What is is like to be a Geography Teacher?

[Migsy1]

Thinking of doing a PGCE in this subject. Would you teachers out there recommend it?

You'd have to get a tweedy jacket with leather elbow patches. Can you do that?

Yes, I could manage that one :)

I was a TA once and some of my lessons was spent with th emost fabulous geography teacher. She was so glamorous.

Well, that could be more like me then ;)

My DH is a geography teacher. He does indeed own a tweed jacket with leather elbow patches which he insists on wearing for parents evenings... ;)

He also gets to go on much better field trips than me!

In all seriousness though it's a great subject and by being included in the EBacc there should be lots of jobs flying around.

Cool - thanks pottering

As name suggests I was one! Still teach and some work is geography related but it is hard to get back in part time, so that might be something to consider if you wanted that. If the right role came up I would apply. Need to be prepared to teach other things, I think most of the roles I have had have had odd periods of something else, mostly RE or history, but some English (useful in my current role) but also child development and GNVQ travel and tourism that I could have done without!

geoteach What do you think job prospects are for a graduate? I have 20 years town planning experience. Would that give me an advantage over younger graduates?

Well it is Geography or Food Tech. Geography is part of the Ebac and Food Tech isn't. I have 20 years geography related work experience so I think that I might get higher up the pay scale in my first job. I'm leaning towards Geography now.

You won't get higher up the pay scale. Times are tough, budgets are being slashed and if you're an NQT that's what you'll get I'm afraid...

Pottering Correct me if I am wrong but I checked the basic pay scale and it said that an NQT will go in at the bottom but previous relevant work experience would give one increment for every 3 years worked. I've got 20 years experience of working in a geography related job. You may well be right and I stand to be corrected! It is important for me to know

anyone starting (NQT) is on the pay scale level 1. You can get placed above this, but it is up to the discretion of the Head.....these days, I can't see much of that happening

OK, thanks cricketballs It is an absolute minefield! I applied for food tech then withdrew it and reapplied for geography. The Ebacc influenced me but most courses are now full and I wonder if I might not have any chance at all getting onto a geography course now. By the time I've tried for geography all the food tech courses may be full. If only I had thought about all this a few months ago. I really don't want to spend another year in my current job!

Getting a teaching job at all is tough right now (or at least tougher than it used to be) maybe research your local area and see what is available? Also I have known people try to get previous experience counted in terms of their pay (including working as an unqualified teacher) and I have never known anyone to be successful.

Sorry to be negative, I actually think it is the best job in the world but you need to be really clear what you are getting into. Could you visit some local schools, get a feel for it?

Yes, I'm arranging a visit.

Cricketballs is right - we've got 7 members of staff leaving in september and only 2 new ones being appointed. It'd be worth an ask but I don't think head's will have the money to pay extra for experience.

If you look at the TES website you can search jobs - it'll give you an idea of what's out there at the moment - new jobs appear on a friday.

When I moved back to the state sector after a few years in an independant school they would not even count those years of teaching as experience for the pay scale.......I was back where I had been when I left the state sector in the first place....so don't get too hopeful!!!

Crikey hels. That says it all!

Also, Academies are not bound by national pay scales for new staff.

Is it possible, once you are in teaching, to change the subject you teach or does the subject of your PGCE set things in stone?

Nope, you can change and be drafted to different things - I'm an RE teacher but have also taught geography and history at various points.

RE is the only subject you can refuse to teach if they ask you.

You'd have to make a pretty compelling case for the change on your cv though if it wasn't just in your own school

Depending on your school there will be opportunities for teaching in other subjects. DH is a geography teacher - started out at his school as mat leave supply cover in science, then moved to maths, then geography and RE, he know teaches mainly geography with a bit of English, RE and PE! He only got a permanant contract about a year ago and he has been there for 5 years now.

We live in the south west and teaching jobs are like hens teeth here, if you want to progress quickly you need to be in an inner city situation.

Oh, thanks for that! Luckily I do live in a very large city, so hopefully, I'll find a job if I manage to get onto a PGCE. I need to be optimistic as there are absolutely no jobs in the construction related industry that I am in now.