Degree info & return to teaching knowledge update

[littlecupcake]

I'm a teacher, had a career break for several years whilst I had my family. I'm trying to leave my job as a check out operator and get back into teaching, so I suspect that any potential employer is going to scrutinise my CV. In the past I've written "Littlecupcake BA(Ed)" but that doesn't convey all of the information. I've spent the past hour trying to work out the correct way to write the letters from my qualification so that I can put them on my CV. I can't find any standard way online, so I thought I'd ask MNetters for some help.

I got my degree in 2000, so the University website isn't any help as the degree programme has changed significantly since I graduated. Basically, I'm trying to convey the following information (taken directly from my degree certificate):

"I hereby certify that Littlecupcake having satisfied the examiners in the final examination in English and having in the examination been awarded honours in the first division of the second class has this day been duly admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Arts (Education) of this university."

Hmmm. So the key points are English (this was my specialism), BA, Education, QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). But HOW do I put all that together?!

Apparently there are no Return to Teaching courses as they have all been scrapped in recent times, so please could you point me in the direction of some good websites for updating my knowledge - so much has changed in the past five years, but there is nowhere that I can go and learn about how things should be done now!

Thanks so much for your help.

Why don't you put BA(Education) and mention your specialism in your supporting statement, if it is relevant?

Would supply be an option? It would give you the opportunity to see how the curriculum has changed and how schools plan and deliver it. You would also be able to find schools that you might like to work in.

BA (Hons) Education (English), QTS.

Don't worry about a return to teaching course - it will all come flooding back.

Consider supply work - it's a fantastic way to get loads of experience in a short amount of time. Block work could result in a reference.

An important thing to get done is your DBS check.

I write BA Hons in P Ed with QTS
That's how we got taught to write it!

BA (hons) QTS. If you're doing application forms then surely you'd then put the details of your degree later? I'd put BA (hons) English & Theatre Studies 2.1, PGCE English & Drama but wouldn't try to cram all of that into one line after my name.

Your CV is irrelevant really as only supply agencies are likely to want it. All teaching jobs you apply for will want you to fill in their standard application form and will not even look at your CV.
Agencies, OTOH, will not care about the fine details of your qualifications as long as you have QTS and a pulse.
There are very few return to teaching courses around and as a pp said you won't need one anyway. You do need to read up on the latest changes - if you are secondary English that means being aware about Life after Levels in KS3 and the new GCSE specification which is very different from the old one. OTOH this is a good time to get back in as nobody else has a clue what's going on either.
I second the suggestion to try your hand at supply to get your eye back in. Best of luck.

The supply agencies send your CV onto schools though, so important to have a good one if this is the route you choose.

will not care about the fine details of your qualifications as long as you have QTS and a pulse.
Indeed!
I started supply last year as an NQT secondary, got loads of work, and had to constantly turn down primary because even tho' my crappy course did not even involve observation in a primary school, let alone any knowledge of the pedagogy or curriculum, - QTS and a pulse were .all they needed.

Meant to say - if you are prepared to do primary, they will bite off your hand, take away your belt and shoelaces to prevent you from leaving, and you will rapidly get references you can then use to apply for permanent roles.

Agree with MrsUltra - I did a term of supply recently before getting a permanent contract and despite having no primary experience whatsoever, the agencies were constantly on the phone begging me to do early years and lower KS2- which I always refused.

Returners to Teaching Programme

Hi everyone just to let you know there are a number of pilot programmes launching across the country to help people back into teaching. I am running a programme based in Dartford, Kent but there are others all over the country. Feel free to check the programme out and if you know anyone interested in applying please share the link with them. Its a free programme and is bespoke to individual needs.

www.latrustcareers.org/#!return-to-teaching/cyc9

People left teaching for a reason. Richard, your trust, like most schools in the South East, are not able to recruit, or retain enough teachers because of the terrible working conditions in teaching today.

As a HR specialist you should know that retention is a far better option than recruitment.

What is your trust doing to make conditions better?

If like to know your answer to this as well. As I posted on the other thread, teachers aren't out of teaching because they can't get jobs, it's because the job is so horrendous!

Watching for advice too as am in pretty much same position as OP.
Things have changed and I guess the DEpartment of education ( if it's still called that) and exam boards websites may be good place to start reading up as well as TimesEd and Primary Times etc??
Can you volunteer in a school to get some experience?