Any Secondary Teachers that can give me a few pointers please?

[cantthinkofanythingwitty]

Hi,

Just have a few questions really. I am just starting out with uni, but I am 99% sure that it is secondary age children that I would like to teach. I seem to be able to find information about primary school teacher however, there doesn't seem to be that much re getting into secondary school teaching.

I have been given the impression that I would need to teach/or be able to teach two subjects. Is this correct? If so do you have any idea whether this would mean having to do two degrees' or just a brief overview of another subject. I was also told that I may be limited in the hours I could teach within a secondary school, however when I asked for more information, they had no more information to offer.

If you have any help or guidance you could offer, I would be extremely grateful.

Thanks

[TheFallenMadonna]

I agree that what you need to do really is check that the degree you do is accredited by the BPS to keep your Psychology doors open.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Unless you are absolutely sure you want to teach, in which case psych is not the best degree to choose.

I love teaching psychology, but it is very much an additional subject for me. The most I have ever taught was 8 hours a week.

[Fuzzysnout]

Sociology is the most usual second subject with psychology but both are mainly sixth form. Health and social care is commonly taught by these teachers, again mainly sixth form (& may not last with Gove's) changes but you can easily learn to teach this on teaching practice without any special degree although the biology is helpful.

[cantthinkofanythingwitty]

I know a few primary school teachers that had their Psychology degree, did their PGCE went straight to teaching year 1 &3. I personally would prefer working with the older kids, but not completely against primary school or FE either.

I am attending an open day at the uni in a week so I will track down the PGCE admissions/teachers and grill them.

[cantthinkofanythingwitty]

I have made sure that I will have BPS accreditation, just in case I have a complete change of heart about teaching.

I am pretty sure that teaching is what I want to do, I definitely want to working within an educational setting. I am in the process of trying to secure some voluntary work within both a secondary school and a primary/junior school to help me gain a bit of an in sight to both areas, I have a few years until i reach the point of teaching so I have plenty of time to see which age group terrifies me the most

[noblegiraffe]

Primary is highly competitive and you need to be aware that there may not be a job for you at the end of it all.

If you want to go into teaching and want a pick of jobs, physics, maths, computing, languages, chemistry are where there are shortages. Other secondary subjects that get extra money to train are English, history, biology, geography, music, and design and technology.

www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/subjects-age-groups/teach-maths/funding-pay-benefits

[Kayakinggirl86]

I did I Pgce in humanities (geography, history,RE, citizenship, and phse) there were a few people on my course who had done psychology degree.
I know the psychology teacher at my current school (she also is forced to teach history and re to fill time table) did a Pgce in citizenship. Once you have qts you can (be forced in to) teaching what ever you feel confident in.
I teach English history after doing Scottish archeology at university!

[Ilovepsychology]

I gained a psychology degree. I have completed a psychology PGCE, the course has only been in existence 5/6 years I think. I work in a secondary school and teach full time. Only teaching psychology. I have done some sociology in the past but now just teach psychology. Some of my friends are also full time psychology teachers others also teach sociology or health and social care. So two degrees are not necessary, I was told you need an A level in the subject to be able to teach it but I'm not 100% sure about that.