Teachers - a conundrum!

[Multifacetediguana]

Have been wondering about this lately. I am in my fifth year of teaching. A couple of years back I remember my deputy head, someone I respect and admire hugely, saying that if she was a young teacher she would seriously consider doing a masters as teaching was becoming a masters entry job and that such a qualification would be needed in order to compete with new teachers. It is a sentiment I have seen expressed elsewhere.

However, now i read that pgces are likely to be phased out and on the job training such as gtp (which I did) is more likely to be the route in in future, delivered by teaching schools (which my school is!)

So, is the masters idea old hat now? It is something I have considered but it would be very costly and not worthwhile if other academic routes are being devalued, no? Or am I missing something?

I did one of the 'm' level PGCEs two years ago, so I 'have' a third of an M.ed.... I didn't carry on with it during my NQT year because I thought being an NQT enough... was signed up to continue with it this year but some money I was expecting fell through so I couldn't afford it... and now I've secured an HOD role for after Easter so goodness knows if I'll have the brain-space necessary to carry on with it this coming year... so yes, the issue is definitely TIME (plus, as others have said, if I was honest I'd MUCH rather do one in my specialist subject!).

I should add that with both of my teaching positions I have interviewed with people who have MAs but have got the job with my lowly degree (although I do also have a post grad dip. in my subject because my first degree wasn't).

I'm still undecided about whether to continue with it, to be honest!

I'm doing one. As others have said, is much rather be doing one in English /drama (my subjects) than in education, but I've found that i can shape my assignments to meet my subject. In fact, for all but one very vey dull unit I've chosen my own title (within set perameters) so they've all linked to my personal interests.

As for time, well, it was easier before DS came along!

I did an M.Ed. back in the mid-nineties. I studied full time as I had come into a bit of money and it seemed like an investment in me. I loved being a full time student again, so much fun! And I did find it really useful to reflect on the whys and wherefores of teaching, learning and education as a whole.

It had very little impact upon my career in the UK, but was appreciated when I chose to teach overseas and has been acknowledged in my pay scale.

It does seem as if the majority of teachers have a masters now, at least on the international circuit. Indeed, my current school is now offering staff the opportunity to study for a doctorate in conjunction with an American university, I can't help wondering how long before this becomes the norm.