To retrain as a teacher (secondary) - is GCSE Maths essential?

[WestleyAndButtockUp]

On the Graduate Teacher Programme it says "To apply for a place on the GTP:

• you must have a UK bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification
• you must have achieved a standard equivalent to a GCSE grade C in mathematics and English"

Seems like it is required, even if my area would be English or History. Is this the same for a taught PGCE?

(And is there a way to find out what grade I got on my CSE Maths in 1985? I bet it's not the equivalent to a GCSE grade C, but there may be a chance.)

I would have thought you needed Maths, yes.

No idea how you'd find your old grades. Have you got any certificates?

Dh did his PGCE 3 years ago, and had to provide certificates for all relevant GCSE exams passed, including English, Maths and Science. Despite having A Levels in the same subjects, that he wouldn't have been able to do unless he'd passed the GCSE.

One of his coursemates had had to take GCSE maths in order to get on the course.

CSE grade 1 was equivalent to an O level grade C. No idea how this would convert to a GCSE though as it is a different system.

Your CSE grade should be on your certificate if you are able to find it. CSE grade 1 was equivilent to O level, so equivilent to a GCSE C or above. A lower grade won't count, so you would probably have to take the GCSE.

Yes you need maths for GTP or PGCE, whatever your subject. This is a Good Thing, frankly.

Could you retake? A foundation level GCSE at a C would be fine.

You need all your certificates including degree and GCSEs or O levels.

Meant to say that O level ie GCE is fine too of course (them's what I have!), so if you did get Grade 1 CSE it would be acceptable.

You might want to do a GCSE in Maths, it shouldn't be too hard. You will have to brush up your Maths skills anyway to pass the QTS tests.

I didn't think you could do a degree without a C/equivalent in maths.

If you don't have your certificates could you ask your old school for a copy/confirmation of grades?

And yes, I also believe basic numeracy skills are important, not just for PGCE/QTS!

I found it shocking the fuss that was made about this skills test in maths when I did my PGCE 10 years ago. We were warned that it was hard, we were reassured that we could re-take it - and in the end it was just basic numeracy no adult should have trouble with - especially graduates!

Everyone on my course (mostly French, German and Austrian nationals) passed first time!

Thanks everybody.

I've never been asked to show my O levels or CSEs, only my A levels and further degrees, and I severely doubt I could find the certificates.

I'll have to ask the school, I suppose. And do GCSE maths, regardless.

If your old school can tell you which board the exams were with, then you can find out which of today's exam boards that equates to (there used to be 10+ boards, all now merged into 3 or 4). Then contact that board - they have systems for helping people get duplicate certificates: depends how long ago it was though. Your school won't have a copy of your certificates, you'll have to go through the exam boards. And if your school can find your old centre number and candidate number you'll have a much better chance of success.

If you can get your certificate and have the right level (ask the teacher training agency, they can tell you if it is equivalent), then you won't need to do the GCSE.

you do for teaching though Westley, i never went for a job before retraining as a teacher that asked for the certs, every teaching interview i have been more has asked me to take all the certificates with me. you definately need maths at o level C or >, cse level 1, gcse C or >

I thought it was now a grade B at GCSE that was required???

You can do an equivalent, so you don't actually have to do a GCSE. You can do a level 2 qualification which is much quicker to complete.

Yes gabsid it's extraordinary to me that so many educated and intelligent people (planning themselves to be educators too!) are happy to say they are hopeless at maths. I exprienced this when I was a journalist too - no-one would have said "oooh, I really can't spell!" but being openly poor at maths was apparently not a problem, nor something to rectify

I also agree re the QTS skills test, it was described to me by one recent completer of a PGCE as "the hardest thing I have ever done" again!

Hula no it's still a C grade. Westley you'll also need to produc yr English O-level certificate as well. Actually they don't need to see the A-levels!

I am in the camp that was "Hopeless at maths" but managed to get a C grade O'level many years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

As I trained before the QTS skills tests were required I never had to do them but out of interest took one on line to see how I did.

I passed with flying colours, even though I had to take a phone call in the middle of it (it is timed), and would say that it was around a level 6 national curriculum level- really not that hard- I too am surprised when I hear how hard trainee teachers find it and how many times they have to take it in order to pass.

Anyone guide me to an online GCSE Maths paper, so I can see what level we're talking?

Thanks Clary. I know they were thinking of changing it to grade B. Obviously not done so now.

Practise tests for level 2 numeracy (and literacy) here:

www1.edexcel.org.uk/tot/alns2/CMA-Edexcel-web2.swf