Opinions on a second gap year

[Curiousoctopus]

Last year (summer 2025) I didn’t get into my first choice uni and hadn’t applied for accom for my insurance and so I decided to spontaneously take a gap year working as a gap student in a prep school.

I’ve now been doing this job for nearly 6 months and have been ABSOLUTELY loving it the people are amazing and I’m enjoying the experience in education and the money has been a great addition to my savings for the future.

However, since im enjoying it so much im now torn between the idea of extending the job for another year to gain more experience (potentially then going into education later down the line) whilst also gaining more money for my savings or going to uni next year to study psychology?

Does anyone have any advice??

What does the job involve? Is it like a teaching assistant?

If you want to be a teacher further down the line you would be better off studying another subject than psychology. What A-levels did you do?

I would have a similar role to a TA with jobs within EY and Y1 and more generalised jobs around the school including boarding duties

I’m not sure to be honest! I don’t know whether I want to commit to an education related degree yet, although I’m not sure exactly what drew me to psychology other than my experience of the subject at sixth form

Psychology is practically the most popular degree; graduates are ten a penny. I would swap to a different subject. You could do something plus Education, maybe. If you like teaching then aim for a straight school subject.

Definitely keep working. No one cares about degrees nowdays, much better to get work experience and maybe avoid uni altogether? You'd save so much money.

Retired secondary headteacher here. I agree with this comment - studying a national curriculum subject will be much more help if you're considering a career in teaching.

If you fancy another year in the job you're currently doing - why not? Save more money for university and graduate with less of a debt. And if you do pursue teaching as a career, the experience will be invaluable.

Nothing wrong with working another year. If you want the university experience though I wouldn't delay it too long so you are not too much older than your peers. If you aren't bothered about going to uni then consider getting a degree via the Open University. If this is something you would consider then you could try a short course this year.

Totally agree another year won’t make any difference Uni or career wise so if you enjoy it and can build some more funds than why not. Also gives you more time and maturity to make sure you pick the right course for you. Two of my DC are in education and picking non core subjects did limit the job opportunities a little

Prep school teacher here. We have a 'gap year' student who has now been with us for 3 years. She was wanting to study psychology too. However, she is now doing a teaching degree whilst still working with us.

https://www.buckingham.ac.uk/event/ta-to-teacher-primary-and-secondary-salaried-undergraduate-routes-2/?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=1749442313&utm_content=420699477757&adgroupid=97333599300&_gl=11qstqsf_upMQ..gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiAv5bMBhAIEiwAqP9GuPUSyx160Gzn3Vp067IWaBzk_D5Tj6_txSH2aKnU2B0bjtacZlG7HxoC3PIQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADyme37bMMLZ1MMixaAA1k-jMyKZ

If you’re not super passionate about the degree you picked, and you love your job, stay in your job for another year and reassess

Hiw about looking into an apprenticeship in education. You ould begin coursework towards your degree while continuing to earn. You could start by looking for a L4 apprenticeship so that it's a smaller time commitment to complete. Then you can see about continuing to build apprenticeship qualifications or entering uni in second year.

My daughter (38 now) was unsure about uni and took three gap years to work, save and travel. Found her passion while travelling and applied as a mature student, worked hard, enjoyed uni and got a great degree and a good job. Don’t know if it’s still the case but after three years in employment she was assessed as an independent student (not on our income) and qualified for extra funding so we didn’t need to contribute at all if we didn’t want to.

Do not trap yourself in Education.

A Psychology degree is an excellent basis for EY and Primary or for SEN. It is also a good first degree if your interests might lie in more health-related fields (Speech & Language, Occupational Therapy, Audiology as well as the obvious and highly competitive clinical psychology routes).

You have been in education as a student for 14 years plus now working in it. Do something else. Anything else other than going straight into teaching.

You may still be drawn to it after your degree and then a PGCE or similar will get you qualified. Do not waste 4 years of HE on studying education.

Birkbeck College is part of the University of London and offers degrees where you can attend classes in the evening or sometimes online, https://www.bbk.ac.uk/prospective/undergraduate

They apparently have an open day on 7th March if you are at all interested.

Ruskin College in Oxford caters for students who have worked first and then want to come back to education and get a degree - if you later find yourself in that position.