Anyone recently qualified as a primary teacher?

[Wanttobeateacherinscotland]

I’m getting nearer 30 and I really feel as though I’m going down the wrong path career wise.

Would love to hear from people who have recently qualified as primary teachers. How was the course etc? Is it full time?

I have Highers ABBC so might need to do some sort of access course. I do have a HNC but in something totally unrelated to teaching!

I’d need to rely on a student loan to replace my current salary which wouldn’t be ideal!

Primary school teaching is a four year full time degree. If you already have a degree you can do a post grad certificate in a year.

In my local authority you can do a conversion course from being a pupil support assistant to become a teacher. I’m not sure how long you need to be a psa before you can do the course.

I was your age when I decided to retrain as a secondary teacher. I did an access course at my local college then a 4 year combined degree. My 4DDs were very young and it was a slog at times. But such a good move for me and for the family.

Your grades may be fine as long as you have Higher English as 1 of your As or Bs. You also need Standard Grade Credit/Int2 Maths (what Nat 5s are now). I'm half way through my undergrad at a Scottish Uni at the moment, they LOVE mature students. Things are a bit nuts right now but I'd really reccomend trying to get some experience in a school when things go back to "normal"

Thank you for these replies.

English is the C unfortunately.

I work pretty much full time at the moment so I’d struggle to be getting school experience but i don’t know if I might have a free half day a week somewhere if I did do the degree? I’d probably need to try and pick up some part time work as well though as we’d be struggling without my income.

I really need to decide now if I want to continue along the path I’m currently on (and don’t particularly enjoy) or go for this.

So am I right in thinking I’d need to resit Higher English? I could probably do this via distance or evening learning surely? Presumably that would take a year then I could start the following year.

Aberdeen University have a course specifically for resitting Higher English, I'm sure the other unis likely would too. You'd realistically need the volunteering experience BEFORE you apply, you won't be doing it during the degree as you'll be in lectures/workshops or on placement. It's super competitive so anything to put you above other people. The year I started there was something like 1 space per 25 applicants

Oh really? I didn’t realise that at all
I’d need to reduce my hours at work if I could find somewhere that would let me volunteer. Possibly my kids school, I’m not sure. I really didn’t realise it was an extremely competitive course to get into though.

The Aberdeen Uni course is online, brilliant idea. Most colleges do Higher English as a night class or you could register as a external candidate and self teach.

It was part of my access course. I had a B from school so didn't need to do but I did anyway as I wanted an A so that I had the bragging rights in class