one, that's where the OU might win over other options. You might just need to get some more credits to get you enough to do a PGCE, for which you would get a grant.

nicki_2

I went on a European funded course where I got paid £100 a week to study..so I'm guessing it's not going to be easy for me to get any sort of funding.

I was speaking to my partner last night and he thinks I'd be more suited to teaching, trouble is that for me to do a PGCE I need a degree apparently and I haven't got one Ideally I WANT to work in a secondary school - I can cope with hormones & bad behaviour in teenagers more than lots of small children, plus I have already had a voluntary job in a secondary school which I loved but had to leave due to being pregnant! (I was a drama technician so being pregnant & climbing ladders, lugging speakers, working in a less than healthy environment meant I had to leave for mine and my baby's health )

Maybe I should look more at teaching assistant, rather than a full blown teacher

student_advisor

nicki wrote: »

I went on a European funded course where I got paid £100 a week to study..so I'm guessing it's not going to be easy for me to get any sort of funding.

I was speaking to my partner last night and he thinks I'd be more suited to teaching, trouble is that for me to do a PGCE I need a degree apparently and I haven't got one Ideally I WANT to work in a secondary school - I can cope with hormones & bad behaviour in teenagers more than lots of small children, plus I have already had a voluntary job in a secondary school which I loved but had to leave due to being pregnant! (I was a drama technician so being pregnant & climbing ladders, lugging speakers, working in a less than healthy environment meant I had to leave for mine and my baby's health )

Maybe I should look more at teaching assistant, rather than a full blown teacher

If you haven't received funding from the government via the student loans company, then there's a good chance you'll still be eligible for the student loan/grant package. As your local authority makes this decision, you need to contact them for information.

You'd get funding for your PGCE when you get there regardless.

The other option would be teaching in FE rather than secondary as you can do a certificate in teaching rather than a post-grad certificate. It's essentially the same course, but what you come out with depends what you go in with!

Also, from experience, if you want to teach, you'll find teaching assistant a good introduction and experience, but frustrating and limiting in the end.

eira

TAs in my school who have HNDs have qualified for GTP programmes. The OU grant credits towards their degrees .I think it's 360 points you need for a Bachelor's degree. If you want to teach make sure you have GCSE in English and Maths (although you can argue the English if you've done courses with essay and research skills). There are specific courses for TAs. TA posts are on the increase as teaching jobs decline

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Learn Direct are a good starting point. If you do an Adult Ed or TESOL teaching course that will give you entry into Adult Ed but won't give you Qualified Teacher Status.Adult Ed jobs don't pay as well as school teaching but they are immensely rewarding. You can also register as an unqualified TA with agencies but would have to go through a police check.

nicki_2

Thanks for all the advice so far, I'm still thinking about which route, but everything anyone says is being taken into account. I really appreciate the advice!

Police checks are not a problem for me - I'm a parent governor at my daughters school so I had to have one done for legal reasons. :rolleyes: