turned down from school direct

[ashesandfire]

A friend applied to schools direct for primary teaching. Has a degree in childhood studies, heaps of experience working as a TA and doing cover in a school for years. Adores children, creative, hardworking, IMO a total shoe in for SD. She got turned down, she is very dyslexic and thinks this has something to do with it, they thought she couldn't manage workload.
She can't do Pgce as can't afford to not be earning for a year.
She is devastated, does anyone have any ideas about what she could do next? Would love to be able to give her some ideas. Tia

I expect she got turned down because she does not have a degree in a national curriculum subject. It may well be nothing to do with having dyslexia.
Why does she not ask why she got turned down by school's direct. Once she knows the precise reason why she was turned down then its easier to work out a plan to become a teacher.

Thanks, she is waiting to get feedback. Do you really think that's the case re. The degree? I didn't think that would be an issue as it's a relevant degree and I would have thought her very extensive experience would have trumped that. If that's the case then surely she's not going to be accepted onto any training programme?

Presumably she was applying for salaried school direct? There are relatively very few places so this will have affected her chances, and there's every likelihood that she would be accepted into a PGCE or standard SD, although I appreciate the financial implications.

If she absolutely has to earn while she trains, one option might be Teach First. They'll accept a childhood studies degree for their EYFS programme, although AFAIK this is currently a pilot scheme in London and the South East. She'll need a 2.1 and 300 UCAS points.

IN my last school all the SD places went to people who were currently TAs at the school- which was a planned thing. They recruit 'graduate TAs' with the intention of them being future SD trainees.

They did interview other, external candidates though- so I expect all of them may feel like your friend.

Agree with the degree comments. Schools like someone with a Specialism to 'lead' in that area

Thank you for your replies, that's interesting if a little disappointing! :( yes it was salaried SD. I'll tell her to look at teach first although I'm not sure if she's qualified.

Clickingcastanets why do you say it's so horrendous?

The school she's in said they'd take her for SD but she had to apply through another school provider in the area- a secondary one- they were the ones who rejected her. I don't quite understand it myself, I did PGCE!

It just seems such a shame as she's so, so perfect for primary teaching :(

Schools direct is hell. Very badly run, "mentors" have no idea what to do and very little time (or wish) to train the next generation of teachers. Avoid.

I would agree that not accepted due to degree. I would also say that she may be better off doing a PGCE. By the time she has training bursary, student fees loan, student loan for maintenance and cheaper housing (no council tax) she may be close to the same amount; and if a good uni then more opportunities for reflection and time to learn to teach