Teacher Training - Primary or PE Secondary

RedfordML

Afternoon all,


I the next 18-24 months, teaching is a possible career option if I decide that retail/customer service isn't for me. I have a degree in Sports Coaching so limited to PE at secondary level.


I just wondering if anyone has current/recent experience of the teacher training process? Reason I ask, my friend, early 20's, worked in schools for 2 years has quit a Primary Teacher Training programme due to "paperwork/stress" at Xmas


Obv having worked in schools, he knew some expectation's etc or has the course become more stressful etc


Its thrown me a bit as I worked with him and he had all the skills to be a great teacher and had a great attitude. I thought the real stress started when trying to find a job role down south!!?


Thanks

kingfisherblue

RedfordML wrote: »

Afternoon all,


I the next 18-24 months, teaching is a possible career option if I decide that retail/customer service isn't for me. I have a degree in Sports Coaching so limited to PE at secondary level.


I just wondering if anyone has current/recent experience of the teacher training process? Reason I ask, my friend, early 20's, worked in schools for 2 years has quit a Primary Teacher Training programme due to "paperwork/stress" at Xmas


Obv having worked in schools, he knew some expectation's etc or has the course become more stressful etc


Its thrown me a bit as I worked with him and he had all the skills to be a great teacher and had a great attitude. I thought the real stress started when trying to find a job role down south!!?


Thanks

Firstly, may I recommend the TES rums, where you will receive in depth knowledge and advice.

Secondly, IIRC, teachers employed at secondary level can be required to teach any subject up to the level at which they have qualifications. So, if you don't have any qualifications in Spanish, you can't teach it. If you have GCSE maths, you can be asked to teach up to GCSE in this subject. If you have A level biology, you can be asked to tach biology up to GCSE. It is unusual for a tacher to teach only their specialist subject in secondary and never have to teach another subject. Things may have changed, though, so it's worth checking.

Regarding primary teaching, maybe the paperwork was just too much for your friend. In addition to the paperwork, you need to plan lessons of every subject, and differentiate for different abilities. That's an awful lot of work. Then there is record keeping and PGCE work on top. Plus marking every subject.

Neither is an easy option. Although teachers have longer holidays, they also have a lot of work to do at home. The first couple of years are undoubtably the hardest.

GwylimT

I'm a qualified science teacher, I have taught the following subjects, maths, english (haha, poor kids!), geography, ICT (despite not knowing how to use the software), PE, Citizenship and history. I was once teaching English while and English teacher was teaching science during the same slot!

There isn't a shortage or a particularly great need for PE teachers (male especially), so you are unlikely to find a post that doesn't include a second subject.

Have you thought about finding a role as a cover supervisor to gain experience?