Teacher training AIBU

[PamplemousseRouge]

I gave up a teacher training course a couple of months in, at the end of last year. Not sure if anyone remembers the thread I wrote about it, but it felt (and still feels) like absolutely the right decision to make, as it was running me into the ground. I'm currently working on weekday evenings as a tutor whilst applying for jobs, and I'm really enjoying it.

However, recently, I've been having a think about what kind of career path I would like to have long-term.

I love the idea of working in a career with an educational element to it - anything from developing educational policy in government or in a think-tank, helping groups to open up new schools and working for tuition agencies that double up as 'educational consultancies' (ie. advising students on university applications, which I'm already involved in on a freelance basis). I particularly like the idea of developing skills and a specialism now, and then using what I've learned to get introduced to even more career opportunities and options.

So here's my AIBU - would teacher training have really helped as a foundation for any of these roles? Or was I being reasonable give it up as a) it was getting insane and b) it wouldn't have helped me anyway with these roles?

Thanks for your advice scottishdiem :) your suggestions are in fact exactly what I would like to get involved in. I'm sorry if my previous suggestions ever indicated that I wanted to advise teachers directly on educational policy, as I absolutely see how that wouldn't be possible.

Terf I'm tutoring at the moment.

Sympathies to you then OP. School Direct in a tough school, sponsored academy no less, is brutal.

I teach in a similarly sounding place. Our SD trainee stuck out the whole year last year, and then failed. She was a lamb to the slaughter in all honesty. Better that you didn't waste any more time.

How about doing an FE certificate in teaching and training or advice and guidance this year as a starting point or taster?

Imho you need classroom experience, go in as a volunteer or TA. You'll have opportunities to observe and learn a lot.

Do you have a 1st class degree from Oxbridge? (or probably just Cambridge?)
Why do you say this illustrated?

Because SPADS (government policy advisers) tend to have a 1st class degree from Oxbridge. Think- tanks are full of bright young thing (interns or unpaid often I think)

They all want be prime minister (that may be an exaggeration)

TBF the "probably just Cambridge" bit is odd if only because the PPEists are all Oxford grads and Oxford PPE pops up a lot in politics, lobbying, policy work etc.

Oxbridge PPEists are necessarily Oxford grads, I mean. I know you can read PPE in about 10 non-Oxbridge unis. I just found the Cambridge stipulation strange.

I'm an experienced teacher who recently completed my MA, and I'm now embarking on my PhD. There was only student in my MA cohort who had no experience in the classroom (be it as a teacher or TA) and they really, really struggled to comprehend a lot of concepts and contribute in discussions because they had no experience of schools- the hierarchies, the politics. What you'd be missing is an understanding of how policies are enacted in school. This is by no means a barrier, but that experience absolutely helped me to understand and apply theories, and it was only having so much classroom experience that meant I successfully completed my MA.

From my experience any policy setting job requires either direct experience in the industry involved or a good hons degree in a relevant subject from a great university. Do you have a degree? If so then try a government grad scheme first. The civil service ones are usually good.

TBF the "probably just Cambridge" bit is odd if only because the PPEists are all Oxford grads and Oxford PPE pops up a lot in politics, lobbying, policy work etc.

Terf yeah I found that strange too, to be honest.

Thanks nuttynoo - great idea. I think applications for the Civil Service Fast Stream are opening up soon, so I'll have a go at applying :)