Please help me become a teacher!

[PoptartPoptart]

I've been a TA for six years (KS2) and I've decided that I want to become a teacher.
I have the full support of my head teacher who said that if I bring him details of the course I want to do the school will fund it and fully support me. However, my one big problem... I don't have a degree! I have all the required GCSE's, A level and Level 3 in Supporting Teaching & Learning. But no degree.
I've been researching online and found some information about the RTP (registered teacher programme) that takes non graduates and sounds perfect. I can study in my own time and continue working at the same time being paid an unqualified teacher salary. But I cannot find out how/where to apply for this.
I also read about a 'TA to teacher' programme but not sure if that's a graduate only route.
Can anyone help? I really don't want to have to quit my job and study at Uni for 3 years to be able to qualify.
With the massive shortage of teachers at the moment there's got to be an easier way in for someone like me who is passionate about becoming a teacher.
Any help/advice would be appreciated.

Unfortunately, in order to be a qualified teacher, you must have a degree.

Could you look at part time study?

Thanks for replying physicskate.
The RTP route includes studying for a teaching degree on the job apparently, not quite sure how. I just can't seem to find out how or where to apply or get more information

Can't you do a degree with the OU? You can study part time in the evenings whilst working then.

This info is online

Can I become a teacher without a degree?
You need qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in most state schools. You must have an undergraduate degree to obtain QTS. You also need to have completed a teacher training programme or to have been formally assessed by an approved provider as meeting the required standards – this is known as the assessment-only route. The assessment-only route is suitable for graduates who have sufficient teaching experience but haven’t taken a teacher training course; however, it is not an option for school leavers.
So where can you get a teaching job without QTS? Private schools are not required by law to hire qualified teachers and could, in theory, recruit someone who wasn’t a graduate to teach, although it’s unlikely. Some state schools – academies and free schools – are also allowed to take on teaching staff who do not have QTS.
Studying for a degree doesn’t have to mean spending three years at university. If you are unsure that traditional undergraduate study is right for you and would rather start working and earning, maybe a different type of degree course would suit you better. For example, you might be able to take a foundation degree on a part-time basis over a number of years, combining this with working, perhaps as a higher-level teaching assistant, for example.
You could then top up your foundation degree to a full honours degree or take a two-year degree course leading to qualified teacher status (mainly available in shortage subjects) or obtain a post as an unqualified teacher in a private or free school and obtain QTS through the assessment-only route. Alternatively, you could consider taking an honours degree on a part-time basis while working.
If you want to become a teacher but are worried about the cost of studying for a degree followed by teacher training, remember that a range of scholarships and bursaries is available. The government has recently extended this to provide help with the cost of university study for some subjects for students who are willing to commit to teaching for three years. You could potentially be awarded £15,000 to support you on your undergraduate degree and could then secure as much as £30,000 to cover the cost of teacher training – £45,000 in all.
You might be able to find work teaching English as a foreign language overseas without a degree or a teaching qualification, though on the whole, employers like you to have both.
There are numerous work-based teacher training routes open to you after you’ve got a degree.
There are non-teaching roles available in teaching and education and in related fields where a degree is not required. There are various qualifications available at different levels in childcare, playwork and similar areas, and it is often possible to train after you have started working, with the course costs met by your employer.

Thanks Redastherose, I'll look into all that too.
It just seems like such a mountain to climb if you know what I mean. I understand about the degree, I really do, but as the profession is crying out for teachers it just seems there should be an easier way in for people like me.
I already cover classes and have done several full days on my own in class. I have good subject knowledge and can manage a class. I do realise this isn't the same as being a fully qualified full time teacher! But equally I know I'm good at it and have the ability to be a great teacher. I'll keep trying.

it just seems there should be an easier way in for people like me.

Are you suggesting the rules should be bent and the profession downgraded just because you really want to be a teacher right now?

Our TA just finished their OU degree while working and will be doing teacher training next year.

I have to agree with noble. I'm sure it seems daunting at the moment but if people really want to do pursue a profession then they find a way to do if. I'd be absolutely appalled if teaching became a non-degree profession.

I really don't want to have to quit my job and study at Uni for 3 years to be able to qualify

Imagine this comment about medicine/dentistry!

I really want to be a dentist-but why should I have to bother getting those pesky qualifications?!

I'm sorry but I wouldn't want my children being taught by someone without a degree.

Look into the OU. I did a degree with them full time whilst working as a TA and it worked very well.

I'm not suggesting it should become a non degree profession or be downgraded just because I really want to be a teacher!
I'm saying there should be easier/alternative ways in rather than the standard uni route.
I'm quite happy to study for a degree and that's why I was asking if anyone knew about the RTP programme because it's specifically for non graduates and incorporates studying for a degree whilst still working at the same time!

LSBU do a course that is designed to fit around working in education settings. I think it is this one. Might be worth seeing if universities near you offer anything similar. It's not a short cut, but it is a more flexible option.

As far as I know, you need to have completed 2 years of higher education already to do the RT program.

RTP is for people who have two years higher education to top up to a full degree.

Learning how to be a teacher is a full time job and then some. Get your degree first, while you have time to do it properly, then train to teach, when you have time to do it properly.

I'm saying there should be easier/alternative ways in rather than the standard uni route.

Hmmm, I don't don't agree. You don't get people saying this for other professions.

If there was an easy route into it it would be completely downgraded as a profession.

I think an OU degree is your best bet.

I appreciate that you must feel frustrated at the prospect of having to do a Degree, but all of us qualified Teachers have had to do the same.

I wanted to obtain a Degree, yet used to often feel quite annoyed and frustrated whilst studying for it, as I was so desperate to become a Teacher and wanted to fast forward time! If you could study part time, yes it would of course be very demanding, but it would be great that you could remain working in your current school. You would also be noted for your dedication and commitment.

I taught in an incredibly challenging Academy at one point, and two of my colleagues in my department were unqualified Teachers, as was at least one other person in a Teaching role in another subject area. As well as not holding a PGCE or equivalent, neither of the 3 held a Degree, but had experience of working as TA's in the past. They worked incredibly hard, and were very dedicated, but after Ofsted had graced us with their presence, the school went straight into 'special measures.' A new Principal swiftly took over and made plenty of changes - one of these was to advertise the positions of the 3 colleagues. 3 Qualified Teachers were employed, and the 3 unqualified Teachers were re-employed there as TA's. They had been paid on the unqualified Teacher salary, and so their salaries suddenly dropped, and their pride and esteem felt dented. They were trapped however, as all 3 applied for several Teaching positions elsewhere and failed to be interviewed, despite several years of experience teaching, but as they were not qualified, nor held a Degree, other schools were not interested.

The 3 non-qualified Teachers were not very popular amongst many of the qualified staff and received quite a backlash. I had a lot of respect for them, but ultimately they were used by the system (paid more than a TA and allowed to Teach, yet paid a lot less than qualified Teachers, not able to gain a promotion, and then 'dropped' by another Head). It is a completely unsafe position in terms of security. I would always advise anyone against employment as an unqualified Teacher, as I do think it places people in awkward situations.

If you obtain a Degree, you will then have a greater flexibility for the future, should you wish to change careers, and with QTS, you will have security and be able to seek promotion should you wish to.

Do you live in the London area? If so, Birkbeck University are fantastic. All of their courses are delivered at nighttime, with the earliest classes being taught at 6pm I believe. You can study part, or full time. They are a very flexible and understanding institution. If you can't access Birkbeck, I agree with other posters that the OU would be a great idea.

I wish you all the best in pursuit of your career. You are very lucky to have such a supportive Headteacher who values and appreciates you - this is becoming more and more rare, as is his offer of assistance. He must be very impressed with your work. Be proud of yourself and take his offer and support as a huge incentive.

Why don't you do an OU degree in the evenings/weekends?

I wouldn't be happy for my child to be taught (as an unqualified teacher) whilst they did a degree in their own time. I can't think that would leave them much time to plan good lessons for the class? Teaching is a full time job.

I am currently doing an access course and looking at universities so that I can become a teacher. I have looked at every scheme and route into teaching and the only way is to get a degree, which is as it should be. Teachers are incredibly overworked and underpaid, any opportunity to ground teachers down more would be gladly seized upon by the government I should imagine. It's right that teaching should be graduate only, so we don't devaluate what teachers stand for and give our children a lesser experience than they should be entitled to.

My cousin was in a similar situation a number of years ago, except she had flunked A Levels.

She did a foundation degree (I think the first time they did them) then transferred to BEd.

She now teaches in the same school she was a parent helper then a TA in.

Most BED degrees are full time but you could go the certificate, diploma degree route so you would start with a CertEd, probably from a local college and then progress.

There used to be a way to be assessed as QTS only but I'm not sure if that's still available.

Also check out APL or APEL at uni, it means some of your experience can be converted to credit towards your course but rules vary.

You also might end up doing a mix and match of different institutions.

I'm saying there should be easier/alternative ways in rather than the standard uni route.

Why should there be easier routes?

Thanks to all of you who have provided words of encouragement and suggestions, I'll definitely look into all of the options.
I didn't want to start an arguement and I didn't mean to suggest that I should be able to fast track my way through without a degree. I simply wanted to explore options so I can gain the relevant qualifications whilst working at my school. Teachers are leaving the profession in their droves and there is a real shortage of teachers, so I thought maybe if there was an easier way to recruit enthusiastic and dedicated people to the profession it might help the current crisis.
I have the utmost respect for all those who teach and I have a good understanding just how hard it can be. I didn't mean to offend anybody.

I don't wish to be discouraging, but actually getting onto a teacher training course is incredibly competitive. Despite your belief that there is a shortage of teachers there is no shortage of people who want to be teachers.

Manchester Uni says of their Primary PGCE for example that it attracts a very large number of people for a very limited number of places and this is common. You might want to bear this in mind when weighing up how/if to do your degree.

Also, without wishing to be overly negative, if here are hoards of teachers leaving the profession, is it really the right career to be getting into?

I didn't think there were primary teacher shortages. Secondary teachers, especially in STEM subjects, but not primary and seeing as you are a ks2 ta I guess that's where you want to be.
I'd recommend the OU. It's where I did my degree. Sure it takes a long time but that time will pass anyway. Good luck with it

It's not the becoming, it's the staying. The drop-out rate after 3 years is still insanely high after all the training and expense for everyone concerned. So many think they know what ft class teaching involves. I'm on supply, work 5 days a week and it's still half the weight of work and stress to carry. Even the agency don't understand why I won't go for ft jobs with a class responsibility, 'You're working ft, what's the difference?'
Good luck op, but a degree is the best way.

I did an now level 3 in childcare and education which allowed me onto a uni course (without a levels) there will probably be an option to do a teaching qualification with the school.

Technically you don't have to be qualified to teach so there should be a way of doing it.