QTLS/PCET - Teaching in Further Education institutions

[Sammy3]

I was considering changing career to teach ICT at secondary school. However, having researched it (including taking into account the comments on mumsnet), I'm having a rethink. I've got 3 children & really wouldn't want to miss all of their school events/activities. So, I'm now considering teaching/lecturing FE or adult education. Has anyone got any experience of this? Does it impact on your homelife as much as secondary teaching? I did a taster course through a SCITT & think I'd really enjoy teaching, but I'm worried about the impact on my own children.

Hi. I started working at an FE college in September as a Learning Support Lecturer. I work in classes that have other tutors in and my role is to support students in vocational areas who need additional help in key skills.

I had worked as a psychotherapist before this and moved into this area to try to reduce my stress levels! I wanted something that would fit in with my kids too.

I work as a sessional lecturer, which means I only get paid for the hours I work so any preparation, marking etc is done in my own time. However, the bonus for me is that I get all the school holidays off and because I am not responsible for planning the lessons (only for planning my bit), I don't have much work to do at home. Sounds good - BUT -

I have had to start working towards Qualified Teacher Status and I'm doing a ProfGCE in FE teaching and its one of the hardest things I've had to do! There is a hell of a lot of work involved and it's come as a bit of a shock!

I think, overall, that I'm happy with my decision but wish I'd been a bit more prepared. If there's anything specific you want to ask, fire away!

Adult education is primarily sessional based unless you do something like ESOL or Skills for Life employed via a college. You get paid for teaching time, which may only be an hour or two's session at a time, and some expenses but not preparation time or paperwork. The advantge of this is that you can largely choose your hours within termtime but may not be reilable income. You may also have to get a specific qualification to teach adults as not all are transferrable.

Thanks, moodyblue. I have lots of questions, so you'll regret offering. Are Learning Support Lecturers for key skills like maths/English only or does it include things like ICT? I've heard of the ProfGCE but thought you had to study to teach secondary level. How did you find out where to study it for FE? Does the sessional bit affect the rate that you're paid a lot? I'm trying to work out if I'd be taking a massive paycut to do it. Do you find it difficult to get work? Thanks again.

Hmmmm...I'll have to stick to FE, rather than adult education then, LIZS. I definitely need a regular income. Thanks for the advice.

Hi Sammy3.

Sorry I haven't replied sooner. I've had loads of coursework to do (not to put you off completely ). I am doing my ProfGCE at the college where I work. It is accredited by Nottingham Trent University. There are lots of centres that offer the course and I would advise you research them well cause there seems to be quite a variation in quality.

The Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (ProfGCE)is the new name for the Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Can't understand why they changed the name but hey ho! The one for FE is called ProfGCE - Post Compulsory Education. You need a degree to do the ProfGCE. If you haven't got a degree, you can do the Certificate in Education. This will also lead to Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills status. Where I study, ProfGCE and Cert Ed students attend the same classes and are given the same course work - the Cert Ed students write their assignments to a level below the ProfGCE students though (I know, it's complicated!)

Most Learning Support Tutors where I work are literacy or numeracy specialists but there is work available as Key Skills ICT lecturer. I work 17 hours a week for 37 weeks of the year and earn £21 an hour. My contract was for one academic year but I have been assured of as many hours (or more if i want them) for the next academic year.

Hope that's useful - ask away if there's anything else you need. I promise I'll keep a closer check on messages! Now, must get back to course work

Thanks again, moodyblue. I'm just as bad about keeping an eye on messages, as you can see.

I'll have to research ProfGCE providers. I'm also going to see what jobs are available for sessional ICT lecturers in my area. I'm in the Midlands as well. I think it's a good time to look since schools/colleges are currently recruiting teachers to fill vacancies for next September.

How are you coping with the course vs family? Are you able to catch up on things during the school hols?

I am a lecturer at a college and have been for the past 19 years - fractional now having been full time before I had the children.

Any questions, feel free to ask!

Jennypog, how many hours do you spend lecturing per week and how much time do you spend working outside school hours? Do you ever get to go to your childrens' school events, like plays/sports days? Thanks.

Things seem fairly calm at the minute - always feel worried about saying that though cause its bound to come back and bite me on the bum . I'm hoping to complete this year's course work over the weekend as it is due in next Friday. Then I'm finished until end Sept. And cause I'm sessional I finish teaching at the end of June till Sept so have all summer off with the boys. Very excited! I keep telling myself that I'm going to ask for next year's assignments so I can get ahead but I think when it comes to it I will 'forget'.

mooodyblue, so you're doing the course part-time while working. Sounds like you deserve the summer break.

Hi

To answer your questions, I worked 22 hours a week (60%) but only teach around 14 hours(ish) including tutorials. I am course team leader to 2 full time courses in business - level 2 and 3 (so I get remission).

I very rarely work outside of class but I have been working in FE a very long time and have a large amount of resources. When I first went into teaching I worked full time and found it pretty exhausting tbh. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel and I usually only work at home when I am a bit pushed (like at the moment with final assessments, etc).

I have usually managed to get my children's sports' days etc, but I have missed them too. I think that if you are working it can be difficult to organise things so that you are always there for the children.

I get a bit fed up sometimes in my job (but then who doesn't?) - there is very poor management often in the FE sector and my college has and is suffering for it, also the pay is nothing to get excited about. I have a PGCE but wouldn't really want to teach in schools. I get 10 weeks holiday - not all of the school holidays but most of them.

The one beef I have is all the inspecting that goes on. I have been inspected by the FEFC, Ofsted, peer observations, consultants, etc. It is a right pain in the a*. One year you can get a grade 1 and everyone thinks you are great, the next year you have a bad day and get a 3 and they are on the verge of sacking you!!

Students are fab - love them to bits and it is good to get to know young people the way I do. In fact, they are what keep me going and I feel really sad then they leave.

So yes, on balance it isn't a bad job - I come and go as I please and no one gives me too much aggro (except moderators and Ofsted)!

If you want anymore information let me know. Sorry for the long and boring post,

Hi I started as a temp lecturer and actually had a LOT of extra work to do at home and also commuting to various campuses and community education centres. If you are in Scotland the government is now requring you to work in schools (which I have done) and with 14 - 19 year olds to encourage vocational qualifications, which is a different kettle of fish form being in an FE institute.

I have (fingers crossed) just finished my BATQFE which was a lot of hard work and very time consuming but I did it off my own back. If you are in an FE college usually you will be put forward for it at some point in your career. Like all of the education sector standards and expectations change constantly but I love the job and look forward to going back to it when my DC are a little older.

Good luck!

Just read my message again - of course I work outside class - it is work I meant in that first paragraph not class.

2nd paragraph

Jennypog, I currently work in IT & am used to poor management by now. I think I've only ever had 1 good manager. I'd find all those inspections nerve-wracking but I suppose you sort-of get used to them eventually. I could cope with missing a few of my kids' sports days etc, but I wouldn't want to miss them all, which is the impression I got from secondary teachers. I worked full-time + oncall, until 2 years ago when I dropped to 30hrs/wk so I'm used to juggling my time between home & work. I'm thinking of changing career to teaching because I think I'd find it more fulfilling, which you seem to bear out. Thanks.

rumpel, did you do a ProfGCE before starting as a temp? If so, do you think your first year of "proper" teaching was tougher because you were temping? I was concerned that maybe I wouldn't get the support if I start out as a temp lecturer, as opposed to starting as a fulltime one.