Teaching

taurusgb

My daughter wants to teach geography (currently doing AS| levels) can anyone give me some idea of the route in please (eg uni then teacher training?) and the legnth and likely costs?

Thanks

ka7e

This may be what you are looking for - http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit.aspx

Mukaki

there's lots of useful info here www.teach.gov.uk

pavlovs_dog

most common route i guess would be A levels, degree in related field, then teacher training (the route ive taken). on average, you're looking at around four years( three years degree and one year to qualify as a teacher).

costs - thats one of those "how long is a piece of string?" questions. it will vary greatly depending on what route she takes, where she studies etc.

the one universal truth is that teacher training providers expect you to have a fair amount of classroom experience under your belt by the time you apply. she can get some now whilst in school by volunteering to help with younger pupils, perhaps in geography lessons, normally working one to one with pupils who need extra help or a big push to get them to work!

once she's left school it will be a case of approaching schools directly and asking if they will take her on a work experience placement to observe in the geography department. the TDA website is a fantastic resource and also suggests other ways of getting classroom experience.

Oldernotwiser

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

the one universal truth is that teacher training providers expect you to have a fair amount of classroom experience under your belt by the time you apply. she can get some now whilst in school by volunteering to help with younger pupils, perhaps in geography lessons, normally working one to one with pupils who need extra help or a big push to get them to work!

I agree with everything that you've said except that I don't think that the A level years are the right time to be getting this sort of experience. You won't need it to get onto a geography degree and time is better spent concentrating on studies. Obviously, if she could get a holiday job working with young people, this would be ideal.

Whilst at university there will be many opportunities for voluntary work with children and summer jobs on activity holidays would be ideal. Classroom experience isn't as important for secondary teaching as it is for primary, however it will enable her to decide if she wishes to go down this route. It would also give her a wider choice of training providers and help her to achieve her first teaching post later on.

pavlovs_dog

i dont disagree Oldernotwiser, but i found it to be a very easy way of gaining experience. much easier to arrange when you are already in situ than it is to approach a school as an unknown quantity, aksing to be let in. they have so much to deal with already - student teachers, NQTs, inspections etc, that a lot just won't/don't have much interest in having extra bodies 'cluttering' up the classroom and making demands on the (little) time they have to get everything done.

ive found a real mixed reaction from schools. some could not open their arms wider to welcome you, others make you feel like you are a bit of a nuisance, despite your best efforts to hide at the back or support weaker students as per their request. it would be niave in my opinion to go out there and expect all schools to have an open door policy and a welcome mat down to greet you. its surprising how quickly an hour here and there every week 'helping out', alongside your a level studies soon builds into substantial CV fodder.

for some subjects, competition for teacher training spaces is fierce. granted, it is not as mad as the situation is with primary however if it comes down to the wire then that extra bit of experience, combined with a clear, established passion for teaching, could just make all the difference.

windswept

My daughter is in her 2nd year of A levels and has just had an offer for key stage 2/3 maths with QTS ( qualified teacher status) at Edge Hill University in Lancs. which means she will not have to do a degree then a pgce ( teacher training course).
She already has an offer for Keele (educational studies degree) but she would then have to do at least another year's course afterwards.
Get your dd to go onto the ucas website, http://search.ucas.co.uk/cgi-bin/hsrun/search/search/StateId/RlXiKoFdg1IPiJURtZn07QjmCk5Go-VkKv/HAHTpage/search.HsKeywordSearch.whereNext?query=215&word=EDUCATION
that has all the suitable courses listed and where they are - my dd has ONLY ever been interested in going to Edge hill - there are other places to do QTS, but not many.
She has an interview for English with QTS in 2 weeks time - that is her 1st choice.
I presume that primary or secondary QTS would suit your dd, as I don't think they do a geography one.
My dd is hedging her bets with key stage 2/3 I think.;)

windswept

I also meant to say that ALL teaching courses have interviews ( almost always requiring a presentation) for admission, classroom experience is an absolute necessity, my dd has been doing one day a week in a local primary school for nearly 12 months and has a good portfolio put together.

The_One_Who

To be a geography teacher she will need to have a geography degree, preferably one which covers both physical and human aspects. Although just one, or even a geology degree might do. I have heard something about new teachers soon needing to get Masters in their subjects, but I'm not sure about this.

Depending on the university there may be scope to pick up some experience there, by volunteering in local schools (through voluntary placements run my the uni) or similar activities. There is also volunteering at weekends with childrens' groups, easier if in a large city. Something like Camp America can also give valuable experience.

Costs will be her university degree and then her PGCE but I believe that is funded by the government.

pavlovs_dog

The_One_Who wrote: »

I have heard something about new teachers soon needing to get Masters in their subjects, but I'm not sure about this.

new govt initiative in england that by 2020, a certain percentage (if not all) teachers will be qualified up to masters level or equivilent. a lot of PGCE courses now seem to be offering two types of qualification depending on how well you do - PROFESSIONAL certificate of education or POSTGRADUATE, the latter comes with a number of credits towards a masters qualification.

Oldernotwiser

windswept wrote: »

My daughter is in her 2nd year of A levels and has just had an offer for key stage 2/3 maths with QTS ( qualified teacher status) at Edge Hill University in Lancs. which means she will not have to do a degree then a pgce ( teacher training course).
She already has an offer for Keele (educational studies degree) but she would then have to do at least another year's course afterwards.
Get your dd to go onto the ucas website, http://search.ucas.co.uk/cgi-bin/hsrun/search/search/StateId/RlXiKoFdg1IPiJURtZn07QjmCk5Go-VkKv/HAHTpage/search.HsKeywordSearch.whereNext?query=215&word=EDUCATION
that has all the suitable courses listed and where they are - my dd has ONLY ever been interested in going to Edge hill - there are other places to do QTS, but not many.
She has an interview for English with QTS in 2 weeks time - that is her 1st choice.
I presume that primary or secondary QTS would suit your dd, as I don't think they do a geography one.
My dd is hedging her bets with key stage 2/3 I think.;)

I assumed as the OP said that her daughter wanted to be a geography teacher that she wanted to teach this at secondary level. That's why I said that the teaching experience was less urgent at this stage. Personally, I think that for secondary you're much better going down the degree/PGCE route as it gives a far greater depth of knowledge and the funding situation is so much better. It also gives a student a breathing space in which to consider their career options more thoroughly. For many, the finance is the deciding factor!