teacher training - what experience do I need?

Badgerqueen · 2009-09-02T12:45:33+00:00

Am thinking about changing career and I am interested in training as a primary school teacher through the graduate training programme, which means I can work at the same time as I train. Has anyone managed this? And do I need classroom experience first? Are there jobs for unqualified teaching assistants or do I have to volunteer? Any assistance or ideas welcome!

laneyjay · 02/09/2009 20:32

Experience would be in your favour. GTP places are highly competitive and pretty rare. The GTP is really designed for those who already have some level of school based experience, maybe worked as a teaching assistant or an unqualified teacher. At the moment teaching assistant jobs are hard to come by with no qualification as many people are looking for the school friendly hours. Primary school jobs are also very competitive and I know several people who qualified in primary teaching that have really struggled to find jobs. As you have no experience I would suggest you go for the PGCE it will prepare you for teaching rather than the GTP which throws you in at the deep end. The schools offering placements often do so in lieu of a teacher and so they expect a lot for their money. I don't want to put you off, but teaching is a lot of work, especially during your training and first year or two and the primary workload is huge. What is your degree in?

Original poster

Badgerqueen · 03/09/2009 11:53

First degree and masters in History of art (presume this counts as History - not quite as fluffy and pointless as it sounds honest!) + 12 years working in museums, mainly at management level. I have to keep working I think, though PGCE is only one year, am I right? Its not just the child friendly hours I am after - I am really interested in teaching as a route to Child development/educational psychology work, but need a transitional experience/job/training I think before I can do that. Just trying to work out how to make this work. Don't worry about putting me off - I'd rather hear how things really are!

OP posts:

Original poster

Badgerqueen · 03/09/2009 12:41

First degree and masters in History of art (presume this counts as History - not quite as fluffy and pointless as it sounds honest!) + 12 years working in museums, mainly at management level. I have to keep working I think, though PGCE is only one year, am I right? Its not just the child friendly hours I am after - I am really interested in teaching as a route to Child development/educational psychology work, but need a transitional experience/job/training I think before I can do that. Just trying to work out how to make this work. Don't worry about putting me off - I'd rather hear how things really are!

OP posts:

laneyjay · 04/09/2009 10:19

Don't want to be negative but you may find that without a core subject such as english, maths, science it may be almost impossible to get on a course. My degree is in Music and I could not get onto any primary course for love nor money despite having school based and private teaching experience. Yes they wanted my musical abilities, but with a specialism in a core subject. Have you considered secondary? I qualified 6 years ago and was hod in 3 years. I really love the kids (most of the time). My school also has an enhanced resource base which caters for children with a wide range of emotional and behavioural problems and physical disabilities. Ed psychology will require a further degree on top of your teaching. You must love uni!

Original poster

Badgerqueen · 04/09/2009 13:01

Its so complicated, aargh. Thanks for talking to me about this. I sound really naive don't I?

Just to clarify - you think that even to get on a PGCE I would be at a disadvantage without a degree in a core subject? That's really disappointing. It doesn't seem to count if I went straight for a Psychology course at the OU either, I have to do the Diploma conversion (no problem), but I have to do 2 additional pre-qualifying courses to get on to that + no points for previous qualifications. I can't really afford to study for that long without working properly.

On the tda website though, they only ask for A-levels and Gcse core subjects all of which I have. It feels a bit grim that after studying for 6 years (pretty successfully) and working forever that it doesn't count.

OP posts:

laneyjay · 06/09/2009 12:46

Technically you only need a degree to get on a PGCE but competition is high and I am pretty sure that core subjects will get places first. If you could gain some experience before applying it would be favourable but you may still struggle for primary. I have a friend who is a history graduate who has applied 3 consecutive years for primary, with experience, and could not get a place. Now doing secondary History GTP. I don't think you are naive either, its just really hard to know the ins and outs unless you have applied or know plenty of teachers. Some PGCE's will offer you a conversion route, training for two years with time to develop subject knowledge alongside teaching experience. It must be disappointing after all your studying to find that it might not help you get into teaching.

Sumera · 13/09/2010 13:56

Hi, I am writting first time because i am stuck and need advise. I am intended to do PGCE(Maths) and i fulfill all the entry requirements. I want to do Part-time PGCE but some unis are not takeing part-time students due to Governments spending cuts. Now i have decided to do it through open university, but not sure that if it is a good idea as i have never done a distance learning before.
If anyone knows about OU PGCE or would like to share their opinion i ll appreciate it.

lostFeelings · 14/09/2010 00:58

I think both of you will be best informed at tes forums:

Prospective student teachers

re: OU route - I read somewhere that the biggest obstacle was to get placements as obviously OU needs to find it near your school

have you got any contacts in secondary schools?

maths is still a shortage subject - if I were you I would approach your local schools trying to get hold of their coordinators for NQT's they usually are the same people who arrange training placements for PGSE's

wherabouts are you?

for primary training - places are usually gone by 1.12
by then you have to have observed in a primary school for 2 weeks - again tricky to arrange...

lostFeelings · 14/09/2010 00:59

for entry for primary - contact directly any college, they will be able to explain to you their criteria

Sumera · 17/09/2010 12:58

There are lots of secondary schools where i live. And i have contacted them as well i am waiting for their response. Main thing is they do their own CRB checks and don't want to spend money on volunteers.
But thank you very much for your advice i ll try to(contact NQT'S) approach school in a different way now.

bossyboop · 20/09/2010 21:12

I did an Early Years degree (which mainly focused on the 0-5 age group) however lots of people on my course went on to do the PGCE in primary school teaching and are now working teachers, but they would only entertain you if you had some work experience with children. My friend did a spanish degree and spent 4 weeks doing voluntary work in her sons school and that was enough for her to get onto the PGCE. The interview process was hard -I know I had an interview for PGCE but my lack of work experience let me down. It was a day long process involving about 30-40 other applicants and we got put into smaller groups to do a presentation and other things then a 1:1 interview that lasted about 10 minutes. My other friend did a childhood studies degree and she applied 4 times for the pgce and was finally successful after she completed a teaching assistant course as that provided her with the experience she needed - shes now a fully qualified working teacher.

moffat · 20/09/2010 21:18

I woudn't give up hope for the PGCE - a friend of mine is doing Primary PGCE at IOE and she has a Law degree - she managed to convince them at interview that it was relevant because of all the legislation around teaching.

frustrated6 · 14/10/2010 23:58

my daughter has dreamed of going in to teaching for years. She is in to her 2nd year of 2 year NVQ level 3 Childcare, they promised to help her redo her science as she only got a D & E. She was told she needs science to go in to primary education, does any one know of a course she can do that can help her?? College don't seem to be helping in any way or connexions. Despite that Connexions are only in college when she's on her placement!!

sayithowitis · 16/10/2010 22:45

As far as teaching assistant jobs are concerned, I can tell you they are as rare as hens teeth and when one is advertised, there are numerous applicants. there is currently a vacancy at our school for a TA. There were 57 applicants and with only two exceptions, all the applicants had degrees, including a few firsts! ( And in core subjects!) there were a significant number of males as well as younger women, recent graduates,so it's not just Mums who want something to do during school hours who are applying!

You might do better to go for PGCE and have some sort of relevant voluntary work you can show as an indication of your commitment and suitability.

Good Luck.