Career change to teacher

[Louise7777]

Hi all. I'm looking at a career change. I'm going to retake my maths gcse but I've read to start teacher training you need a degree or equivalent. Does anyone know what equipment courses they can be? I work part time and have a 1 year old but happy to do distance course where appropriate. I could do an open uni degree but the cost is far to much atm and so looking for alternative courses? Thanks

First you need to understand what loans you can get for tuition fees and maintenance. www.savethestudent.org/student-finance/part-time-student-finance.html might be a good place to start.

Then you need to think about what you want to teach and what degree you would need for this. Then you need to find out which universities offer this either as distance learning or locally as a part-time course at times when you could get childcare. Many FE colleges deliver degree programmes in partnership with a university, and their facilities/hours might be more accessible.

I'm not sure why the Open University should be more expensive than anywhere else. Your typically pay £6,000 for 6 years to do a BA/BSc part-time with the OU (total £18,000), compared to typically £27,000 to do the same degree full-time elsewhere. And you should be entitled to a loan to cover this. I don't know about other universities' part-time fees.

I've just found on on ou page details of tuition loans so that's definitely more achievable now

What do you want to teach? Why do you want to teach? It's a massive committment to a career that is not family-friendly so needs very careful consideration before you jump.

Probably primary school teaching. I currently work shifts, 12 hour shifts days and nights with a very long commute. Often working weekends, Christmas dayss etc. That's not very family friendly. I'm fairly sure teaching is more so, at least I would have the same time off as dc

Louise77 there are some articles here you might find helpful:

www.tes.com/institute/blog/what%E2%80%99s-difference-between-primary-and-secondary-teaching

www.tes.com/articles/routes-teaching-teacher-training-programmes

www.tes.com/institute/straight-to-teaching-qts

I’d definitely say before you invest in a degree etc, take two days holiday (more if you can afford it) and arrange to go into a school and do some observations of teachers/shadow a teacher. It isn’t as family friendly as you might think, and yes- matching holidays can be great- but you’re likely to be working throughout them.

I currently work shifts, 12 hour shifts days and nights with a very long commute. Often working weekends, Christmas days etc. That's not very family friendly.

It really isn't you will still be working weekends days, nights, holidays and long days especially with parents evening, clubs, trips etc. Teaching these days in certainly anything but family friendly. The only people I know teaching with children and some form of family life are part time or on supply.

I'm fairly sure teaching is more so, at least I would have the same time off as dc

Whilst possibly likely it's worth noting many teachers and their children don't have matching holidays and half terms. In addition apart from a few weeks in the summer your holidays will be spent planning for the next term so not exactly quality time off with your children.

I would advise caution it honestly sounds like you are viewing the profession through rose tinted glasses have you had experience in a school?

Go into it with your eyes open. It’s not just the hours - if you’re a completist who likes to leave work knowing that things are all tied-up, this is not for you. It’s a really mental load - nothing is ever finished and it’s hard to do everything well. Plus you need the energy of a butlins rep on speed.

Defo get some school experience, rather than retake your maths GCSE I would enroll on a level 3 supporting teaching and learning course and then find a job as a TA. This will give you an insight into education and then you can decide if teaching is for you 👍🏻

Teaching is NOT family friendly unless you are part time. You'll work evenings and weekends to get lessons planned. With primary as well in a lot of schools you are expected to mark books daily, which means late nights...

You need to spend time in a school! Observe maths teaching in particular. Talk to teachers about their hours & workload.

I would really recommend working in a school or doing some volunteering before you commit. I also went into teaching because it was 'family friendly'...and I got the shock of my life...also with academies you're not guaranteed to have the same holidays off as your children!

I always find it astonishing how many people don't seem to know or believe you need a degree to teach. OP, you need a degree AND QTS. This means either doing a BA/BSc/ BEd with QTS or doing a first degree followed by postgrad.
I am also taken aback by the number of people who go into teaching because of hours/ family friendliness , rather than wanting to teach and shape young minds.
I'd maybe feel more encouraging and be more helpful if you said that you have a desire to work with and educate young children and the prospect excites you...