Which degree before pgce?

[Bagforlife123]

I currently work in a year 4 class as a TA at a wonderful school. They know I'm very keen to become a teacher and are really supportive of this, however I feel like I'm being offered conflicting advice.

Some I've spoken too have advised that I do a degree in a specific subject that I'd enjoy, like History so that if I choose to leave teaching I can use it for something else or if I decide to try secondary teaching I can use it for that.

Others are advising me to do a primary education degree, as obviously this is more relevant and gives me skills that lend themselves well to other careers anyway.

Whichever degree I do it will be with the OU as I'll need to keep working throughout my studies.

Anyone any advice?
Thank you!

Do you want to work in primary or secondary?

Pressed post too soon. If you want to be a primary teacher surely it makes sense to do a primary education degree and save yourself a year of training.

I think a good solid academic subject is wise. History would be a great choice.

It's a good back up like you said. If you did an education degree you are more limited. I also think the PGCE is a better course than the 3 year undergraduate courses.

Look at student finance, you will probably be better off with a student loan for the 3 year undergraduate course, than you would be working as a TA.

If you want to teach primary then opt for the three year BA with QTS. Which A level subjects do you have?

I've just read your post properly and see you're planning to study with the OU. Is this the wisest thing? If you do a teaching degree you'll have all of the teaching placements as experience.

Thanks for the replies.
Yeah I do want to do primary teaching so I did initially think the primary education was the best way to go until advised to do otherwise.

With regards to doing the OU course then a PGCE rather then the Teaching degree, I was advised that by working as a TA for so long in a school I'd be in a good position to apply for a PGCE or School Direct place because of the amount of experience I have? Or do you not think this would be the case?

Oh and I have A levels on History, English Lit and Biology.

Sorry I'm not sure how to reply to each individual poster!

I'll have a look at student finance now. It never really occurred to me that a student loan might be more than my wage actually. Thank you!

Psychology.

Leaves open the opportunity to be a primary school teacher, educational psychologist or psychologist.

I think that if you did choose to do a non teaching subject, you would be snapped up quick for a School Direct place, so you would qualify in the same time.

I would go with whatever route interests you the most.

Student loans also don't count as income for tax credits. I've been better off with a student loan this year doing PGCE (and a 3K bursary and no council tax and tax credits) than I will be as a NQT. Definitely worth investigating.

If you did degree plus PGCE you're looking at four years compared to three years with a BA with QTS.

I second Psychology as it opens up a lot of career opportunities within education but outside the classroom.

Thank you for all your replies and suggestions.
It's given me some things to think about that I hadn't before, I'm going to have to do some more research I think.

Can't you become a teacher in primary schools by doing somekind of apprentiship these days??

swats you can train on the job but you have to have a degree already.

Well what subject are you really interested in and can imagine spending 3 years of your life studying in intense detail?

I was a TA in a primary school and I did a part time BA Hons in Applied Education while working at a school. The school made me into an unqualified teacher so by the time I finished the degree ( it still only took 3 years) I had years of teaching experience and I was able to qualify through the assessment only route. It meant that I earnt reasonably well while I did my degree. I really enjoyed learning about all aspects of the primary curriculum as well as general pedagogy and was able to do lots of research and case studies on the children.

Look at the syllabuses. You already know a lot about the job, so ask yourself which course will prepare you for the job. Fwiw I thought my PGCE was crap and barely taught me anything I didn't already know. (working as a teacher prior to doing course)

Also you know what the school environment is like.... Do you want to hedge your bets? I wouldn't blame you.

Get a reference ticket to a university library, download a few reading lists from potential courses, and look at the books. Pick the course with the most interesting books.

Haffdonga If I'm completely honest the History degree interests me more then the primary education, if just feels it'd be a step in the wrong direction I think?

Piglet208 That does sound really interesting, I've looked in to it and it doesn't seem to be offered around where I live. Looks like a really good course though.

Thistly I'm going to have a good look through the syllabus for the courses today. When I'm thinking about what would best prepare me I swing towards Primary Education.

But then when I see a lot of my friends looking to get out of teaching or miserable it makes sense to have a back up plan. I feel like this is such a negative way of looking at things though and not an ideal way of starting.

As you can see I swing between the two ideas and am very confused!

A history degree plus PGCE can lead to a primary teaching career, a secondary teaching career or a history related career.

A primary education degree leads only to a primary teaching career.

If you are more interested in history why on earth narrow your options at this stage when it will give you absolutely no advantage in the teaching job stakes?

Haffdanag That was the main reason I posted, I wasn't sure if a Primary Education degree would give me some sort of advantage. As if seems not, it makes things easier for me to decide.

What about English? That would be great for primary or secondary...also publishing, journalism, law, writing. A good core subject, especially if you do language and lit.