Retraining as an Educational Psychologist - Scotland

[Passmethecrisps]

Hi all,

This is really just idle pondering but I have become more and more interested and was hoping to garner some points of view.

My situation is this-
I am a secondary school teacher and have been for 14 years
I have been a guidance teacher for 12 of those years and am passionate about it.
I have no background at all in psychology but find the whole topic fascinating
I work very closely (daily basis) with ed psychs in the course of my work.

So - are you an ed psych? Do you like it? What are the pros and cons?
How would I go about retraining? Would I need a full undergrad degree in psychology?
Would my years of experience in teaching count for anything?

Like I said, just pondering but I would love to hear some thoughts.

[peacoat]

Information on training to be an EP in Scotland

You can do a conversion MSc in Psychology part time instead of a full undergraduate.

In England EP training has recently been made into an Applied Doctorate. I'm looking to retrain as an EP too - very similar situation to you although I'm in England.

[Passmethecrisps]

Brilliant peacoat! Thanks for the information.

So I need an MSc in educational psychology then acceditation.

What makes it appeal to you peacoat? I think it seems so interesting and I think my background makes me relatively well suited.

The loss of school holidays would be bad timing as I have a wee one now.

[peacoat]

Yes you lose school holidays but when I spoke to our LA EP he said he can take hold when he wants (not as many, I admit) and it tends to be naturally quieter during school hols anyway.

I'm really interested as I'm getting bored/losing interest in traditional classroom teaching (I've been doing pastoral and SENCO roles for a while so haven't specialised in one subject for a while). I love being able to identify a specific barrier to learning with a student and define a path for dealing with it effectively.

I also really like psychology, how our brain works and how we learn. I dabbled with an MSc this year but had to drop out due to a hideous year, but I'm going to go back in a year or two. The stuff we learnt about perception, memory, attention, stress etc was fascinating and helped me understand what's happening with kids learning. Language development and personality as well.

Plus I want to work with families holistically and help parents deal with their child's SEN and whilst you can sort of do that as a teacher, you have a lot more credibility as a trained EP.

What makes you interested in it?

[peacoat]

*hols

[Passmethecrisps]

Very much the same. My specialist subject has changed massively and I do less and less of it anyway. There are other, better qualified people doing it and I feel like I can't commit the time to the classes to do them proper justice. I fel like I do no one job properly.

Budgetary constraints of various charities and groups have meant that my colleagues and I have found ourselves plugging a gap whic h needs filled - that gap is often about deep issues, counselling and additional needs well beyond mainstream schooling. I also feel the need to work holistically as sticking plasters on sections of the child's existence is short term.

I find the pastoral part of my role almost addictive - I am completely passionate about it but currently feel a bit hamstrung.

The information about holidays is useful and reassuring As well. I have only ever taught so it would be a massive culture shift

[peacoat]

I feel the same about the pastoral and also not doing one job properly.

I want to work for myself when I eventually get trained, maybe with a few other specialists and set up an education/additional needs/whatever centre. Also run some training for teachers and workshops for parents. That could be an option too as then you can maybe choose your holidays more easily.

You could also freelance as a specialist assessor for dyslexia/learning needs.

[Passmethecrisps]

I like your style!

I honestly the veg idea of leaving teaching fills me with fear. It is all I have ever done or wanted to do and I am not sure who I am if I am not a teacher. For me it is not just a change if career but a change of identity.

[peacoat]

Of course it does! You've done it for so long - same here, 15 years. However, I really feel that EP is a development of the process of learning and so not too much of a difference. But there'll still be an adjustment

If you worked under Gove you'd have more fear of staying in teaching

[Passmethecrisps]

You have my sympathies! Ours is not much better but not quite as bonkers.

You are also quite right - it is still education and working with children and families which was what it was always about.

Funny how we are both at the same stage. 14 year itch?

[peacoat]

Hehe I think that's about right! I don't want to be SLT and I don't want a pile of books next to me when I'm 68; plus I have more experience now and the thought of taking a new challenge is exciting. I have to work for another 25 years at least! Only just over a third of my career gone

[Passmethecrisps]

I have toyed with SLT and and still not sure but my gut tells me I am needing change rather than wanting that particular role

[peacoat]

For me, I can have more genuine impact working holistically with families as an EP than working in the school system that I see developing before me.