Teacher training at Open University

[Wilberoo]

Hi, need to pick some brains! Am confused

It has always been my aim to train as a primary school teacher (various reasons meant I didn't after leaving school). I need to start at the beginning as I have no degree at the moment however I do have the GCSEs required by the profession.

The Open University would be best for me, due to it's flexibility for a degree course, however they don't have a Primary Education course, bum! Instead, should I aim to do an OU English degree and once that's finished get a PGCE (not at OU?) So far I have only glanced at the Level 1 courses and they do have some for early years but aimed at Teaching Assistants. Would these be good for a would-be teacher?

THanks

Hi. I am a secondary teacher but didn't want you to go unanswered, i am sure some of my primary colleagues will answer soon when they have recovered from end of term celebrations!

Here are my thoughts based upon my own and friends experience.

If you want to train as a primary teacher you should be aware that competition for jobs once qualified is very high and many people I know have found getting a job very difficult especially if you are tied to a particular area. Entry onto primary PGCE courses is also competitive, so it may be worth contacting some of your local course providers in advance to seek their opinions on degree choice. In my/friends experience, Core subject degrees tend to be a more popular choice. To qualify to teach you need to gain QTS - qualified teacher status. You can do this in a few ways. The PGCE probably gives you most support and is University based with school placements throughout. The GTP - graduate teacher programme is a route often taken by more mature students. This requires a school to take you on as a trainee essentially. You often have a far greater teaching load and less support although you would have mentoring from both the school and the university. The bonus is that you would be better paid during your training. There are also other programmes like SCITT - school centred initial teacher training. To improve your chances of being accepted onto a teacher training course you could benefit from some school based experience either as a volunteer or in a teaching assistant role.

As far as OU courses, courses that will contribute to a final degree in English while giving you experience and understanding of children and how they learn should be looked at favourably.

Hope some of this has been useful and not too negative but it is a long road to start down. Good luck!

Hi, have never posted on here before but read your post and you sound exactly like me! I am a full time TA and want to become a primary school teacher. I have just requested an application pack to register for an OU course as this is the best way for me to do this as i can't afford not to work! I left school after i had done my A levels and too need a degree to progress! I think its going to be a long hard road though!

I am about to start my PGCE primary this year. It is very competitive to get on. Can you do some work experience in a school whilst you do your degree.
I have just completed my degree in Early years through a local uni and volunteered in a school to get the experience I needed whilst I did this. We were told this would be essential to be even considered for the PGCE. Some of the girls on my course applied for PGCE and didn't get it as they had no experience working in a school (they didn't do any paid or volunteer work prior to applying)

Whilst I volunteered I was working with a teacher who had done her degree though the OU whilst working as a nusery assistant, then she did her PGCE. So OU is a perfectly acceptable route into teaching, but experience is important to be able to get accepted onto the very competitive PGCE