Is it possible to teach primary after doing a PGCE aimed more at secondary??

[shadypines]

I just wondered if anyone has done this? Has anyone initially chosen a course aimed at teaching secondary pupils and then realised they want to teach primary? If so, how easy or difficult is it to switch age groups.
Interested to hear experiences, thanks.

You are qualified to teach any age, but would probably need to have full QTS (ie finished NQT/ ECT years) before you switch. But… primary is A LOT of work. Multiple subjects to mark each day, detailed planning often expected, and behaviour can also be bad.

I trained on a middle years course (Y4-Y8). I taught in a Y5-8 school, then a YR - 3 school, then in a primary school (where I mostly taught Reception) and now teach in a secondary school!
Make of that what you will.

The qualification is okay, but you've got to get a job. Faced with a pile of primary-trained applicants and a secondary-trained one, many schools will look first at the primary-trained one.
It's worth talking to the PGCE provider to see whether there's any possibility of a placement in a primary or middle school.

Thank you, very interesting replies!

Yes, I'm a secondary school Music teacher but recently did 3 years of P/T work in my local primary, also teaching Music. Whilst there were aspects of primary I enjoyed, I'm much better at secondary teaching. The kids are just less needy.

I did a secondary science PGCE then my NQT year in Year 4 (and have done primary ever since, mostly in SEND). However, I did my PGCE 22 years ago at a critical teacher shortage point. They would have given anybody who could stand upright and breathe independently a job in a primary school.

Yes, in theory. If you get a job in a trust with primary and secondary schools and tell them once established that you want to move to primary that might make it easier for you, as they can move you internally. Also, depending on where you are, primary schools are not drowning in applications. Have you done any placement in primary? I had to do a few weeks in primary for my secondary PGCE (though in a big academy trust).

I was reading the graduation list for our local university and they had 4 people qualify as secondary school teachers and 50 for primary school teachers. Guess they think it’s easier to teach little ones.

Absolutely, and depending on your specialism, you may find yourself more employable (eg someone who can take PPA cover by teaching MFL, or an art/drama/music/PE specialist).

Definitely try to get some experience, although I realise that might be tricky if you’re working full time as a secondary teacher.

No personal experience, but I know someone who was a secondary school maths teacher for many years and recently swapped to primary, so it's obviously possible. I don't know the teacher well, more of a friend of a friend really, but from what I've heard it was quite a difficult transition but they don't regret it. I don't know if they needed to do formal refreshers or extra training or anything though sorry.

From what I understand possibe but not always easier - if the person is still doing the pgce talk to their tutor ASAP

If you can do some primary supply work once qualified, you will get your name and face known, which always helps.
To be honest, in my area at the moment, as long as you can stand upright, you would get a job- we are SO short of candidates whenever we try to recruit, it's ridiculous!

I’d say you’d find it fairly easy to get a job in primary these days. We are a very lovely, well resourced school and we have had two job adverts live since September.

That depends where you are in the country. DD1 is ECT and fortunately got a job, but many of her cohort at uni didn't. I'm also a primary teacher and my school had loads of applicants for a maternity role. What we can't get are TAs!

It's not easier in primary.

It's different challenges .

I did a middle years PGCE too (KS2/3), main placement was in secondary.

I did supply teaching for a term to build up primary experience and my first day supply I was thrown into EYFS then tossed to Y6 for the afternoon! I felt totally like a fish out of water but I loved it so much more than secondary.

I then got a long term supply job in KS1 where I did my NQT and have stayed in KS1/EYFS ever since.

Definitely doable. But hard - I had to do a lot of supply teaching for a long time because it was so hard to get a job. I had a series of 1-yr contracts eventually before I found my hens tooth permanent position. I live in an area where there are multiple universities churning out primary trained PGCE students every year so blamed that more than anything.

Remote area perhaps?

Could also be some areas of London. Can't find teachers. One applicant per post is typical and has been for a few years.

Definitely jobs around in my area - Bucks. Not remote at all.

Jobs maybe, but number of applicants perhaps not so many (that's how I interpreted the pp anyway 🤷).

Wow! Hasn't of thought a lack of applicants would be a problem in London!

Thanks for your help everyone, I was just asking after a conversation with DD, it's not for myself. All very enlightening.

London is expensive to live in and teacher pay in London is only very slightly higher than that in areas where you can buy a 5 bed house for the same price that you could buy a 1 bed flat in London. Therefore, too few people want to work in London. This is, of course, variable across the city. It also applies to the wider south east, where pay is the same as in the rest of England and Wales, but living costs are much, much higher.

I live in the SE (not London) so very aware of the COL and housing but there have always been many, many applicants for teacher jobs, especially for primary teaching roles. So yes, I do find it surprising that this isn't the same in London.