Retraining as a teacher...how does this work

VickyA_2

Be prepared to be exhausted, no matter how organised you are. Many people don't actually appreciate how hard it is and it's not a 9 - 3 job, term time only. There's all the planning, teaching, assessing etc. My DH didn't realise how all consuming it would be. I make sure that I have one day off on the weekend, even though I've been pretty efficient during the week too!

As far as training goes, you need to have a degree before starting to do a PGCE. The "shortage" subjects have a training bursary of £9000 for the PGCE year, but the primary PGCE students have had theirs cut to £4000 (I believe), as primary is more popular and there are many candidates scrabbling for each job that comes up - apart from the school that I teach in. :rolleyes:

If you do decide that it's for you and your vocation is teaching, then enjoy!

Deals_2

thing though i do like kids. i have a Masters in business and languages.

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

The main point here is whether or not your qualification is a degree. Teaching is an all graduate profession and you can't really consider the retraining aspect of this unless you already have a first degree. In addition to this you'll need GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Maths with an additional Science GCSE for primary teaching. If you could let us know more about your qualifications as well as the age and subject you're thinking of teaching, we'd be able to advise you better.

Prudent

There is high unemployment amongst newly qualified teachers. Have a look at the forums on The TES website and you will find out how difficult it can be to get a job. I am a teacher and love working with the children. I dislike the long long hours, often on paperwork which can be fairly pointless.

leftieM

What's your first degree in? I may be wrong but, having filled out a couple of applications for teacher training, I don't think the masters alone would be enough if your first degree wasn't relevant to teaching.
As others said, get some time in a school. You'll either love it or run screaming and that will be your decision made!

For you mainland GBers, please feel sorry for trainee teachers in NI. We get no bursary!

lindsaygalaxy

I you are a graduate there are 2 routes. At secondary level you will generally need to teach the subject you are trained in. Business and langaage are not included in shortage subjects. I dont believe you get the golden hello bonus` for these subjects.

1) PGCE. This is more uni based, but you do not get paid. You get a £4000 bursery (changed from 2008). You then spend 2 block sessions in schools.

2) GTP. you get paid a salary, and learn on the job. Most of your time will be spent in school, and you will be teachign quite early on. You usually start on point one of the unqualified teacher, which outside london is around £15,100 for Sep 2008. To get paid higher up the scale, you will need to show your expereince, but not many get offered higher. Some DRBs will expect you to find your own school to take you on.

It is hard to get a place on either courses without some experience in schools (most people volunteer). The GTP courses for sep. would have been interviewing around 6 months ago. If you want to apply for a Jan start (not all places offer this) you would have to apply before sept time (around). The PGCE may have some places but you may have to travel. alternatively they do it part-time also.

duchy

Does the OU still do a part-time PGCE ? I recall they used to.
To be honest "liking kids" really isn't enough-please get some experience working IN a school before deciding !

Oldernotwiser

I thought that MFL was a shortage subject? Perhaps that's changed.

leftieM

duchy wrote: »

Does the OU still do a part-time PGCE ? I recall they used to.

They sure do although they call it flexible rather than part-time. They offer it in science, MFL, geography, design and technology, maths and music.

Oldernotwiser

leftieM wrote: »

They sure do although they call it flexible rather than part-time. They offer it in science, MFL, geography, design and technology, maths and music.

There, I knew MFL was a shortage subject! NB OU courses are secondary only.

saraR_3

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