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Original poster

DH wants to teach in private school - any chance if...

28 replies

SugarSkyHigh · 01/02/2011 19:14

he has no teaching qualification for teaching children, but is qualified to teach adults, and has experience at F.E. level, and has a PHd in English (Birkbeck)? (He got that after attaining his 1st class honours degree at the same Uni, as a mature student).

Plus he is a lovely person?

Should he send his C.V. and a covering letter to senior schools, or is it not worth the bother without a BEd?

any thoughts please? TIA Smile

OP posts:
kritur · 01/02/2011 19:31

For secondary teaching a BEd would be very unusual. A PGCE or other route to QTS (like GTP) is much more usual for secondary teaching. QTS is not necessary for teaching in the independent sector although it is becoming more and more common and therefore more and more a criteria when shortlisting. There is nothing to stop him applying for advertised posts (try the TES) although he may find that a lack of knowledge of the secondary english curriculum may be an issue for him (KS3, GCSE and AS/A2 level). Why does he want to work specifically in a private school?

Original poster
SugarSkyHigh · 01/02/2011 19:43

thank you Kritur for your reply...
he wants to work in a private school because he knows that a state school wouldn't look at him without QTS.

He could do a PGCE but is worried that by the time he has done it, he will not be that employable as he is already in his late fifties.

I agree the lack of knowledge of secondary English curriculum is potentially a problem. Really I feel he should try for F.E. or 6th form colleges...

OP posts:
MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 01/02/2011 19:54

Given his bacground wouldn't have thought it would be difficult for him quickly to get up to speed with the curriculum - surely it changes regualrly anyway with different exam boards doing differnt stuff?

pointylug · 01/02/2011 19:56

It only takes a year to do the PGDE and teachign does not tend to be ageist.

Original poster
SugarSkyHigh · 01/02/2011 20:16

Good to know, pointylug! he seems to be a bit hung up about his age.

And yes actually MrsG of G, I guess it wouldnt be so hard for him to gen up on the curriculum. If he has a Phd I suppose he must be good at learning things [idiotic emotcion]

I wonder if anyone knows of anyone else in a similar situation who has been successfully employed?

and is it a good move to randomly send of your CV, or just apply for advertised jobs?

OP posts:
Ladymuck · 01/02/2011 20:16

Ds1 had an NQT in her early fifties last year (as it happens at a private school).

waitingforthesummer · 01/02/2011 20:54

Why doesn?t he apply to private schools AND apply for a PGCE course. He won?t be able to start the PGCE until next September at the earliest. If he's serious, he can send CVs to schools (no harm in doing so, other than his time) and apply for any advertised jobs. That way, he may secure a job by the beginning of the next academic year and if not, he'll have a place on a PGCE giving him many more employment opportunities after the year (well ten months really.)

It will really depend on the private school - some may really go for the fact that he has a PhD, others may be put off by his lack of experience in education/teaching. It will depend on the needs of the school and the attitudes of the hiring board.

youngjoly · 01/02/2011 20:59

Also, has he looked at GTTP training? That is deisgned for people like your dh.

CrosswordAddict · 02/02/2011 11:19

I feel he would be happier in an F.E college or a 6th form college tbh. He might find it a bit more challenging IMO

kreecherlivesupstairs · 02/02/2011 11:26

My DH is a teacher, he has only ever taught at independant/private schools. I know that none of those he's ever been at has employed anyone without a PGCE or teaching qualification.

ragged · 02/02/2011 11:41

I have a good mate who has no teaching qualifications but has taught (for about 9 years?) geography at a well respected private school for girls in the east midlands.
She did have loads of teaching type experiences (supervising undergrads, Girl Guides) before then. And has several post-grad degrees in her area.

Every time she looks at getting a teaching qualification it doesn't work out as practical, and her bosses are happy for her to continue as she is. I am pretty sure that some of the teachers at DS's private school also do not have teaching qualifications. So yes it is possible.

ElsieR · 02/02/2011 12:46

Could he sign up to a GTP scheme? Basically, he would then train on the job and at the end of the year gain QTS.
I would not employ someone without an adequate qualification.

Lizzywishes · 02/02/2011 17:45

I have several colleagues without formal teaching qualifications, although all have at least a good B.A. Sounds as if he has relevant experience and excellent academic qualifications, so I would say worth putting in applications. Check TES weekly. As someone said, no harm in applying for PGCE place too -only takes a year.

youngjoly · 02/02/2011 19:20

He could teach in FE without having the qualification first, and then gain his QTLS (QTS type qualification for post compulsory sector) on the job. This is quite common. I teach an academic subject in FE and know quite a few lecturers who have done it back to front as it were.

The only thing I would advise is that whilst he has got the teaching qualification, in FE he has got to show that he can teach (as oppose to lecture). I know where I am we have seen Phd people breeze in thinking that it will be a piece of cake because they have the academics and unfortunately they don't tend to last long as at 'A' level, they are still young and you do need to have really good at classroom management, communicating your knowledge on a much lower level and so on... So if he could get some experience either in a classroom or otherwise, that would probably really help him.

youngjoly · 02/02/2011 19:21

Sorry, not teaching qualification - I mean academic qualfications

Original poster
SugarSkyHigh · 03/02/2011 09:20

thank you everyone who has taken the time to reply - I have read all your very helpful posts...

I wonder if he could get on a GTTP for as soon as April? I think he needs to do a maths equivalency test however! And on the GTTP route do you have to teach in a state school?

N.B. we have nothing against state schools and all our DC's go to them! Just trying to understand any different requirements for the different sectors.

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 03/02/2011 10:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lizzywishes · 03/02/2011 16:47

You can do GTTP in independent schools. Don't suppose he'd start till sept, though.

twolittlemonkeys · 03/02/2011 17:00

Another vote for the GTP. I did that route and there were a couple of people in their 50s on it. It only starts in Sept I think but at least you get a (small) salary. I think it was £13.6K 7 years ago... It's quite intensive, teaching 4 days and 1 day in uni from the outset.

Xenia · 03/02/2011 17:07

In the top 20 schools in the private sector my children have been at all teachers have a PGCE but try. there are lots of different privaet schools around. What's his accent like?

sparklyjewlz · 03/02/2011 17:37

Plus he is a lovely person
OP: does he understand the realities of the classroom? I can't understand why anyone would want to teach without having been trained. I certainly wouldn't want an untrained teacher for my DC. Academic qualifications don't make up for a lack of pedagogy.
TBH this confirms my prejudice against the private school system.

Original poster
SugarSkyHigh · 03/02/2011 18:47

xenia his accent is well-spoken but not ludicrous, if that makes sense.
sparklyjewlz - he won't really understand the realities of the classroom until he is IN the classroom, of course, but this 'pedagogy' you refer to, what is that precisely?
Everyone else: looks like its the GTTP route then - small salary doesn't really matter as he will be topping up his pension.

OP posts:
bigTillyMint · 03/02/2011 18:52

Xenia do the top 20 private schools only employ well-spoken teachers?

Silly question, of course.

sparklyjewlz · 03/02/2011 19:28

"Pedagogy"= teaching skill. He needs some kind of training because it will be very different from his experience in FE (as I think you realise). Would it not just be easier to stay in Further Ed?

Original poster
SugarSkyHigh · 03/02/2011 19:35

sparkly - yes I guess Further Ed would be easier but there are not that many jobs and I think hes trying to keep his options open. It seems that on the GTTP route you gain some experience of teaching?

OP posts:
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