Primary school teacher training

[SarfEasticated]

Hi there,
I'm thinking of taking the plunge and retraining as a Primary School Teacher. I live in Lewisham SE London and presently work in publishing so have no experience whatsoever!

I am going to start looking round for courses, but just wondered if the college you went to had any bearing on the kind of job you got afterwards? If so which are the good ones?

Anything else I should know, or websites I should visit?
Thanks in advance

www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/becomingateacher/waysintoteaching.aspx

That will give you your options re. courses. I would certainly recommend a course within a school (such as the GTP) rather than a college-based course. Training within a school is great for classroom management, behaviour management, knowledge of children, being able to sustain planning, getting to know colleagues, money(?), etc, etc. It all real-time learning rather than from a textbook.

Over the past couple of years, we have been more impressed with school-based NQTs at interview.

You'll need to browse around the rest of the tda site for lots more info.

Some universities are more highly regarded than others, I'm not too sure which are considred best in London. Edge Hill is very well regarded up North but to be honest it makes very little difference to getting a job and I was asked nothing about my uni in interviews. You are asked about placements so getting experience in two different school is always best. Prior to you interview have a good look on teachers tv to be up to date with current developments or post on here. You may need to think about where you want to work if for example you were interested in working in a children's centre like Surestart you will need an early yars specialism.

Thanks for the info. I'm a bit bamboozled by all of the Acronyms, may have to go to our local college and talk to someone. Problem is that my qualifications are about 20 years old. 8 'O' Levels 3 A levels, Btec diploma HND that I don't know if a) they will count and b) if they are relevant.
I wonder if I will have to do an Access course of similar? Any ideas?

Hi Sarf I did teacher training at Goldsmiths - your local? - 2 years ago. I was a very mature student but i already had a degree so jst did a one year PGCE. Lots of people suggest school based GTP for older trainees and I do see the benefits but there are cons too, as you are very dependent on one school for support and experience.

I don't come on MN that often but am happy to answer any questions and will check this thread. Good luck

PS I found this area on TES.co.uk very useful: community.tes.co.uk/forums/61.aspx

There are forums for early years, primary, students, newly qualified teachers etc

Thanks Soyabean, Goldsmiths would be my local, but I checked the website last night and it said that deadlines for applications was December 09 for Sept 10 intake, so I may have missed the boat already! Goddamit! I am going to offer my services to our local primary school to listen to the children read, so will speak the them too. How did you find moving into teaching after your previous job, or was it related?
Thanks in advance

Hi Sarf
I worked in local govt for years - education related, then was a TA for 6 months before starting the course (which i highly recommend as a way of getting some experience). But I had worked 3 days a week for 15 years or so since ds1 was born so it was a great shock to be full time - on the course and then as a teacher. Full time is really very full time! It works for me as my kids are older and also dh works PT so is at home quite a lot.

I live in Lewisham too and am a primary school teacher. My training was at Goldsmiths on the GTP (graduate teacher programme) which suited me as I'd been working in academic research and didn't want to do a PGCE. The research I was doing was related to schools so I spent a lot of time in primary schools across London which meant I had a reasonable idea of what went on inside them.

Schools are very different and what suits one person won't necessarily suit another either as a teacher or as a pupil. It will also depend what kind of person you are; I spent 6 very fulfilling years at a local (but Greenwich) incredibly challenging school but moved on 18 months ago as I needed a change (I'd trained there on my GTP). Behaviour management is one of my strengths but it's something that puts off lots of teachers in the early stages of their career.

Whereabouts in Lewisham are you?

Forgot to say, I do think teaching is the best job ever!

Oh, and if you work in publishing you may find that a local school would appreciate your publishing skills - get a CRB done and you might find yourself helping a group of pupils with a school newsletter/school council bulletin etc.

I did a SCITT which is more school based. It doesn't make any difference where you do it or whether you do a PGCE or SCITT they all lead to QTS at the end.

Just a couple of points,

1)I know it sounds obvious but to do the in school graduate programme you do need to have a first degree and most schools will be looking for one in an NC subject.

2)Please, please do not go into teaching because you think it fits in with family life better. Yes, you have school hols off but I rarely leave before 5.30 and I'm in about 7.45. I also never get to see sports day or my kid's Nativity plays. If you're full time you will need to accept that half a day each weekend will need to be put aside for school work;Certainly at first.

3)Most courses, either college based or GTP will expect applicants to have some school experience before applying. It's rare to get a place these days without some school experience (and not 3 afternoons helping make cakes).

Sorry if above points sound blunt, just stating facts. If it's really what you want to do, go for it. It can be a fantastic job! However, if you haven't chosen it for the right reasons it will wear you down.
Good Luck!

OP you will have missed (December) deadline for PGCE anywhere I would imagine for Sept 2010.

In any case as myredcadrdi says, you would need a fair bit of school experience to get a place (and you admit to having none).

Sorry for ignorance but does HND count as degree - or would you need to do a 3 year BEd?

Anyway my advice would be to spend the rest of this academic year spending as much time as poss in school to see if it is the right thing for you.

If you really have no experience what has prompted you to want to do it?

Yes I have missed the courses for this year so I guess at least I don't have to rush into anything! I will be volunteering at my local school to listen to the children read to get an idea of what it is like inside a class room school now.
I have worked in publishing for the last 13 years, had my dd two years ago and returned to work p/t. I'm not really finding my work very motivating/challenging/rewarding, and the thought of working in another company leaves me cold really.
I don't have a clue whether I would make a good teacher or not, but I am caring, enthusiastic, intuitive, creative and supportive, which I hope would stand for something.
I need to find out about whether my HND in Design would count as a degree or not, I don't think people do them anymore , will need to try to speak to someone at Goldsmiths.

Thanks for taking the time to reply everyone, very good of you..

tiny baby steps cat64 but yes, I definitely take your point. and SE14 i love the idea of helping with a newsletter... I'll mention it when I go in...