Advice on returning to teaching with a PGCE in post Compulsory Education

[McPom]

I'd really appreciate some advice on this subject please.

I used to teach in FE and HE and I'm thinking about returning to teaching now that my children are older, but teaching qualifications have changed so much since I qualified that I'm not sure how to proceed. I've been searching the internet, but I'm no clearer on what to do...If anything I'm more confused and I wondered if anyone would be able to shed some light on the situation.

I used to teach Literacy in Further Education and have a PGCE in Non Compulsory Education (2007). I don't think that QTLS or QTS was around then. I also have an Additional Diploma in Teaching English in the LifeLong Learning Sector (Literacy). From what I understand I think I'd need to get a job in teaching and then I'd need to apply for QTLS and complete a portfolio. Or, because my PGCE is 2007 do I not need QTLS?

Just to add another complication to that I'm thinking of teaching in secondary schools because there don't seem to be many jobs in FE. Ideally I'd like to stay with HE, but there are no job opportunities.

It seems that QTLS now has equivalence to QTS, so theoretically I'd be able to teach in Secondary schools if I achieved QTLS.

Am I completely wrong? Probably. Has anyone been in this position - a holder of a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education looking to go back to work? Would I need to do Schools Direct or another PGCE?

Finally, with the qualifications I have does anyone know if I need to do the Literacy and Numeracy tests involved in teaching?

I'm sorry to ask so many questions, but I was up until 2am searching for information on this subject. I was quite proud of my qualifications (until last night), but they don't seem relevant any more. I've also got an MA and a PhD but I can't seem to do anything with those qualifications either, and now training and education is so expensive, I'm not sure what I can do. I suppose I'm also anxious about returning to work (does it show?!) when I'd like to stay with the children.

Again, sorry for the rant and for so many questions. Any advice would be wonderful.

Thanks so much!

Have you tried the ‘get into teaching’ website? I was going to say the Teaching Agency but it seems to have disappeared. Phone them and explain and see what they say?

You must have been in literally the last cohort of PCE PGCEs not to get QTLS. I'm sure it existed in the academic year 2007-8.

I would start by going back to your training provider and checking if they have any arrangement in place to award QTLS retrospectively.

If not, you can get QTLS via the Society for Education and Training's 'professional formation'. I think you will need to be in an FE teaching role to do this, however, but you could explore taking a fixed-term contract as a means to an end. Once you have QTLS you are qualified to teach in a maintained secondary school, but you might need to show willing to develop your subject knowledge of the KS3 and KS4 curriculum.

You don't say what your subject is but if it's a shortage subject then you may find that schools are keen to see you. An academy or free school could employ you regardless but a maintained school would need you to get QTLS or QTS. If you don't want to do professional formation then I would ask the school to support you through 'assessment only' QTS. It's not too onerous and I've mentored a few colleagues with QTLS through it (just before the equivalency was introduced, frustratingly for them).

You would have to do the QTS skills tests if you did AO QTS. I'm not sure of the rules for QTLS.

ohreallyohreallyoh - thanks very much for your suggestions that I go on the 'get into teaching' website. I've registered with the site now, and will take a look around it. Thanks for the heads up.

Buxbaum - you've made everything so much clearer. It was just the information that I needed. Thank you!