Can someone please explain this? Teacher training question.

[bottersnike]

Dh has been considering training as a teacher for some time (ex-army), SAHD at the moment, working part-time as self-employed painter and sculptor.
He has been advised that he would not be granted a GTP place ( our local primary would be more than happy to support him ) because he "only" has a 3rd class degree.
My feelings about this:

1. His degree was 14 years ago.
2. He has done an awful lot since then, including a post-grad HR qualification.
3. He'd be a great primary school teacher.

How else can he get into teaching, if the traditional routes will be barred to him just because he was too busy courting (!) me 14 years ago to do any work?
Any suggestions appreciated.

Would any of the teacher training colleges think that a 3rd class degree obtained 14 years ago might be the equivalent of a 2.1 nowadays???

I thought I saw somewhere that universities take lower A level grades from older people as they see them as an equivalent to the higher grades now. But may be 14 years ago isn't long enough ago!

notcitrus is right about reasons for not having a 'stunning'degree varying

I got a 2:1 having just given birth, I know I would have had a first ahd I not been heavily PG in the last few important months or ahd 3 other small children to care for

I hope the OP's dh finds a way

DH is an admissions tutor for teacher training. He says Mr bottersnike's best bet is to go down the PGCE route.

Thank you for all these responses, it's fantastic!
We have started looking at the OU, and will also discuss the GTP in more depth with our local primary to see if they would be prepared to contact them directly.
It's just so frustrating knowing he would make a great teacher, and yet potentially he has to do yet more qualifications just to provide the tick in a box!
Thank you again - I knew I could count on Mumsnet

bottersnike, I have found this forum on GTP vs PGCE which might be of interest to you and your DH.

Good luck.

Butter I know its a hard trek but he will get there. life throws these things.

Just as an example I was going to do my PGCE but have the problem that the training palce has moved away and I can't manage 4 hours travel a day. So i'verresearched the like and am changing to SW which I do believe I will be good at.

the week I amde the decision my old related employer went under so can't give me a reference (can't track them down) and I have to do a year of voluntary work 9and the resultant childcare costs) to get in. But I will get there, as will your DH, all the mroe determined for the battles.

I'm also surprised that the OP's partner has been refused a place because of their degree result.

Don't know what discipline the degree was in but if it was in the Humanities I'd wager a third fourteen years ago would probably be of a higher standard that many of the firsts that are being awarded today!

To bottersnake - good luck with the search and I hope your partner finds a course. Unfortunately your comment that Quote ["he has to do yet more qualifications just to provide the tick in a box!"] End quote is what modern education is all about and once he gets in to teaching he'll be kept very busy ticking boxes in order to please the auditors!

I'm proud of my recently acquired arts degree actually and I would defy many graduates to achieve my grade with 4 children, one aged 5 weeks at finals (I got an A), and 2 with diagnosed autism.

OP many of us messed up first time around, it's a necessary evil that causes us to be mainly assessed at an age where many of us are focussing on a lot of other things sadly, and at least he met you as a compernsation rather than just bumming around like many of us! Returning to education later seems a waste but it did loads for my self esteem and I'm glad I had to do X and Y to prove I was up to it. Also, it was an acknowledged fact that those studying who has very recent learning experience found it easier on the degree, I would imagione the PGCE is much the same: studying is as much skill as innate ability IMO.

DH is returning to a degree later this year, and hasn't studied for eyars and I know that despite being as able as I am he will definitely struggle at first just to get back into the habit of writing essays etc (though much is practical as it's a technology course). I'd have loved for him to do a build up course but it was impossible with the hours he was working, sadly.

Have not read whole thread yet as bf, but ...

What about doing a second first degree (say in two years rather than three if at all possible), this time in Educational Studies, and aiming for a first? He will find it much easier to get a primary job, and promotion is also more likely to happen rapidly for him.

BTW pass degree and honours degree are two different things - pass degree is effectively a consolation prize serving the purpose of a fourth and a third is an honours degree.

I'm astounded at people saying teachers should have to have a 2:1! Maybe if they are teaching at A'Level in their subject... Otherwise, surely they should have to be great teachers, not great academics?! Not enough of those, I'm afraid. Thinking about my own education, I can count on one hand how many truly great teachers I had - ones who were able to control the class properly, motivate, inspire and teach us in a way that was vaguely enjoyable.

A first class degree does not a good teacher make. Ridiculous suggestion!

I'm astounded you seem to think teaching young children requires lesser academic ability than teaching A levels.

i have a first class degree

...and i haven't read the whole thread

But most teachers don't do BA Education/Childhood Studies etc, do they? They do a first degree in an unrelated subject, then a PGCE. The PGCE - their ability to teach - is what I'd be interested in (unless they are supposed to be teaching a specific subject at a high level).

All I know is - I have absolutely no interest in the class of degree my children's teachers have. I am interested in how well they teach.

But lots of teachers lead subjects across the primary age and need specialist knowledge. You would be surprised at the expectations for 11 year olds lots of concepts I didn't encounter until Grammar School.

ditto what mrsz says

popsycal and mrz - hello again

a 1st class degree does not a great teacher make no but it does mean you think about things critically, read information and work out what needs to done etc....and lots of other skills of which I can't think of because I am too tired.

A doctor does not need 4As at A-level to be a good doctor but still that is needed for entry