Moved abroad after PGCE without doing NQT

[seoulsurvivor]

Hello! i was hoping for some advice.

After doing the PGCE (primary), I decided to move abroad without doing the NQT.

Now I want to move back to the UK, but it's more than five years since I qualified. What can I do to maximise my chances of getting an NQT placement? Would it even be possible?

I am willing to move to an area with shortages for a few years if it would help my chances. I am also able to speak French since I lived there for some time, so that might help too.

Forgot to say, thanks for any advice!

Argh, and also forgot to mention that during my time abroad, I have been teaching young kids in a classroom setting so I have been doing relevant work.

Hmmm it might be difficult. I think you might be best working in an academy which has more flexibility on hiring qualified/NQT/Unqualified teachers, but I may be wrong.

There's no time limit between PGCE and NQT anymore (it used to be 5 years).
With your experience and potential lower salary (to start) I think you would be attractive to most schools.

I would advise some serious swatting up for interview to prove you're not "out of the loop" having been abroad.

Thanks for the advice! I'm thinking of going in as a volunteer and hopefully getting a TA position for a bit first, to ease myself in.

I so wish I'd just done the NQT, but I had two terrible placements that destroyed my confidence and I was so worried I'd fail. I'm much more confident now because I got a lot of experience working with kids, so I know I can do it! Just hope I can get a chance.

Do some supply first for fresh experience/confidence? May open doors to schools willing to take you on too.

To be quite frank with you, in the south east, if you have a pulse, a teaching qualification and want to do primary you'll be fighting schools off. My school is lovely and we've had no interest at all in the one vacancy we have for September.

You should be able to pick up a maternity cover/long term supply which will enable you to get up to speed fairly quickly whilst building a relationship with a class.

Look at independent preps too