Second career secondary teacher training

[Rarily]

Hi There.
I wonder if any secondary teachers can help. I've been in HE for years, and decided to head back into the classroom this September, teaching H & SC in a sixth form college, working part time.

I've found that I really enjoy teaching again (I did a PGCE in FE in the 90s) but I want to go back to pure subject teaching (biology/science) and the sixth form I am isn't going to offer me the opportunity to move. I am fearful about being 'type cast' as a H & SC teacher (in HE I was in nursing)

I'm now considering the QTS school route, which just feels mad given I will be leaving a better paid career and I have had more than enough years in education. However, without it, it seems I won't be able to move into my preferred subject area and also I'd be limited to only a few local sixth forms.

I have two questions - is it mad to go into secondary teaching? So much negative comments are online. Also, I can only work part time, and is it fairly common to work pt in secondary?
Thanks

Look in the TES to get a feel for what sort of jobs are available in your area.

Teachers are leaving in droves, so while that is positive for you in terms of job prospects, you should also consider why they are leaving!

I thought if you had a PGCE in FE you could now teach secondary without retraining?

Thanks - no you don't get qts with FE - it feels like a lot of effort to get through what seems to be essentially red tape.... Yes I am hugely put off by what I read.

This suggests you do!

I am qualified to teach at FE-level, but can I teach in Secondary schools?

To teach in the maintained sector, it is normally necessary to have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which is not normally awarded for FE qualifications. However, since 2012 holders of QTLS qualifications from the FE sector are deemed also to have QTS and are thus qualified to teach in maintained schools.

Note that teachers in academies and other independent schools do not need to be formally qualified at all.

www.tesfaq.co.uk/applications

I career changed into teaching science nearly a decade ago. I've just left with no job to go to. The recent changes (last 2 years) have drained all the joy out of it. Hugely unrealistic targets, mad hours, prescriptive lesson formats etc. I wouldn't recommend it.

I changed from a 6th form college to school by going through a flexilearning PGCE with qts that recognised my prior teaching. I can't remember the name of it, but liverpool hope did it - all I needed to do was attend a few times, 3 assignments, a huge qts file that mainly came from my own teaching and a few weeks in a secondary school.

Thanks for the replies ladies. Yes there is some flexibility, particularly with academies. Its such a shame that the job is so heavily policed...

At the time it was possible to still qualify while in post at a 6th form college. I see it could be different now!

www.edgehill.ac.uk/postgraduate/flexiblepgce/?gclid=CjwKEAjw56moBRD8_4-AgoOqhV4SJADWWVCcGfbxmkuG2Wyj4ceqBzuT9OULTWxPVTJaG0Y4M8IHARoCwvDw_wcB

Have a look at this.

Ah that's different to mine as its 12 weeks on campus - mine was just a ccouple of visits! Good luck.... Maybe ask on the TES forums?

Thanks LittleRobots! Will have a shot at TES

Nearly all secondary schools here are academies so your qualifications would be more than adequate.

Give this lot a ring and have a chat.
They are very helpful and have trained many teachers and know the market.

It's not uncommon to work pt but it's uncommon to get a pt job - most people work full time and drop down rather than pt bring advertised as you don't have "job share" in the same way as primary school.