teacher training

[southeastastra]

after watching the channel 4 programme tonight, i would really love to train to be a primary teacher. what would i have to do? (would it take years) i am 37 have i left it too late?

What is your current education level?

ooh not good (no degree)

Look at this site here . There are different ways - from doing a degree and a PGSE, to training programmes wher you study "on the job"

i know! blimey i'm too old to do a degree, i would be about 45 by the time i qualified.

i wish i had done one when i left school but was made to do a typing course instead grr. thanks for the link will mull it over.

well read that link and have def left it too late. nice dream for about 10 mins

Southeastastra, Have you considered becoming a teaching assistant. You don't need any formal qualifications and most training for the role is on the job. You could contact a few local primary schools and ask if they need any help with reading which would give you an idea if it is something you would like. You could look in the local paper or contact your lea/ local council to see if there are any jobs going. Don't give up your dream - as you saw from the programme last night a teaching assistant is a vital part of the classroom. This may help with info info about clasroom assistants

I swapped careers & about to start my first TA job & I am 2 years older than you !

i always though TA positions were really hard to get, i do alot of holiday playscheme and afterschool club work at the moment but would like to get more involved in schools. will read the links ta. whizz were there tons of people after the job?

Well I had been helping at DSs primary 1 day a week for a few months when a vacancy came up there. However it was a higher level TA that was going & they were looking for someone with more experience than me at that point. There have been quite a few positions advertised in my area (but I needed something fairly close to home). I've now got a job in the secondary school next door to DSs - which is great. I'm not sure how many went for the post though.

The key thing is get into a school to gain practical experience (& to ensure that its what you want to do!!). I have no experience of secondary BUT I do have some transferable skills from my previous career (involved lots of training people)

I started a thread yesterday actually, asking who the TAs on here were ! I will bump it

SE how did you work out it would take you 8 years? I am 32 and applying for a Primary Teaching degree next year, the course itself is 3 years. Then it takes a year during your first job to get to QTS standard, which means you get a lighter workload at school and are observed and stuff, but nbviously you still get the salary. Even if you had to do A levels or an Access course (1 yr) first that would still only take 4-5 years actual academic education which would mean you could be in a job by around 42/43. Many unis will take mature students who don't have "traditional" qualifications, but have experience of the school of life!

My soon to be ex H did a Post Graduate teaching course and there people already in their 40s and 50s training as teachers. I say gofor it!!!!