Are you a teacher or training to be a teacher?

[LoveMyGirls]

Hi everyone,

I have been considering a career in teaching (ideally Secondary school Art Teacher) but I have no idea at all where to start and wondered if a few of you can answer some of my questions?

How can you afford to pay the fee's? How much are the fee's? Where do you start?

I'm 28, married, have 2 dd's (one about to go to secondary school and one about to start primary) I currently work full time and already have debt so I'm thinking I would need to wait until the debts are paid which will be in about 4-5 years.

I haven't even got good enough GCSE's I left school at 16 with one C in English, am I insane thinking I could do this?

I have no idea about essay's, dissertations etc.

I'd also like to know about your job, do you enjoy it? What are the high and low points?

How long does it take to be qualified?

What is the pay like?

Thanks

Hello

I'm training to be a primary school teacher. The fees - for my uni were £3200. I'm lucky that my husband works for Foreign Office, so i got some sponsorship through their spouse training scheme.

The course I do, at Hertforshire Uni - is AMAZING because it's distance learning. Cos of DH's job, we're abroad, so i do coursework online - and then fly home and do the set pieces at schools. Again, v. lucky my best friend let's me stay in her house in hertfordshire - as I'm not from there, so I'd have to rent something. but Herts covers a lot of areas, Essex, Cambridgeshire, London, bedforshire, and a few others. I'm doing postgrad - which adds it onto my degree.

I don't have to do dissertations, just 3 essays/projects - 1st was reflections on teaching experience afetr 3 weeks at a school. 2nd was research (i did gender and reading), 3rd is based on research aftr a research placement at school. Also - they check random coursework throughout term to see you're actually doing it.

I have no idea about pay - I just wanted to do it - and thought it was a good career if we continue moving abroad, as I can find work in American/British schools abroad. plus i really love spending time in school with children and feel valued.

My course runs over 12 months (full time), 15 month (4 days a week), 18 month (3 days) and 22 months (2.5 days) BUT you have to do the stints in school full time.

I've got Ok GCSES, bad A levels, and a 2:2. not sure if you'd need a degree - but you could do the degree/PGCE combined.

Anyhow, feel free to CAT me if you need anymore advice. :)

Thanks cupcakes that's really helpful.

Has anyone else got more advice/ experience's?

I think whatever I do I will need to re-do my maths and possible science GCSE's and some kind of art course.

I was thinking teacher because I'm a childminder now so I'm already working with children and know about OFSTED.

I think my main problem is the fact I already do 10 hour days with 2 children of my own and have no money and quite a bit of debt, the thing on my side is that I'm still young and have a very supportive DH.

My inspiration is my mum who went back to uni at about 33yrs with 3 children of her own and 2 step sons and managed to work part time, go to uni and bring us up, she is now at the top of the ladder in nursing at aged 51. Where there is determination there is a way I just need to find it, if teaching is what I want to do, though I'm not totally sure yet what I want to do, I'm just looking into various things.

Hi Love, I'm planning on starting training to be a secondary school art teacher next year so I've been looking into it quite a lot.

I've already got an art based university degree which gives me a lot more options when it comes to training and I'm hoping to do the GTP program where you can earn 15k p/a while training and it takes a year. You would need a degree for that option though.

You'll definately need to have your GCSE grade C or above in maths, english and science and will then probably need to do something like a B(Ed) if you dont have a uni degree. This site is worth reading thoroughly if you haven't done so already:

www.tda.gov.uk/

specifically, here is the info on entry requirements:

www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/thetrainingprocess/basicrequirements.aspx

Do bear in mind though that competition for arts and music teachers is quite high and generally in the UK they look for industry experience as well as the teaching aspect. I will consider myself lucky to get onto a training course next year and I've worked in the photography industry for 6 years..... good luck though and if it's really what you want dont let anything stop you! you'll need a lot of determination!

I have been an art teacher for seven years, and have never regretted training. Ask me anything!

Whereabouts in the country are you?

I think you have to choices really. To get a place at university you could study an Access course. These are courses aimed at mature students who don't have the quals to get into uni. You can usually do them part time or full time, depending on your other commitments. You could also do it via the DLC from home - if you're very motivated and can work well on your own from home.

If you go to uni full time I don't think you pay your fees until you've finished your degree. I think you pay back something like 5% of your wages (on a PAYE basis) once you're earning over £15k per year. That could be out of date though so check the uni finace pages for up to date info.

Your second choice is to begin a degree with the OU as there are no formal entry requirements - you just need to make sure you're academically suitable for the courses you choose. I think OU can be quite expensive but you can pay monthly and fit studying around your job.

Once you have your degree you can do a PGCE (some places offer part time).

Good luck.

two choices

you can't be a teacher in england tho' without grade C passes in english, maths and science as mentioned above, so even if you get onto a degree course via an access course (great suggestion btw) you will have to do those GCSE's at some point before starting your PGCE. You get a loan from the government to pay your fees, and you can borrow some more money for living expenses as well. some courses (but not art I don't think) also attract a bursary.
i would also really check the likely job situation in your area - for instance there are constant appeals for science teachers but there is actually an over supply of biologists in yorkshire/durham/northumberland.

That's true Loshad, but I think most Access courses run GCSE's in English and Maths alongside them if you need them. But it is worth checking that with your college as you will need them

Hi

I'm just about to begin my 3rd and final year of my education and english literature degree. I then hope to go on to complete the PGCE in secondary English.

I started on a pre-access course at college as like you I didn't all the GCSE's I needed. I then went straight on to the access course, and then straight on to my degree. All in all I shall be completing 6 years of education to become a teacher, and I can't wait. Getting my degree (assuming I do get it) has been the best thing I have ever done.

If I was you I would enrol on an evening course to bring your GCSE's up to date, you may be able to start in September if you act quickly. That will then give you another year to think through how and when to begin the rest of your education.

If it is any motivation to you I have three dcs 5, 4, and 3 and I have debt everywhere. Do it you will not regret it.

Wow thanks for the replies!!

It's really good to know I can do it if I want to, the pay monthly or after I've got a job earning over 15k would be amazing as I just don't have a few thousand pounds to pay upfront and I can't afford to get us into anymore debt! Mind you I can't afford to not work so it will have to be something I can fit in around my current job or I will have to get another job while I'm training.

I think the advice about checking there is a demand for teachers in my area is very valid and something I should have considered.

I think my next step is to definitely do my maths and science GCSE's again as I will need those for any career option I choose.

Can you tell me how you fit in your study time?

Tehersend can you talk to me about the day to day of your job, the good the bad and the ugly please?

Remember when working out your PGCE finances that the student loan + bursary (£4000 for A&D, but may well change in a few years) only has to last you for September-June rather than a full year.

I can tell you now there will be a glut of art teachers in your area- there always is; after all, what else can you do with an art degree?
Don't let that put you off- what's to say you won't be the best art teacher in the area? Schools like to employ NQTs; they cost them less, are enthusiastic and malleable. In a good way

What can I tell you about the job? It is what you make it. If you actually enjoy spending time with young people, and it sounds like you do, you will love it. It is a hard job, forget lunch and breaktimes and you will be there until 4/5 every night but the holidays balance that out. You will learn your own way in the classroom and find a teaching style to suit you- you will usually have a timetable which is made up of a cross section of yrs 7-13 so age 11-18, and each age group brings its own challenges and rewards.

Art is a great subject to teach, as you sometimes find that those who achieve highly in more traditionally academic subjects struggle whilst those who achieve poorly in those subjects do really well in art. It can completely invert the 'hierachy' in some cases.

For the past few years I have worked with students with behavioural difficulties and seeing kids take pride in their work and learning new skills always reminds you why you do the job

This is a great thread. I too am hoping to go into teaching (hopefully history if it is still around by the time I graduate. I completed a specific access course actually at my uni last year which is relevant to my discipline and will start my degree in 2011 (deferred) and cannot wait. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was 11 years old so am really feeling like I am achieveing something huge.

Love - good luck to you. It can be done. My workload last year was that of a first year undergrad and with 2 DC (2 and 4) it was hard at times but you just have to be really disciplined with your time. Study time is study time and family time is family time, etc.