Advice re: becoming a teacher?

[oilandwater]

I am looking into training to become a teacher but am having trouble sorting through the various paths to qualification. I would love some advice from those in the know.

I have been staying at home with my kids for about 12 years - before that I worked as a lawyer. I am from the US so although I am considered highly educated and qualified there, I don't have even one GCSE to my name. I would be happy to take exams if necessary and would probably find it fun to take a maths GCSE!

I live in London (permanently, for what it's worth) and am allowed to work in the UK.

Luckily I am fairly flexible with regards to fees and time so am open to considering a range of options - I just don't really know what they are! Can anyone help?

Many thanks!

[oilandwater]

So I just scrolled down this topic and saw that there are many other threads which address this. I'll read those posts but would still love to hear anything else you might have to add!

[PersianCatLady]

Hi, have a look at these websites and then if you have any questions you can post them -

getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/

www.ucas.com/teaching-in-england

[IceRebel]

Can I ask why you want to be a teacher?

Quite a few of my friends are teachers, as is my sister and it's not a career that any of them would recommend. It's long hours and not family friendly, especially for the training and first few years.

I'm sure others will come along soon to give more insight into the profession, but the number of teachers leaving, the levels of stress, endless paperwork and the ever changing goal posts are definitely things to consider.

If after more research and time spent in schools you're still determined then there are plenty of ways to get into teaching PGCE / schools direct and many more.

getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/explore-my-options

I don't think you'd struggle as there's a huge shortage of teachers, but as above there are many genuine and valid reasons why so many are leaving the profession.

[Whensmyturn]

I look back and think the main thing that made me leave teaching was being treated with so much disrespect by people all day. I suppose you expect it from teenagers but being treated like I was stupid by senior teachers. Just doesn't happen in my new profession and I'm really not stupid. This counts for a lot in ruining your day, every day.

[chocoshopoholic]

The current required standard is GCSE 4/C or verified equivalent in English and maths, and if primary, science. I'm not familiar with US qualifications so can't advise on what you should be looking for. We subscribe to NARIC as do the vast majority of unis who assess international qualifications and give us guidance on their equivalence.

Admissions staff at unis or schools are usually willing to look into this for you and let you know if what you have is enough or if you need more, we're a friendly bunch usually!

We would be looking at your school experience to ensure that you have an understanding of the UK school system. We don't accept experience in other countries towards our minimum of 2 weeks though I know other providers will count it.

Good luck!

[oilandwater]

Thanks everyone for your input. I have volunteered in schools, am shepherding three of my own children through the system and have enough work and life experience to be realistic about what I'm getting into. I do realise that it's not for everyone and not everyone has a good experience.

Choco - do you work at a university admission department? One of the things I'm trying to work out is whether to apply to a post-grad uni program or pursue a "second-career" teaching scheme. Do you (or anyone else!) have an opinion on this?

[sashh]

What education level have you got?

Do you want to teach primary or secondary?

What subject(s)?

[PersianCatLady]

whether to apply to a post-grad uni program or pursue a "second-career" teaching scheme. Do you (or anyone else!) have an opinion on this?
What do you mean by "second-career" teaching scheme??

As long as you already have a degree and GCSE Maths and English (and Science for primary teachers) at grade C then you can apply for PG teacher training courses.

The two main options are studying a PGCE at a university or within a school (SCITT).

[oilandwater]

PCL: By second-career teaching scheme I mean the programs that recruit and train people who have already had another career, from the City, etc. I was a corporate lawyer for a number of years.

Sash - I have what is called a JD degree, which is probably comparable to a post-graduate law degree. I completed 4 years of university plus 3 additional years of law school (this is basically the only path to becoming a lawyer in the US). I'm not sure yet what age I would want to teach - both primary and secondary are appealing to me for different reasons.

[Valerrie]

To do a PGCE you'll need GCSEs in maths and English as well as a degree in whatever subject you want to teach, unless you choose Primary.

As a teacher, I'm not sure why anyone would actually choose to be a teacher the way things currently stand. It's gradually got worse and worse over recent years and I'd never advise it.

[PersianCatLady]

PCL: By second-career teaching scheme I mean the programs that recruit and train people who have already had another career, from the City, etc. I was a corporate lawyer for a number of years
Do you have a link for any of those??

[PersianCatLady]

I also meant to ask you, what subject do you want to teach??

[PersianCatLady]

as well as a degree in whatever subject you want to teach
Your degree doesn't necessarily have to be in the subject that you want to teach.

[Valerrie]

It depends where you are and what you want to teach. The university where I did my PGCE would only accept secondary PGCE students if they had a degree in their chosen subject.

[chocoshopoholic]

For primary, we accept any degree at 2.2 or above, with a national curriculum subject preferred but not required.

For secondary we're looking for a degree which contains 50% or more content related to the subject being applied for. We often recommend that career changers do a subject knowledge enhancement course to update and refresh themselves as often they've focused on small areas of the subject.

Both of these are quite common entry requirements for school direct and uni led courses.


My experience is of university pgce and schools direct pgce routes. And there's not that much difference between them, so don't worry about making the wrong choice between them. I've no direct experience of scitt or the new routes.


The newer routes such as apprenticeships, scholars, chairs ect don't seem to be really understood by schools at the moment. This may be a barrier to employment, but this will probably dimish as people understand them more and with the way things are, get more desperate. Long term, some of these programmes may not survive, leaving only a few cohorts with a non standard qualification that you spend the rest of your career explaining.

A post graduate certificate in education (PGCE) is widely recognised in England and many countries abroad.

My personal opinion is to be wary of the professional graduate certificate of education. This is also referred to as a pgce by some but is at undergraduate level not post graduate. Although you still have qualified teacher status, you can't top up to a masters degree and some schools don't accept for employment. It might not bother you, but I think it's important to be aware of the distinction.

[Piggywaspushed]

I think you are probably referring to the TeachNow or Now Teach (?) programme which has been in the press a fair amount.

My impression is that isn't for people like you : I am guessing you are in your 40s? But you could look into it : it's a bit p[politically controversial but it does recruit late career starters in London : generally people in their last job before retirement though, who may well be the other side of 50 and are often taking pay cuts to 'give something back'

You might also mean Teach First but , again, that doesn't really sound a fit for you.

You sound to me like you would be a perfectly acceptable and relatively 'normal' PGCE student!

[PersianCatLady]

I think you are probably referring to the TeachNow or Now Teach (?) programme which has been in the press a fair amount
Here is a link about NowTeach - nowteach.org.uk/is-now-teach-for-me/

Currently NowTeach only operates in London but is hoping to expand in 2019/2020.

On the website they state that they are mainly looking for teachers of maths, computer science, languages (French and Spanish), geography and all sciences.

[PersianCatLady]

I have looked at both the NowTeach and the TeachFirst schemes and I honestly cannot understand why someone would choose to go down those routes as opposed to the standard PGCE through university or SCITT routes.

If I am missing the point I would be pleased to know how.

[Piggywaspushed]

I think some of it is about elitism! The original TF idea was they were 'top graduates' from 'top universities' and were effectively promised rapid promotion.

Now Teach is noble in its ideals but heavily tied up with some less desirable schools (West London Free School) and academy chains. If the recruits are any good it is a very effective recruitment strategy for those schools.

It does have an all female board though!

[Bellamuerte]

I'd give serious thought to the fact that so many qualified teachers walk away from the profession (not counting the numerous others who want to but can't). As an ex-teacher I'd advise anyone to run as fast as possible in the opposite direction. I don't know any teacher who would give different advice.

[Reallytired17]

Teach First wasn’t around when I qualified (2005!) but I’d have done it like a shot if it had been available.

[PersianCatLady]

Teach First wasn’t around when I qualified (2005!) but I’d have done it like a shot if it had been available
Do you mind me asking why you would have done??

[Piggywaspushed]

I'm a teacher bella and I'd say go for it!

[oilandwater]

Wow - lots here for me to follow-up on and think about. Thanks so much everyone, and thanks choco for your really helpful explanation about uni vs school based programs. That's the kind of info I can't get from the websites

[Reallytired17]

Persian

I suppose because in all truth and honesty I didn’t feel we learned anything productive in university. I learned when on placement. I’d rather have been paid for it! In any case, my university had us in for a matter of weeks before chucking us into schools on FT placements anyway.

I also felt that TF had an advantage in that they were taken as an established teacher from the start. On the PGCE with the best will in the world it was difficult to do that as students knew you were a student, you had someone in your class, you arrived October-ish. TF lets you be part of the school in a very real way.

I also like the Masters option.