Anyone know a course I can take to convert from secondary to primary? Any solutions out there (documentable, education)

[ErnesttheBavarian]

I had applied for a course. Was all set to begin. It's just been cancelled at the 11th hour. Totally gutted. Does anyone know of an alternative (this one was at Aberdeen?) I can't just get a job, I must have some sort of qualification. Any suggestions?

This is all last minute. I applied last September. I've wasted a whole year and now it's back to the drawing board :(

[Hercules12]

I thought it didn't matter now ie that you're qualified to teach both automatically. Can't remember where I heard that or even if it's true.

[ErnesttheBavarian]

It is true. In England, but not in Germany.

[Cakesprinkles]

I'm a bit confused. As Hercules says you are qualified to teach anything once you have your PGCE (I know this to be true as I'm secondary trained but currently teaching everything from EYFS to KS4). what was the qualification you were enrolled on? Have you trained in Germany and are looking to teach over here?

[ErnesttheBavarian]

I did my PGCE in England. I know in England I can teach the whole age range. But as my PGCEis secondary, and my training focussed on secondary, the Bavarin authorities won't recognise it. They are super strict and will not recognise the teaching qualification of German teachers who trained in other areas of Bavaria.

So - they agreed to recognise my PGCE if I did in addition a converter course. Which I was all set to do until this afternoon, when they told me they cancelled the course. SO now I am stuck with a qualification they won't recognise.

So I need to find an alternative course. So, anyone know a converter course anywhere? That isn't cancelled?

[Aftershock15]

Can't you just do another PGCE or are you looking for a shorter course? Many years ago my mum did this swap at university of chichester- it was a whole years course and apart from the teaching practise elements she felt was a bit pointless, but at the time Sussex had a shortage of primary teachers so was allowing secondary teachers to retrain if they wanted.

[ErnesttheBavarian]

I had considered it, but a PGCE would require school placements, in England/Scotland. And is one year full-time. I can't give up my job or move to UK away from my family. Even for a few weeks.

This course was perfect. 1 year, part time, online, and I could do the classroom elements in my current school.

[Cakesprinkles]

A quick google seems to indicate that this qualification doesn't exist anywhere anymore, I suppose because now when we have QTS we can teach anything. Are you currently in Bavaria?

[ErnesttheBavarian]

Yes I am, and totally screwed by the looks of things

[Cakesprinkles]

Can you do a German teaching qualification? Does on the job training exist?

[ErnesttheBavarian]

no, no way. It's 4 or 5 years full time and mercilessly relentless. Just no way.

I really thought I had hit gold. This course way absolutely perfect :(

It's gone, but now I need to find an alternative. Germany is not an option.

If no one offers this course anymore, I need to find an alternative.

[TigerDragonMonkey]

There's no UK conversion courses as far as I know (I work in uni admissions for teacher training). You need to see what kind of alternative they would accept. Maybe some TA work in a primary school combined with distance learning MA in education would do the trick?

[ErnesttheBavarian]

I am working as aTA and learning support. I'll look into the Matter. Thanks so much for the suggestion.

[Janeismymiddlename]

Oh no! I was looking at that course! There is nothing else that I have found. International schools?

[ErnesttheBavarian]

If you're in the UK you don't need it. If you're not, you're screwed.

[chocoshopoholic]

Could you apply for the international assessment only route to QTS? I only know of Manchester met uni that offers this internationally but there may be others too

www2.mmu.ac.uk/education/courses/assessment-only/

[SwissChristmasMuseum]

Crapbags and titbuckets. Woeful. Try Hibernia College, Dublin, or UCD. Or any Irish institutions. A lot of them are hot on distance learning.

[SwissChristmasMuseum]

I sometimes can't believe the crap a trailing spouse has to put up with.

[YellowPrimula]

Completely left field but could you contact the awarding university where you got the original PGCE and get them to confirm in writing that it is valid for primary teaching as well .

Alternatively have you looked at some of the Dutch or Irish universities

[ErnesttheBavarian]

I've tried that YellowPrimula, they're not having it

Swiss.... tell me about it

I'll try Holland and Ireland, thanks.

Bloody wait until the end of July. So there's no time. so pissed off.

[SwissChristmasMuseum]

Ernest, are there no "Quereinsteiger" options like there are here? They take 2 years and you can work at the same time, and earn. My friend did it. Even if one had to do it part time, it would be ok because of the working. Come back ­

[ErnesttheBavarian]

I wish! (wry smile) those days are long gone.

Seen a Queseinteigkurs. I really don't think I could do it in German. But anyway, closing date for applications was the 5th of July thanks university-who-let-me-down.

[Adriaa]

Hi guys,

Apologies for reopening this old thread, but I too have come stuck on the above recently. @ErnesttheBavarian did you ind a conversion course or a solution in the end? Fingers crossed you did as so I can follow this route too. I can’t seem to find anything outside of retraining in primary which is not something I want to do if I can avoid.
Thank y

[Sotiredofthislife]

There is no course and seemingly no shortage of primary teachers. there are a lot of PPA companies out there if you teach music, MFL, or PE. I have also seen positions for maths and art. I went on to supply to convert to primary - it has been a hard slog but I made it, started small, did lots of low paid HLTA work but schools asked for me back. I love supply and currently am part time contract and part time supply.

[fedup21]

I can’t see why the Uk would offer any courses like this when you don’t need them in this country.

Can I ask the secondary teachers on this thread who want to become primary teacher, what their reasons are?

[wasgoingmadinthecountry]

I did a "Return to Teaching" course run by my LA. Some people had been out of teaching a while - children or other careers - and others like me were moving from secondary to primary. It wasa few years ago though.