Teaching secondary science- job prospects in Scotland (glasgow)

[Bigbadgeorge]

I am currently working as a scientist but considering retraining as a teacher. I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me a realistic opinion on the amount of available jobs there are in the west of Scotland? I've heard that there is a surplus of science teachers...

Thank you! I will be on maternity for most of this year so would be looking at 2016 entry.

Job situation sounds like the situation for most things so lack of permanent jobs doesn't worry me too much!

(I'm used to short term contracts as a scientist!)

I'd say that you would definitely find work but in all honesty training with a young family will be tough. If you can offer physics you will definitely find work- if you are a biologist I would consider trying to go for dual qualification.

Thanks everyone! That is good advice about the dual qualification, I will look into that.
I will see if I can source a science teacher and pick their brains!

Don't know about Scotland, but here if you accidentally display the slightest sign of interest in physics (eg at a Quiz night - 'Ooh, the Richard Feynman, didn't he used to play bongo drums?') you will find yourself teaching physics. I am a PE teacher with no science GCSEs - also teach physics. Tell the unis you want to do a PGCE in Physics and seem them start a bursary bidding war for you

In Scotland you will need to have studied your first subject to degree level and your additional subject to at least second year. You will be expected to teach all three sciences to S3 (under the broad general CfE umbrella).

It is a terrifying prospect that pupils are being taught subjects by teachers who have little experience in the subject- and very unfair on the teachers in question as well.

What generally happens in Scotland anyway is that the one physics teacher in the school will teach all the exam classes and the s1-3 classes are mopped up by someone else!

If you don't have chemistry or ideally physics at the correct level you can do a course with the OU (one year) as well as a residential summer school to get your experimental technique up to scratch and that is sufficient to offer it.

Good luck!

I've got biology, physics and chemistry Alevel (I'm English) and degree plus PhD in biology. Actually quite enjoyed physics so wouldn't mind teaching it although would be concerned I didn't know enough- it was a long time ago now!

We had a lady start with us who worked for a long time for psizers and gave up in a term. Just make sure teaching is for you.....

I also went from being a research scientist into teaching (been qualified for over ten years now!).

Would definitely recommend going into a local school to shadow a teacher and see what it's all about- this will be doubly useful as hopefully you'll get all the info on the new qualifications.

With research experience, teaching the investigations at AH level will be very rewarding for you- I also mark at H and AH level for the SQA which is another thing you can look into when you've been teaching a while.

Do your research into the work/life balance too as initially during your training the work will absolutely outweigh your life! And with a young family that will be tough. But I am sure you've thought all this through.

Also volunteering at the science centre is Glasgow would be good- a chance to see if communicating science to youngsters is for you or not and again another chance to see how current research fits into the new courses.

Check out the SQA website too- be aware biologists are not in the same demand as chemists and physicists. Also check out the TESS and consider a subscription.

To survive in teaching you need to be passionate about not only your subject but also about the job.