teacher training - no degree - any thoughts?

[SarfEasticated]

I would really appreciate some advice please. I am in my 40's and after getting 8 O'levels and 3 A'levels at senior school went to art college and did an HND in Design. Since then I have worked in magazine and book design and production. I have decided that I would like to retrain to teach. I went to the Train to Teach event in March and it was suggested that I topped up my HND to a degree by doing and Open University open degree. It appears that as my HND is 20 years old that it is not recent enough for them to take it into account. Do I have to now do an access course, followed by a degree followed by a PGCE, or is there a quicker way? I would ideally like to continue in my current publishing job and study part-time, but would be willing resign and study full time. I live in London, but would be willing to travel for the right course.

Can you give me any advice?

Thanks in advance

Thanks Kellestar I did apply in June, so maybe they were full, it is a very popular course apparently. I have sorted out some classroom experience in two different schools, so will really get that part of my application beefed up by next year.

oh that's a shame I quite liked the idea of psychology. A levels are much more varied and interesting now than when i was a gel, I thought I might get to do something new!

the second part was for you Feenie ^^

It's massively important that you do a nat curriculum subject if you are looking to beef up your application. English and Maths great- IF you are going to get an A. If not I would choose whichever nat curriculum subject I thought I was best at.

Have you looked at teaching fe? You might not need a teaching qual or degree to teach there (I started in 6th form with a degree but no teaching quals).

How it works is that you can teach something you're qualified over in, so with a degree I could teach a level, with hnd you could teach gcse or equivalent.

Teaching is really hard work. I teach secondary. I wouldn't teach primary as the workload is more. It's more grinding work as well, lots of marking, lots of planning, lots of prepping resources. The focus is always on literacy, numeracy, latest government initiative. I really don't know how much time you'd get to indulge in the bits you're actually interested in.

At least if you did some fe teaching unqualified you'd know if you wanted to take it further and you could actually teach the subjects you're interested in. The fe college I started out in let you do your teaching qual whilst you worked which for fe can be done with or without a degree. Fe colleges ime take on staff on temporary part time contracts which may suit.

Teaching is going through a lot of changes at the moment. I fear it will not be the job it is for much longer. I believe pay will decrease/stagnate, opportunities for promotion will become sparse and perks such as pensions and holidays will continue to be eroded.

All the best. Sorry for typos on iPad and tired :)

Sarcalogos do you mean primary or secondary curriculum? If I already have a qualification in Art and Design, a more academic A level would be best I assume?

handbagcrab thanks for you post. I want to teach because I want to work with children, and am also very interested in literacy. Also, from what I have read about the proposed changes in the curriculum, (move away from topic based teaching) it sounds like it is going back to the same education I had in the 70's. As for the perks, pension etc, I don't get any of those now in my current job, so no loss for me there! I really appreciate the points you are making, and I will think about fe over the weekend, I could definitely teach desktop publishing and print production...
Thanks again have a on me.

I'd suggest you learn that topic based doesn't equal bad. Some schools may move away from topic based, others will continue as they have before it was trendy to teach in topics. I really suggest you do not develop too strong opinions on anything until you have spent a lot of time in schools.
Have you got any experience of children 4-11? Because it is crucial you can show you are really keen on teaching this age group. Lots of people who go into teaching this age have worked a lot in schools first (several years as a TA).

mummytime I didn't say that i thought topic based was bad at all, just that a move away from it wouldn't be a change for me as I was taught that way myself.

Primary and secondary have the same set of nat curriculum subjects (except MFL is non statutory in primary).

I think the answer is research research research and it will become obvious what you want to do.

Thanks again everyone, I really appreciate your taking the time to help me out.

good luck! and try and build up contacts in the schools you spend time in from now onwards, I gave up my TA job to teacher train in primary and I still don't have a job for Sept which is scary to say the least! (also ex publisher)

(apologies if this has been suggested already)

couldn't you top up your HND to a degree and then do a GTP/ SCITT (financed by school as far as I remember)??

www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/school-based-training/school-centred-training

' Also, from what I have read about the proposed changes in the curriculum, (move away from topic based teaching) it sounds like it is going back to the same education I had in the 70's.'

It really won't be, please don't think that having the experience of being educated in the 70s will help you towards being a teacher in 2012. I've done both and it doesn't equate.

Hi everyone, just wanted to update you. I have now been accepted on the BA Education Studies (Honours) at the IOE. Thanks for all of your advice on this thread I really appreciate your taking the time to help me.

Hurrah! Well done you, that's brilliant Good luck with the course, I'm sure you'll love it!