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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask how much realistically does it cost to train as an adult as an adult as a teacher?

51 replies

Scroremanga · 06/02/2021 10:52

Hi all my partner wants to do his pgse this Sept. He thinks doing it part time and working part time is feasible, is that right? He could earn 800 pounds a month part time (I've got that mortgage covered, he pays bills and food)
I'm thinking he is going to be on a very low wage for the 2 years of training then 2 years of nqt is that about right...
I don't think he has enough experience for teach first as he's making the move from a different career and has done about 4 weeks of voluntary work in schools.
Would really welcome any advice to help us plan the finances.
Thanks!

OP posts:
superram · 06/02/2021 11:41

It’s highly unlikely he’d be paid to do a primary pgce or teach first as they don’t need to pay people-loads of people want to do it-especially now. He would have to pay his uni fees on top. Can you afford it? Will he get in? Places vary hugely across the country as does availability of jobs at the end of the year.

1AngelicFruitCake · 06/02/2021 11:42

God, I’d like to think it’s primary schools crying out for good male teachers not just any man will do!

Scroremanga · 06/02/2021 11:43

Great encouragement thank you!!
He's looking at teach first and getting excited. He did a film degree (2.1) at a good uni is that any good?

OP posts:
Scroremanga · 06/02/2021 11:43

He has got fantastic potential as a teacher BTW I promise!

OP posts:
1AngelicFruitCake · 06/02/2021 11:46

Sorry, not aimed at you all OP! I’m a female primary teacher and I hate the attitude of it’s a man, he’ll have offers pouring in! Maybe that’s true and if it is I find that depressing!
Good luck to your DH though 😊

Beachhuts90 · 06/02/2021 11:52

Teach First filled up their primary spots for September 2021 I think but he could apply for 2022 in a couple of months.

School direct has a salaried option and a non salaried option. I am doing the salaried for September so it does exist but is rarer this year because the government cut funding for teacher training this year. Still worth looking on the site to find a teacher training course and sorting by salaried only.

I believe that if you're entitled to student finance you can get a maintenance loan, like an undergraduate, but I don't know much about this as I am an immigrant and that option wasn't available to me. Good luck!

Toorapid · 06/02/2021 11:54

Wouldn't he be better off doing it as a School Centred placement, then he gets paid 80% of a teacher's starting salary.

justanotherneighinparadise · 06/02/2021 11:55

I know the course is costing my friend £9000.

Bathbea · 06/02/2021 11:56

Why two years nqt?

It's 2 years now for all NQTs, not sure if this has been the plan for a while, or if it's because of covid, some trainees haven't spend much time at all in an actual classroom, so it ensures more support over a longer period once things return to 'normal', which is great in my opinion.

OP I did my PGCE in primary part time, there is usually a high demand and not many spaces (as not many unis over it), so his application would arguably have to be stronger than if he was applying for FT. I hate to be negative, but salaried trainee positions have been cut to the bone, and even those that are funded through student finance now would likely go to those who have been working/volunteering in schools, so whilst he should look into them, a place is far from guaranteed.

I wish I had just done the year in honesty, my aim was to work part time alongside the course, but between placements, assignments, and uni time it wasn't feasible; I would have rather 'got it over with' quicker, financially there aren't many benefits, other than it delays you starting to earn a wage by 6 months. He should be aware that not all areas have many primary vacancies, despite hearing often about teacher shortages, it's very competitive in many areas, and walking into a job is not guaranteed at all. Being a man may give him an edge, possibly not right, but often true though.

In terms of finance, bursaries were cut a lot this year, there is nought for primary. He could apply for student finance for a maintence loan as well as the fees, but the amount depends on a few things such as household earnings etc, there are calculators to work out a rough guide.

It probably will be tight money wise, but there's a lot of info online that would be worth a look through.

TriflePudding · 07/02/2021 09:33

1AngelicFruitCake

I’m one of the posters who said that as a man the OPs DH will easily secure a place, and this is no slight on the OPs DH but there is absolutely truth to what you’ve said, mediocre males will often pole vault over good/great females in education roles.

Well let’s be honest it happens in every profession but we are specifically talking about working in schools here.

I have worked in primary and secondary schools (not teaching) and I work hard and was bloody good at my job and twice I was overlooked for promotion and my job given to blokes, anyway I work for the NHS now and depressingly I’m imagining it will be a similar story in the NHS too.

InTheFamilyTree · 07/02/2021 10:00

As a side note, student finance funding is around £12k (London) and childcare grants pay for up to 80% childcare costs. My partner is doing it this year so if you want to ask anything specific, fire away.

experimentnumber626 · 07/02/2021 10:21

Currently doing my PGCE over one year, and there is absolutely no way I'd manage to work alongside it. It's tough. Financially it's a stretch, but there are maintenance loans and grants available in the same way as you would get for an undergraduate degree so thats a great help.

Dogsarehairy · 07/02/2021 10:36

@2021hastobebetter

Do a gtp funded placement
And in the real world?
Dogsarehairy · 07/02/2021 10:37

@Toorapid

Wouldn't he be better off doing it as a School Centred placement, then he gets paid 80% of a teacher's starting salary.
Almost impossible to get unless a maths/science teacher or have extensive experience of working in schools
mootymoo · 07/02/2021 10:38

There are funded pgce places based at schools where you receive a stipend. Worked out around £14,000 a year when I looked 2 years ago. They are advertised on the website, more like an apprenticeship

Dogsarehairy · 07/02/2021 10:39

@Skeeters

My friends dh did a secondary school Chemistry PGCE and was paid for doing it. Then he waltzed into a job and Meg
Funding has been ended for all but a few courses.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/funding-initial-teacher-training-itt/funding-initial-teacher-training-itt-academic-year-2021-to-2022

Has he been accepted? It is a very high demand year and many places are full.

Dogsarehairy · 07/02/2021 10:41

@mootymoo

There are funded pgce places based at schools where you receive a stipend. Worked out around £14,000 a year when I looked 2 years ago. They are advertised on the website, more like an apprenticeship
Th government has just announced a review of ITT as it is a mess with too nat different routes and schemes.

There are a FEW of these places but they are very hard to get and often go to staff already working in the MAT. Generally unless maths or science you need a lot of classroom experience to get a funded place.

singsingbluesilver · 07/02/2021 10:41

I would look to see how many vacancies there are for primary teachers inyour area. Where I live posts come up very rarely - I know several teachers who are primary trained and have ended up teaching in secondary because they can't get a primary post.

Also, I think sadly his degree is not going to work in his favour. Many schools will be looking for someone to lead in English, Maths or Science. What A Levels does he have? Are they in National Curriculum subjects?

Amijustagrump · 07/02/2021 10:41

Primary have very little funding, unless he is really experienced and a school may offer him a salaried place! (These are mainly reserved for people who work in a school currently and are so tough to get). He would get a student loan however. Pgce is not something you can work along side, its so tough and time consuming! Teach first is another option however I've never met anyone who stayed in teaching after it, its a way to fill gaps in schools, and I think its mainly secondaries.

SCITT or schools direct may be another route, however you still will only get the student loan!

mootymoo · 07/02/2021 10:41

Ps I was looking at primary and got 2 offers (Midlands) but turned it down because decided not to teach (thankfully because covid hit just months later)

Dogsarehairy · 07/02/2021 10:43

@TriflePudding

I just wanted to say that Primary schools are crying out for more men- he will very easily get a job OP, and he will very easily get into whichever training route he decides to do so whichever way you plan it will be worth doing.
I am sorry but that is simply not true.
singsingbluesilver · 07/02/2021 10:44

Sorry - didn't mean that to sound so negative. I am not being negative about his qualifications, just trying to point out that it may influence his chances of being shortlisted for jobs!

Some people are born to be teachers. If he is enthusiastic and really shines at his PGCE then he will succeed I'm sure. PGCE is very hard work, but teaching is a very rewarding profession so well worth ot if his heart is set on it.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 07/02/2021 10:45

why doesn't your partner discuss the options with the college he plans to study at?

lanthanum · 07/02/2021 11:00

The salaried routes are really aimed at those with lots of prior experience, eg as TA/HLTA. I saw a post elsewhere from someone who had managed to get a place without lots of experience, and they were really floundering because they were expected to be teaching fairly independently from the start. That's realistic for someone who has spent several years watching others do it, but not for someone new to education.

PurpleFlower1983 · 07/02/2021 11:02

The PGCE is a full time plus course - he would struggle to hold down a job at the same time.

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