OU science degree and teaching

[Mamasunshine]

Hello, just wanted to put my thoughts down about my plans and get some feedback.

Contemplating starting natural sciences degree with Ou this autumn, specialising in biology. I love science, particularly biology and covered quite a bit during my nutritional therapy diploma I did several years ago.

I have 3dc 4, 2 and 1. Dh works ft mon-fri, home by 5pm most days. Eldest dc starting school in sept, and middle dc will start 15hrs nursery. I'm thinking I could manage to do 20ish hours study a week to try and complete the degree in 4 years. Studying in the evening once dc are in bed, then will have 5 hours every sat, plus the use of Sundays if/when needed at assessment times?

Planning to volunteer at dc's primary school, and then secondary schools. Ideally with a focus on getting a job as a TA once youngest starts 15 hrs nursery.

After the degree my plans would be do a secondary science PGCE.

Does this sound do-able? I know it will be hard work! Does it sound like a sensible plan?

Thank you for any input, have noone in rl to take these things through with. The application for degree is open on 27th march, can't wait to be 'on my way'!

Hi it's doable, but it will be hard. I started off on the same route wanting to do my degree in 4 years, and I was on target until ds2 came along and I couldn't keep the pace anymore. I'm on my final module now and it will have taken me 6 years in total.
Good luck to you, I've loved doing the degree but I'm glad I'm at the end now, I'm ready for a break,then I will hopefully do my PGCE.

Tbh it is really difficult to get a job as a biology teacher as there are so many. You would be better specialising in physics or even chemistry.

Well done vjaydazzle and good luck with your PGCE!

I had thought about the lack of biology teaching posts etc. the main reason I'm choosing it is that I love it and think I'd do reasonably well having a broad knowledge already. Also I feel I would quite happily work in another area in hat field such as research/lab work etc....not sure how realistic that would be! But I'm open to change and feel the biology degree would give me some choice? Also there would be the option of further study to do a masters, they do a nutritional therapy masters which if I felt that's for me later would follow nicely.

Also I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere there's a kind of top up course in chemistry/physics you can do after to change to a chemistry PGCE if I decided teaching was a definite and biology was impossible to get onto? Tbh I'm a bit scared of physics and chemistry! Hopefully I'll get to grips with them, I haven't studied hem since GCSE!

Thank you

I started an OU degree when my youngest was 1 and finished in in 4 years with no bother at all (and I certainly didn't work 20 hrs a week...). However, I did already have a degree, and so wasn't coming at degree level study for the first time.

I am also a Head of Science in a secondary. You need to be prepared to teach all science up to GCSE level in many schools. MY first degree is in Biochemistry, and I teach Biology, Chemistry and Physics to GCSE, and Biology to A level. Plus Applied Science...

Only one Science A level would worry me a bit, unless you covered a range of subjects in your degree. I know the OU allows that. The top up courses vary a lot in usefulness IME.

Thank you thefallen that's what I have been thinking re needing to have the ability to teach all areas. I've looked again at the Ou course and the first part is all sciences, starts to specialist in the second part. They do a good physics module 90 points level 2 which is for teaching, then a 60 point chemistry level 2 course. So I think in reality I would need to do these too, probably after the degree if I was still sure about taking the route of teaching.

Not in a huge rush , just want to make sure I get to embark on a career I will love! how do you find teaching with having children?

I find it OK. You will find a lot of people on here saying that is completely family unfriendly, but in fact, for me, the holidays make up for most of the other things. I work stupid, stupid hours in term time (but then I have extra responsibility - that isn't compulsory!), but the holidays I get to spend with my children. And that is fab.