Teaching Assistant - GSCE Concerns

[millyabh]

I have been working as a Teaching Assistant (and SEN trained) for almost 2 years - and i love it. There is a problem, our Primary School became part of an academy a year ago, we have another year left on our existing contracts. They'll be renewed with new contracts, and one of the requirements is proof of maths and english GCSE's. Now i sat 'O' levels, not only do i knot have the certificates i'm pretty sure im well below a 'c' grade! any advice....:(

I teach at an academy and the TAs who don’t have or can’t prove certain grades in maths and English are supported to take functional skill/entry level style qualifications.

I thought I levels were harder than GCSEs?

Meant O levels

Ask your school whether they will fund training for you. Functional skills level 2 qualifications in Eng and Maths are equivalent to a pass at GCSE.

Definitley look at doing functional skills. I teach it and you can pass the exam at anytime of year so could be done by xmas.

I'll look into it. Thank you.

Maths and English GCSEs are free at most FE Colleges; some will offer functional skills Level 2. Also, you local authority might have a 'county training' adult education service which will offer the quals you need.

Interesting as I am working somewhere which is going to an Academy.
Can you check records? I sent for confirmation of my results as I went to school in several countries. I had to pay £60 to have them equalised with Britain when I did my HLTA. Surely records are kept. Some councils provide free tuition for Functional skills. I know ours used to. Might be worth looking into it for September and perhaps doing one this year and one next if they are ok with that.
Glad you are enjoying being a TA. I have loved it.

Or in my experience tttigress. Not in English, anyway. Been teaching it 30 years. I’d say what was asked was harder now.

To get C and above (4 and above) anyway. Remember GCSES have to have questions for those who won’t get the higher grade pass. Doesn’t mean it’s easier to get a C equivalent.

I’ve been training as a teaching assistant at a school this year. I’m in my 50s and like you I did O levels many years ago and don’t have certificates. So I’ve had to do functional skills level 2 Maths,English and ICT. A right pain in the bum but worth it once you’ve got them.

If you have a permanent contract, you should be able to keep it, not have a renewed one!!! Ask Union for advice if this is the case. New contracts are for people joining after and people who have temporary contracts.

ALAN - Adult Literacy and Numeracy tests - these are online and a doddle to pass.

www1.edexcel.org.uk/tot/aln/num.html

Without trying to be funny, I'd hope there was a minimal level. Especially for youngers just starting out with their reading, writing and numeracy. Don't tie yourself in a knot 😉 about it, build on your experience and take the extra qualifications if you can.

I had to provide proof of my 'O' levels for a position a few years ago. I had no idea where the certificates were but on the off chance called the old school I attended.
Whilst they couldn't send me replacement certificates (these can only be obtained from the examining body) they were able to send official confirmation of subjects and grades.
Pretty impressed as it was 40+ years ago!!!

English teacher here
I would expect my class TA to have basic competence of English language and grammar, punctuation and spelling. I think this is completely reasonable when I'm asking them to support literacy and sometimes scribe and be a reader in exams.
I do think it is fair to have to have a qualification in an academic environment to show you are academically qualified to work in education. Esp because TAs frequently work one to one with vulnerable or SEN students.
What I don't think is fair is your school has kept you in dark for requirements and hasn't given you any indication of how to obtain a functional skills qualification or English GCSE. I would join and contact a union and have a meeting with your linemanagers

I'm quite surprised that you haven't already had to prove Maths and English qualifications! I would have assumed that would be a really basic requirement for a TA - it never occurred to me that it wouldn't be.

I would see about getting the relevant qualifications as quickly as possible.

@cardibach - Not anymore they don’t. Since the new GCSEs came in everyone answers the same question.

Mater did you not see where I'm an English teacher with 30 years' experience? I'm very aware of the exam - in fact I'm an examiner for one of the boards. Everyone takes the same exam, therefore questions have to be phrased so even those who would have got CSE (grades 3-1 or D-G in Wales) can access them. Expectations for higher grades are still higher than when I took it. It is definitely not easier to get a higher grade pass than it was to get an O level. People get confused about where the equivalence lies.

Another vote for functional skills (assuming the trust will accept them), I had to do them along side my DTTLS qualification because although I have the O Levels they wanted proof that you are still working at that level.

1. You should be able to get replacement certificates - google to find out how.
2. If you're moving to a new employer you should be on the same terms and conditions under TUPE so no need to provide certificates. Again google it - seek union or ACAS advice if necessary.