A few questions for teachers.

[TheFalconInThePearTree]

I'm trying to choose my subject for University next year, I want to do Chemistry but was considering doing a chemistry degree that's combined with a teaching qualification as I'd love to teach science and I'm trying to keep as many options open to me as possible.

Everyone tells me I'm mad though for even considering teaching and sometimes when I remember the crap my teachers at school had to put up with at school and the complete disdain many of the pupils had for them I do begin to wonder.

I'd appreciate it if any of the teachers here could answer a few questions.

How did you qualify as a teacher?

Do you work in primary or secondary and if the latter what do you teach?

Do you teach in state schools or in the private sector?

Do you enjoy your job?

And finally I'd appreciate hearing about your teacher training, anything at all.

TIA.

I will attempt to answer these on behalf of dh.

He did a pgce after doing a Masters in Philosophy and Middle Eastern Politics

Secondary - Head of Faculty over 6 subject areas

State sector - inner city school with very well behaved children

He loves it but it is exhausting and it is a vocation - he works 60 plus hour weeks but loves the children

His teacher training was a piece of piss compared to doing his very prestigious Masters - 3 placements in secondary schools, plenty of time in college. Just a lot of paperwork.

Hi. I teach and I love it. I did a first degree in my subject (theology) and then did a PGCE in secondary education. I now teach secondary RS. I worked primarily in state secndary schools for 5/6 years and have been at an FE college, teaching 'A' levels for the past 5 years. The usual thing in secondary is degree + pgce, although for primary you can just do a teaching degree. I was originally going to teach primary, but soon realised I was not cut out for that. I think the impression is a lot different to the reality - all my primary teacher friends say they don't know how I teach secondary - but I say the same about them!

The PGCE year is really hard work, but it is worth it at the end. Teaching is a fantastic career, because every day is different, I never get bored of teaching my subject and the relationships with the students makes it all worthwhile when they get the grades... And of course, the holidays are fab! Do be prepared for a lot of hard work though - the PGCE year is the hardest, but it is only 10 months and you do get through it. Make sure you have got a lot of support if you have got a family.
If you are committed to teaching and really want to do it, then I think it is the best career in the world, and I wouldn't want to do any other job - but if you're just doing it as a job, then I think its the worst job in the world - as you're expected to put in the extra hours / work and so on, just because that is the done thing iyswim.
HTH

PGCE
Primary
State
Yes, but I hate the ridiculous work load
Institute of Education in London. Good teachers, too much theory and not enough guided practical - almost no classroom management taught, for instance.

I love teaching and see myself doing it for many more years. There really is no other job like it for knowing you make a difference - a cliche but true.

I did a degree in English then a PGCE - the usual route for entry into secondary teaching. I teach secondary English in a state school and would never consider working in the private sector.

The training was tough but I think it needs to be to ensure only those who can cut it end up qualifying. Be prepared for bloody hard work and make sure you quickly grow a thick skin as kids can sense the fear of a trainee and will attempt to destabalise you -this happens more in so called 'good' schools cos the kids have more cunning!

BTW pay is decent these days too. I'm in my 7th year of teaching and also 2nd in dept and earn 40k. Without extra responsibility I'd still be on 34k.

Good luck!

Message withdrawn

I teach secondary English in a state school in "one of the most deprived inner-city areas in the country" according to Ofsted. I love it! It is stressful and exhausting and frustrating and rewarding and exhilarating and astonishing and stressful and frustrating and hilarious and challenging and sometimes downright bonkers but I LOVE it!

I am opposed to private schools and would not contemplate teaching in one.

I did an English degree followed by a PGCE. I'm in my 16th year of teaching and pretty high up on the scale now, with a lot of responsibility. I'm also an AST and earn (a bit) more because of that.

If Chemistry is your "thing" then personally I'd recommend going for secondary, as they always seem to be crying out for chemistry and physics teachers. I would strongly recommend trying to spend some time in a range of different schools.

Best things about teaching - the pupils / lesson planning / the "awe" moment when they suddenly all "get it" / the chance to work with a whole load of dedicated and inspiring teachers who are totally committed to making a difference to the lives of children who get quite a raw deal from their background, area, lack of inspirational role models etc.

Worst things about teaching - marking the 30th "Romeo And Juliet" essay on a Sunday afternoon / data, data, data, data / the frustration of knowing that some colleagues probably ought to be in a different school/job but there's nothing you can do about it.

TY all for the thoughts and advice given so far, please keep it coming, it's very helpful.

I do believe that I'm much more suited to Secondary where I can hopefully concentrate on science, and not have to be a english/maths/art/PE/science etc teacher at Primary. I admire anyone who can do that but it's certainly not for me.

I have studied child care and education in the past but I've discovered that I prefer to work with older children, not those of nursery age.

During chemistry/biology classes in college I love to help others with their work and seeing them have that 'a ha' moment is priceless and that's just with one or two people so that part of teaching really appeals to me, as does helping people to love science, people who see it as boring and pointless.

I think I will just concentrate on chemistry at the moment, and do a PGCE later.

Are most degrees suitable for entry into Secondary education? I'd love to do forensic and analytical chemistry though I am wondering if a degree in pure chemistry would be more appropriate for teaching.

I don't think they're that fussy on whether your degree is pure or applied science but check with a couple of PCGE providers.

I'm applying for 7-14 science PCGCEs with a degree in Music and only A-level chemistry. 3 places have said they will take me with a science enhancement course, that's how desperate they are for science teachers.

I did a Science PGCE after 8 years in industry.

I am a senior school teacher and teach Science, with a bit of KS3 Geography and KS5 ICT thrown in. Of the three subjects, Science wins hands down. I teach in a small school, so it is inevitable to have second subjects. The downside of teaching Science is that you have to teach pupils who do not choose your subject and that there is a general negativity about it (that it is too hard, boring etc). But there are many more upsides.

I am in the private sector.

I love my job. I love the people I work with and the pupils. I like the ethos of the school, that we are allowed to teach and keep admin and discipline to a minimum. And I love the work/life balance that I get through the long holidays. I would not be happy in a state school (BTDT).

The teacher training was a means to an end for me. It was basically a set of check boxes to say that I had met the various requirements. It was a pretty easy year given that I had come out of working for a Blue Chip. I did pick up some good stuff along the way that I don't get now that I am teaching, but that are important to the job.

I've worked alongside trainee teachers on the GTP programme, and I think they get a pretty raw deal. Saying that, we are probably all advocates for the route that we took to get into the profession.

I do have dyspraxia. I'm wondering how much of a barrier that will be for me as a teacher.

Dyspraxia is a bit tricky for chemistry, I'm afraid. You do have to deal with lots of glassware, and manage children with glassware. Precision can be important too.

Oddly enough I seem to have few issues with my dyspraxia when it comes to science.
I've yet to knock anything over or spill anything, but put me in an art class, ask me to cook under pressure or sew a button on and someone is going to get hurt.

I do find it difficult to keep eye contact however and I'm not very good at registering and understanding voice tones, someone can say something jokingly to me, but it sounds like an insult to me or as if they are angry.

I'll need to work on those.

dyspraxics and science go together. Lots of the dyspraxic kids find refuge in science. No essay writing to do and lots of touch and feel stuff.

i teach science its great, but I came into it from a science degree and working in industry. I would advise you to get a good science degree and add the teaching on after. You can do lots of jobs with science degrees, so you won't be limited.

I went to Trinity and All Saints in Leeds and did a BA(Hons) with QTS in English Literature and Primary Ed, about 15 years ago.

I work in a state primary, and am a Literacy co-ordinator.

I love my job!

I am glad I spent 4 years training - I don't understand how a PGCE works, really, my 4 years were chockablock, although I did do English Lit aswell.
I learnt most actually doing the job; on each teaching practice I learnt a huge amount.

Hope this helps!

Would forensic and analytical chemistry be a suitable degree in your opinion Lil? Or is pure chemistry more appropriate?

I'm considering both of those as well as applied chemistry with chemical engineering, forensic and analytical would be my first choice, however if another would be a better degree for getting into teaching I'd favour that.

Any degree with chem in the title will do it - honestly! I'm actually an engineer so i started teaching physics...but I have found myself teaching all 3 sciences and maths at points in my career. Its a question of mind set really, and the understanding that science is an evidence based subject which requires experimentation and analysis.

So go for the degree you want to do, the more varied the more interesting you are to the kids you teach. They seem to enjoy the relevance and real life examples you can give them rather than just pure science. Go for it, have fun!

TY Lil. That's very helpful. I think I will put down F&A as my first choice then.

My original plan was to become a forensic toxicologist and to do a PHD but teaching seems equally appealing now.

i agree with lil that any type of chem degree will be fine for getting onto a pgce course. In fact i think any science degree would be fine. I'd also suggest not to do a degree that has an educational bit in it as I think you usually have to do the pgce anyway as the degree on it's own isn't enough. At the uni I went to (Heriot-Watt) there was a degree called somethign like Physics with Education and the 2 people in my year who did it didn't really like it as it didn't fully qualify them anyway and 1 of them decided not to be a teacher and was stuck on a specialised degree that ended up being a bit useless.
I'm a science/physics teacher with a degree in Physics with Environmental Science and i like my job (I am on maternity leave at the moment tho), I have taught GCSE physics and biology in an 11-16 state school for 5 years.

Are you a mum? I switched to teaching like many women, when I had kids. So you can have the best of both worlds. Teaching is family friendly whereas often male dominated science isn't (I generalise obviously).

I'm not a mother yet, hoping to become one in a few years.
I've often heard people say that about science, and teaching may be the best plan if we want to have children soon.
My partner is going into a scientific field, and the relative flexibility of teaching will make childcare less of an issue than if we were both in science.

I think you're right Debi,and trying to study chemistry and train as a teacher at the same time may be a little much.
I want to do the industrial chemistry placement offered and I may not have that option if I combine the two.

That would be rather disheartening, if there were far more who didn't want to be there than those who wanted to learn.

I'd hope I could help them learn to enjoy science, at least one or two, if in that situation but perhaps I'm being too optimistic.

I am rather hoping to work in the private sector...ducks

Falcon,

My degree is in Chemical Engineering. I had not trouble getting on a PGCE course - I had to list all the modules I had taken that were relevent to school science. I think 50% was the cutoff.

If you have any gaps in your knowledge, it is easy enough to stay one step ahead of the kids.