Spend three weeks in the classroom... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

learning_to_drive

I'm going to do this via the OU when I sign up (well I've signed up, I've just got to sort out my start dates and things).

My ambition is to be a teacher, and it's something I am going to do no matter what. Schemes like this are an excellent idea, and something that people who want to teach follow.

To follow on from my previous point, we all know teachers who have gone for it because of the 13 week holidays and cushy hours. I hope the scheme attracts some committed teachers for the future.

Katkat_2

I often read but don't often post on this forum, but I had to log on and to check out the discussion of the SAS scheme after seeing it in the weekly bulletin described under the heading "Spend three weeks in the classroom for £600. Boost your income update ".

As others have said - this really isn't an easy £600, it isn't designed to be for monetary gain and isn't aimed at people who have no interest in teaching or working with children and who just fancy making a bit of cash - for students who want to boost their income a better route would be to approach a temping agency and get some work that way.

I actually do want to be a teacher and found out about this scheme from a relative who is a headteacher. I didn't just check out the TDA website and contact a school directly, though; to qualify for SAS you have to do it through an institution and be registered as an SAS participant with the TDA, you can't just contact a school and earn some cash. In some cases, you have to pay up front for your CRB check and will then be reimbursed when you've completed the scheme, too. I had to find a participating college or university in my area (in my case, I got in touch with Newman College in the midlands), had to fill out an application form and then waited to see if I would get to the next stage, interviews. This in itself was a full half day of presentations and talks, giving us chance to see whether we really wanted to participate before going through the interview process (some people backed out at this stage). I was lucky enough to be accepted (although I was offered a secondary RE placement, as my preferred subject, English, isn't an option) and did complete the required training to be able to go into a school...but such was the volume of work required I was unable to go through with this and still keep up with my studies.

I'd really like to stress to people...this isn't something to go into lightly, especially if you don't have any interest in teaching and you can earn a good, average £6 - £8 /hour just doing normal temp work in an office, without all the extra studies and work to contend with! (Besides, if you're a registered student, anything you earn in a PAYE job is tax free anyway - in my summer break after my first year I landed a simple data entry role with nice easy, sociable hours...and brought home over £240 a week!)

marklar_2

Katkat, my experience mirrors that of yourself and I completely agree that it is not an 'easy' way to boost your income. I sent MSE Natasha a message about this as personally I think it is morally wrong to be promoting this on the site in this manner but I was not lucky enough to get a reply. My issue is that this is almost going against the sites ethics of being a community that helps each other and doesn't take advantage at other peoples expense.

kentguy07

I would be interested in teaching I.T and theres one of those places near me but what requirements are there? I am 24 but not in education at the moment.

natmour

I am teaching student at Winchester University, is there no possibility that I would be able to apply for this the scheme?
Seeing as it would look good and give me more experience in the classroom.
If someone could help it would be apperciated!

Owen_Lloyd

kentguy07 wrote: »

I would be interested in teaching I.T and theres one of those places near me but what requirements are there? I am 24 but not in education at the moment.

You do need to be a registered student (either full-time or part-time) during your placement, so if you're not in education at the moment you wouldn't be eligible to take part.

natmour wrote:

I am teaching student at Winchester University, is there no possibility that I would be able to apply for this the scheme?

If your course leads to a QTS teaching qualification then you aren't eligible, no