Retraining as a teacher - how challenging?

[BlastedPimples]

I mean the actual PGCE / QTS content? I am curious to how intellectually demanding it is. I have a BA and an MSc but those are from 20 years ago now.

I have read many horror stories about the educational environment in the U.K. but I would be looking to train in the U.K. and then move abroad asap.

Actually go get started working in a school perhaps I should apply for online teaching assistant course? Just to get something under my belt.

I only have QTS and worked in 3 different countries as a uk qualified teacher with a similar pay scale or more. I don’t know if it’s changed but you didn’t need a PGCE - in fact one notable international school said they had heard good things about the version of schools direct I took back in the day as it gave me much more school based experience in a borough that was inner London but was known for producing good teachers. Wasn’t a fancy London school either.

I personally think all students should go through the schools direct or similar school focused routes rather than university as I don’t think university placements on a PGCE prepare students enough for what it will really be like but that’s a whole other thread!

One thing was I did 2 years in London before I moved as it was often a requirement for international schools to have 2 years uk based experience.

Are you applying through Sunderland? I think they used to do the Ipgce- mentored an international student once through it.

Agreeing with others- post grad is not tough intellectually, but huge amount of work/time required, you have to be able to work v long hours on a continuous basis!

Something like this ukopencollege.co.uk/how-to-become-a-teaching-assistant/

It's not going to be intellectually a challenge - but you will find the workload & things like behaviour the biggest challenge.

Do you plan to move back to UK to train?

Well, I would prefer not to. Especially with the advent of iQTS and iPGCE.

But because I am having difficulty finding any kind of roles in school where I am that could support me whilst I train, I might have to come back to the U.K. to do the course.

I am afraid of what I've heard about teaching in UK schools though. Also I don't want to live in the U.K. and I can't keep uprooting my dcs.

I completed my PGCE over 10 years ago but from memory, the essay writing wasn't particularly difficult (I also have an undergraduate English degree) but the days at uni were long! A full 9-5 day and then the expectation to do reading and essays outside of core uni hours.

Whilst on placement, there's lots of uni paperwork to complete outside of standard planning and marking such as a reflection on every lesson taught, case studies on children. It's full on! That being said, it's only a year and perfectly manageable, providing you can be extremely organised. Once you are a qualified teacher, your workload will be vast anyway, so it's good preparation.