I'd like to teach... and I am nearly 62. There are conditions..

[OCSockOrphanage]

I did my PGCE in another subject (citizenship), dictated by my degree, and qualified a few years ago. At the time, there was no real shortage of teachers, and locally there still isn't. This is in teaching terms, a Goldilocks environment. Lovely area, beautiful scenery, decent housing at relatively affordable prices with a public sector salary. And so, at my age, I am unemployable.

Yet I watch my DS (Y13) being taught a subject (that I don't have a degree in, only an A* at A level plus distinction in S paper), badly because he is being taught according to a mark scheme so rigidly configured that only one answer seems to get marks. Where has the intelligently argued dissenting view gone? I just worked an answer through with him, and (UNKNOWN TO ME) he filmed it. Now all his class are on to him saying, please say this at PT consultation tomorrow.

I am not saying I'll use any of it, but I would be interested in your thoughts.

DD took Citizenship at GCSE 2 years ago. I believe this was the last year it was compulsory at her school. She hated it with a passion.

Unfortunately, teaching to the mark scheme IS teaching, at least in Y6, and from 10 onwards. It's appalling. It is educating children to jump hoops and memorise. But if you don't like it, you don't want to be a teacher - at least not in the English state sector - whatever your age or qualifications or prior experience.

Honestly not meaning to be rude, but you also haven’t answered why you said you had an A* for your A’Level when they didn’t exist then.

I’m 40 and they didn’t even exist when I did A’Levels, and so I would never claim to have got an A* (even though I got an A for English A’Level too).

It won’t help your case if you make things up about qualifications (and it’s unnecessary) - it will make you look disingenuous.

No excuse for that, except the second glass of , LeChat.

Ah okay well that we can understand OC!

I've got so used to the top grade being an A* from discussing marks with DS, I typed without thinking.

Once you have QTS you would be able to teach other subjects including
English and your degree subject. I know several teachers who aren't teaching the subject they took their PGCE in.
It's probably too late now though.

If you think anyone below A-Level "doesn't want to know" and those above do, you're quite delusional.

"If you think anyone below A-Level "doesn't want to know" and those above do, you're quite delusional."

This ^^
DD's 6th form is full of disillusioned students who don't want to be there. 3 or 4 years ago they would be working instead of studying for A levels. You can thank the government for this.

I don’t think you can pick and choose like you want to do.

It’s like wanting to become a nurse but saying you don’t want to deal with bodily fluids.

badly because he is being taught according to a mark scheme so rigidly configured that only one answer seems to get marks.

Where has the intelligently argued dissenting view gone? To the elite end of the private sector where the government can't quite manage to push through its dumbing down to hind state school disadvantage agenda.

This could not be more wrong. The emphasis on memorisation of 'right' answers and de emphasis of application and evaluation is brand new. For a decade things were moving the other way.

This agenda was put forward by Gove and implemented by his successors. It's intended to mimic private school's 'rigor' and grasp of 'hard facts' and get rid of all the nonsense about transferable skills that state schools kept pushing.

It is in no way 'bad teaching' if your main complaint is they are targeting these very specific exam answers.

I will not help students on A-level biology papers (other than where to look), despite my Biochemistry degree, because I know that my right answers will not get the mark and I would getting in the way of what the biologists are doing to target this problem.

I agree that A level biology has a ridiculously specific mark scheme. I have heard loads of complaints about it. DD needs an A minimum so she has to answer as per the mark scheme or she won't get into medical school.

A levels in 1974!
There was no A* grade in A levels in 1974.

I just worked an answer through with him, and (UNKNOWN TO ME) he filmed it
You didn't notice your don filming you while you were sat next to him? OK.

Now all his class are on to him saying, please say this at PT consultation tomorrow
All of his class??? I don't believe it for a second. Most Year 13 students cringe with every word their parents say at parents' evenings and yet EVERY ONE in your son's class wants you to say something to their teacher. OK

Full time education of some sort is compulsory till 18.

Only on paper. Being NEET isn't so bad. Nothing happens except leaflets & phone calls from the council. Paid training (apprenticeships) are also available. A-levels or NEET are not the only options; no reason for disenchanted kids to end up on A-level course. DS joined the Army 9m after finishing GCSEs (where he did a BTEC to tick the educational requirement box).

Firstly there is no shortage of teachers except in Physics and Chemistry. I’m afraid it would be tough to get a first teaching job at 62 in anything else.

Secondly teachers have to teach to the mark scheme now. This is how papers are marked so if they don’t do this, pupils do not do well. When you consider the thousands of scripts that have to be marked every summer, it is the only way to ensure some sort of fair process.

I thought massive shortage of math teachers, too? Where's NobleG.

Theres shortages in everything to some degree bar PE.