To expect a GCSE science tutor to have some relevant qualification?

[MrsRobertDuvall]

Dd is entering yr 10 and needs extra support with science as she is only working at level 5.
I contacted a local recommended tutor agency, explaining that it was not merely revision, but going back to basics and working alongside the curriculum.
I have had a call from a lovely lady, who has a degree in marketing. She has never been a teacher, and has GCSE Science grade b.
I've gone back to the agency and said I do want someone who is/has been a secondary teacher, with experience in GCSE science. At £30 an hour, I think that's reasonable.
We have a maths tutor who meets that criteria.

LRD ah now I didn't say "pure" degrees. The requirement to train at the mo is a substantial portion. So yes, natural sciences is, if course excellent.

I think you misunderstand me re: humanities point. They are known for their principle subject not the fact that they may also be directed elsewhere. I.e she's a history teacher who may teach geography, not a science teacher who does all three.

And migrating, I am simply stating what I saw when observing. on more than one occasion and in more than one school.

Natural Science at Cambridge is a rock hard course to get on to and to get the grades/subject knowledge a kid would need specialist teaching, certainly for GCSE. In addition to that Cambridge is the home of the cavendish laboratory which is an outstanding physics department.

The problem is (for all subjects) when you have non- specialist teachers you are doing a disservice to kids from a young age. How many kids are being turned off physics (for example) 'cos of non specialist teaching in Y7? It's specialists who make subjects come alive, who make kids see the possibilities out there. And whether it's science, maths, geography, art or ICT it's important to have specialists.

My DD1's art teacher is a specialist and she has done more than a non specialist could to enthuse DD1 and impart her specialist subject knowledge.

Leave physics to the physicists

Ah, ok, sorry, I misunderstood you then. I just wanted to say how good interdisciplinary stuff can be!

I think you can be a humanities teacher who teachers both geography and history, can't you? My cousin didn't know which was her teacher's specialism until they put on an extra A-level set and she ended up teaching that too.

I used to tutor - anything I had for GCSE, biology and chemistry up to A-level. I was writing up my PhD thesis in molecular biology at the time. At the time I was somewhat concerned that they never checked my reference (from my supervisor but as his English was crap I wrote it myself), and then more so when they asked me to travel across North London and into Herts, and in particular when I was asked if I'd tutor a GCSE language which I knew not one word of!

As it happened, I had all the work I could take on. I told quite a few worried mothers that their child was actually just fine and tutoring would be a waste of money unless they wanted me to go beyond A-level for Cambridge STEP papers or similar. Though I mainly ended up tutoring English - I have no formal qualifications beyond GCSE and O+C Use of English, but it's a passion of mine and I believe I was good at it - the kids' reports from school suggested they learnt a lot.
Conversely my worst teacher at school was a lovely Prof of Physics from the local university - lovely man, but couldn't explain simply enough for 14yos to save his life. Though DP was lectured by him and said undergrads couldn't understand him either.

10 years later I'm looking to go back either to tutoring or to popularising of science in schools or similar - I have a recent enhanced CRB and do voluntary work with teenagers, but I'm not a qualified teacher and don't know if that will be much more of a problem nowadays.

OP - if you're still looking for someone to go back to basics with dd after Christmas, I'd be happy to have an free introductory hour with her simply for the experience?

alistron - gosh, would they? Amazing how some people get in without specialist GCSE teaching, then.

Honestly ... the idea that an interdisciplinary scientist could get a degree from Cambridge and not be good enough to teach GCSE physics is mind-boggling.

I am not saying that all people who're academic high flyers are going to be good teachers (they're not), but IMO it is absurdly precious to insist on a higher level of specialist academic knowledge than that.

LRD - I have a degree in Biochemistry. Admit it's not from Cambridge.

I don't think I'd be good enough to teach GCSE physics. I don't have A level physics, I don't even have separate GCSE (did dual award). So yes, I could read up on it, would probably give it a good go, but my students would definitely be at a disadvantage compared by those taught by someone with a degree in physics.

LRD yeah, non specialist can get in but only if they attend a conversion course OR are in post and get directed by HOD or Head.

This also may help

"If your degree subject does not link closely to the subject you intend to teach, you may improve your ability to gain a place on an initial teacher training (ITT) programme by following a subject knowledge enhancement course." Taken from the TDA www.tda.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/pgce.aspx

Someone with a natural sciences degree from Cambridge or elsewhere may not get on a PGCE course. The one I am doing require you to have studied your primary specialism (physics, chemistry or biology) at least 50% of your modules. So someone that has spent about a third of their time on each of the sciences (or less if you have thrown in a bit of physical geography as well) will not meet that requirement. Both of the Uni's I had applied to had this rule but I am not sure if it is universal particularly as I think you can do a PGCE in general sciences in some places.

Someone on my physics conversion course was in exactly that position hence the need to do the conversion course. I am not sure where she did her natural sciences degree tho.

Endo - you may well be right you wouldn't be a good physics teacher (especially if you don't want to do it). But that doesn't prove that a person who has a Natural Science degree would be bad. IMO the fact you'd be a bad physics teacher has the most to do with you not knowing what the GCSE has in it ... I could be wrong. However, with respect, we're not comparing apples and apples. I am really stunned that Natural Sciences isn't good enough.

Nope, it's most to do with the fact that I do not understand physics.

stellar - I don't know anyone who did a conversion course, but it is probably for the reasons haunted says, that they chose modules fairly focused on one subject.

It just seemed to me it was an advantage to know people who were interested in, and knowledgeable about, more than one subject.

Endo - well, exactly.

Some people do interdisciplinary work because they enjoy both/all the subjects, though, not because they're weak in one of them. Hence my point.

Ooo - a lot's been said here since my last post, most of it a little off topic from the OP! :)

My degree is also in biochemistry (although I didn't study biology at school past year 9 - only did GCSEs in chemistry and physics!) I feel completely comfortable teaching all three sciences up to GCSE level and I wouldn't apply to a school that restricted me to chemistry. With changes to the GCSE specs in recent years I actually preferred teaching physics (although hopefully our change in exam board will mean I enjoy the chemistry GCSE again!)

Some "science" teachers are scared of have no interest in subjects other than their own and as a result do make lousy physics/chemistry/biology teachers because of their lack of interest or understanding. Some find it difficult to be enthusiastic about subjects that aren't their specialism. Lots of "science" teachers are bloody good at teaching all 3 subjects with no detriment to the pupils.

It is very annoying when the sciences are all lumped together as one "subject" though.

I'd rather statistics was booted out of the maths department and left in the care of geography or something, but we all have our crosses to bear.

noblegiraffe :o My A-level pure maths teacher felt the same! She explained to us her intense dislike of statistics and the class agreed that we wouldn't bother learning stats but would focus on the other areas of the specification (from memory there were 7 questions on that paper and we had to select 5 to answer so by not doing statistics we reduced the choice of questions to 6). No way would a teacher get away with that now!

So does the teacher have any relevant qualifications or background? GCSEs are hardly relevant once you get beyond A level, which I presume she has.

If no background, I would not consider her.

Ok, fair point ignoringif you do enjoy teaching all three.

I really don't but then the physics I teach is up to first year undergrad and that suits me fine.

What can I say, I love my subject. :)

Should hasten to add, its not that I don't like the others, just don't really want to teach them and would feel uncomfortable at GCSE.

YANBU. Definitely find someone with better qualifications and experience. If she's good enough to be a tutor doing this, then why doesn't she go and get the qualifications/experience to prove it?