How to become a PE teacher?

Penny_Watcher

emjem wrote: »

I did and would recommend a four year course from the beginning, rather than do a PGCE that way you get to do teaching practice ovre the four years rather than just in the final year through a PGCE.

My 13 year old son is very interested in becoming a PE teacher. Could you tell me the degree you took and at which Uni please (if you don't mind that is ). His school is changing from a 2 year GCSE course to a 3 year course, so he has to choose his options for GCSE (and therefore restrict the A levels options) within the next few months.

Thanks in advance

pinkshoes

I know 6 PE teachers, and all teach a 2nd subject (maths, science, geography etc...) up to GSCE level due to the fact that PE teaching comes with the risk of injury, which can often mean end of career... This means you get to keep your job and can teach something else should you be unfit for teaching sports!

Savvy_Sue

I was thinking it might be worth advising the OP to think about whether he actually wants to teach, or whether he'd be just as happy to carry on with the day job and look into coaching in his spare time or as a part-time job.

I say this because while there are obviously some excellent PE teachers out there, you have to realise that in every class there will be at least one pupil who really doesn't want to be there and has no notion of 'team spirit'. Of course the same is true for every subject, but if you want to work with children who actually enjoy what you're trying to do with them, teaching may not be the best thing to be doing ...

emjem_3

Penny_Watcher wrote: »

My 13 year old son is very interested in becoming a PE teacher. Could you tell me the degree you took and at which Uni please (if you don't mind that is ). His school is changing from a 2 year GCSE course to a 3 year course, so he has to choose his options for GCSE (and therefore restrict the A levels options) within the next few months.

Thanks in advance

I did a BA (QTS) in Sports Science with Education and English at St. Mary's University College, Twickenham. I have never had to teach my second subject except along with any other subject during cover lessons. In fact during my second year at Uni we were given the option of dropping our second subject.

Of course there is a risk of injury - but these mostly occur when PE teachers are participating in sport outside of school (they can be quite a competitive bunch!) With PE being an examination subject there is plenty of scope for you to be given "lighter" duties and long term if you do suffer an injury it doesn't mean the end of your PE teaching days!

Penny_Watcher

Thanks for that. Very useful.

finc

Dan_Thunder wrote: »

Judging from my old PE teachers the best advice would be to learn to hate children and also become really fat!

This really made me laugh, thank you. It was very true of the teachers at my old school.

lucky24

tawecdl wrote: »

so i'd need alevels 2 years
a degree 3 years
pgce 1 year

wow i'd be 30!!!

you dont have to be qualified (QTS) to be a PE teacher. independant schs may except you if they feel you fit in. have u tried PE agencies? i know www.perecruitment.co.uk is really helpful and have diff posts bothe perm and supply

Ms_Piggy_2

emjem wrote: »

I did a BA (QTS) in Sports Science with Education and English at St. Mary's University College, Twickenham.

I went to Simms too - I'm a geographer, and can thoroughly recommend it! Fab place to go!

Broken_hearted

lucky24 wrote: »

you dont have to be qualified (QTS) to be a PE teacher. independant schs may except you if they feel you fit in. have u tried PE agencies? i know www.perecruitment.co.uk is really helpful and have diff posts bothe perm and supply

You need QTS to teach in any school now.Also maths, english and science GCSE at c or above.

BeckyFowler09

I am studying a Public services diploma which is equivalent to 3 a levels, after a long thought I have decided that I want to become a Physical education teacher which was what I originally wanted to do but dropped out of doing a levels last year.
Firstly I was wondering weather I would get accepted onto my desired course even if what I am studying now isnt that relevent to it as long as I get the right grades?
And secondly, if all goes to plan, through research I've seen the most common way is to study something such as, a 3 year Sport Science degree then do a PGCE for a year but I have also seen courses at Uni's such as St.Marys Twickenham which offer a Physical Education: BA (ITT) Secondary course which is 4 years. Do these courses offer QTS?
Could anyone advise me on weather one is better then the other? Disadvantages and advantages of each? And is one a better qualification or do they all equal the same status?

Your help and advise is much appreciated,

Bex