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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

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Original poster

Becoming a teacher with no qualifications?

24 replies

teachertraining · 05/12/2018 20:42

Hi, hope you don’t mind me asking here!
I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, it sounds cheesy but it feels like a ‘calling’!
I fell pregnant during my A level year so didn’t manage to get any qualifications behind me (12 A GCSE’s though)
I now have 2 children and work in a fairly decnet job but would absolutely love to get into teaching. I’d be thinking of primary - preferably KS2.
Did anyone get into teaching later in life? I’m only mid 20s but would literally be starting from scratch, I was thinking of doing an Open university course as I can’t afford to stop working so would need to be PT then do the additional course. I can do the OU course without a levels But can’t find a concrete answer as to if this would be a problem when doing teaching....
Any tips? And would you recommend it? Is the doable with a baby (will be toddler) and older?
I haven’t got any experience within a school/children either...

OP posts:

Cauliflowersqueeze · 05/12/2018 21:35

You’ll need A levels or an access course, then a degree in the subject you want to teach (if secondary) and then a PGCE.

It’s a great job but it’s not fantastic with children except for the holidays in the summer I’d say. Term time is really intensive.

Might be worth organising some experience days in schools to see if you like the reality of it as much as the dream.

Good luck!

Holidayshopping · 05/12/2018 21:40

I can do the OU course without a levels

Do you not need an access course?

I wouldn’t recommend anyone touch teaching with a barge pole (as countless posts on the staff room board would agree) but I do wonder how much these two statements can be reconciled with each other?

I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, it sounds cheesy but it feels like a ‘calling’!

I haven’t got any experience within a school/children either...

It’s not compatible with having your own kids during term and it’s a pretty miserable place to be right now.

I would recommend you do a week or two in a ks2 class shadowing a teacher. Go in with your eyes wide open.

Original poster

teachertraining · 05/12/2018 22:11

Thank you both! Open university have said I can do a degree with them without an access course but I will check again. I don’t know if this route would go against me when applying for teachers? Have you found it quite competitive for NQT?
How would I go about doing an Experiance day? I did reading at my eldests school as a helper before the baby was born.. is that the sort of thing you mean?
I know it’s quite depressing at the moment in public services (I work for local government doing 3 peoples jobs and don’t even get given pens ) so I do slightly understand...

It’s not compatible with having your own kids during term my kids are already in childcare 8-5 5 days a week and I’m not expecting the ‘9-3 dream’ obviously some extra holidays to spend with them would be lovely though.

OP posts:

Holidayshopping · 05/12/2018 22:18

How would I go about doing an Experiance day? I did reading at my eldests school as a helper before the baby was born.. is that the sort of thing you mean?

I would expect to see far more experience in a school than that. Many new teachers work as a TA for a year before applying, but if that’s not possible-a week or two shadowing would be very beneficial. Ring some local schools and ask.

my kids are already in childcare 8-5 5 days a week and I’m not expecting the ‘9-3 dream

Fair enough. I was in at 7.30 this morning (kids left with childcare at 7) and I left work at 6 and still did a couple of hours of marking after dinner.

As long as you’re fully aware of what the job entails, that’s brilliant. There is a massive retention issue in teaching, we need all the new recruits we can get!

Good luck.

Rosieposy4 · 05/12/2018 22:19

Disagree with other posters, swapped to teaching just over ten years ago and love it. Of course some stuff ( admin bollocks) and the odd ropey kid annoy/irritate me but on the whole I would recommend the career.
Other massive bonus if you have kids is that several days a week you can make a fairly early escape, sort your own dc out then pull a late nighter marking and planning.

chooseausername · 05/12/2018 22:29

I feel like I could have written your post 6 or so years ago.

I am now in my late 20s. I do not have any A levels but, like you, I have GCSEs. I completed my degree with the open university and I am now a qualified teacher. I started my degree at 23 and did it full time. I do not have my own children.

Now, I am looking to leave the profession. It is unbelievably stressful and I cannot believe I spent all that time training for something I no longer want to do.

I am in school 7.30-6 every day. I then work a few more hours in the evening plus at least one day at the weekend. Half terms are also spent working due to planning and other requirements such as report writing.

I used to read posts like this and think how it would be different for me. It is not. I can't stress strongly enough how much I regret starting my training.

Like others have said, please shadow a teacher with your eyes open, if you choose to go ahead.

astuz · 06/12/2018 08:34

An open university degree won't be a problem - they're as valued as any other degree, although I echo other posters that you need to do a ton of shadowing or something (a TA job would be better) in a school to get a proper idea of what it's like.

It's when you say things like "my children are in childcare 8-5 anyway" - 8-5 is nothing! You'll need childcare from 7.30-6pm, at least, and you'll still wish you could find somewhere that starts earlier than 7.30am and on top of that you'll be working for at least 2-3 hours every evening and all weekend. You need to assume you will work at least a 70 hour week in your first year, so compared to an 8-5 day, (45 hours), you will have to fit in the equivalent of another THREE DAYS of work!

monkeysox · 06/12/2018 11:52

Open University used to do a student associates scheme to get experience in schools. Two weeks of that got me a training place.
Honestly full time teaching isn't family friendly at all.

Cauliflowersqueeze · 07/12/2018 06:23

You can ring schools or email them directly to request experience days.

Did you have a sector in mind? Primary or secondary?

LauralovesLuke · 07/12/2018 06:30

Hi, I quit teaching in 2014 to retrain as an educational psychologist - and I would highly recommend it. You will need a psychology degree and then a doctoral degree, but you get paid to do the doctorate.

I work 9-5, I don't work weekends anymore and I started on £40k. I still get to work with lovely children and it's a truly rewarding job working to effect positive change for children who find school hard.

MyOtherProfile · 07/12/2018 06:31

Start by offering half a day a week at your local primary if that's the age range youre interested in. Explain your interest to them when you've done a few weeks and see if they can help you get more experience.

MyOtherProfile · 07/12/2018 06:34

I've been a teacher for eons ans totally recommend it with children. So long as you have good childcare in place for term time and maybe the option of the odd day in the holidays it works well. I haven't done a 70 hour week since I was an NQT so I think it very much depends on the school. I would expect to be in school from 8 til 5 and then take some stuff home though.
The holidays are brilliant with children. I've watched lots of my friends struggle to sort child care in the holidays but it just hasn't been an issue for me. Also the option to work part time is very good.

MyOtherProfile · 07/12/2018 06:35

Should add that in itself teaching is a brilliant job. I love most of what I do day to day. There's lots to motivate you in the middle of all the dross.

Gwenhwyfar · 07/12/2018 06:44

" Open university have said I can do a degree with them without an access course but I will check again. "

No need to check again. The whole meaning of OPEN is that it's open to all, no A levels or Access course needed to to the Open University.
What you need to check is whether you'll need A levels to become a teacher.

Holidayshopping · 07/12/2018 07:05

No need to check again. The whole meaning of OPEN is that it's open to all, no A levels or Access course needed to to the Open University.

Do you need GCSEs/O levels to do an open university course?

Cynderella · 07/12/2018 08:55

As said, you don't need any qualifications for OU. You need GCSE English and Maths or equivalents to teach - I think you need a science as well for primary.

I did the OU route when my kids were little but transferred to a uni because, at the time, I got a grant and it halved my study time. I would recommend making your degree subject specific - I wish i'd made my English instead of social sciences. In the end, it was fine because iIgot on an English PGCE course.

I thought I wanted to teach primary but could only get on a secondary course (long story) in the year I applied. I did some observations in primary and quickly realised that I was deluded. Much better suited to secondary.

I love teaching but it is hard work - I've worked with a lot of teachers who have come from other careers and left in the first couple of years because of the workload and pressure. But better to try - once you get established somewhere, lots of things get easier and if you love it, you make it work.

Even if you don't teach, a degree is worth having for many reasons. Sadly, now you have to be able to afford it. I think you can look at sample units on the OU so that you can see the level of challenge - I found them very accessible but there was a lot of reading.

deary · 07/12/2018 18:50

I am a primary teacher and I don't have A levels.

I did OU degree, getting 2.1 in my 30's.
Then PGCE/ QTS, qualifying at 40.

You do need maths/ English/ science GCSE though.

It is the hardest job that I've ever done, the most consuming- it is a whole lifestyle rather than a job!
But most days I love it!

Mrscog · 07/12/2018 18:53

If you want to be a primary teacher do an undergrad degree in primary initial teacher education - save a year in fees. If you’re local to Worcester do get in touch, we’d be happy to help with advice!

FrameyMcFrame · 12/12/2018 22:55

Worth bearing in mind that 8 am is probably the latest you could be arriving in school to start work!

Gwenhwyfar · 13/12/2018 00:36

"Do you need GCSEs/O levels to do an open university course?"

No, but you might need them to teach so you might end up having to do them anyway.
The Open University is open to all as long as you can pay the fees. Help may be available in certain circumstances.

brizzledrizzle · 13/12/2018 00:49

@mrs of assuming you are at Worcester uni, my db trained there

brizzledrizzle · 13/12/2018 00:49

That should have been @mrscog

GreenTeacup · 14/12/2018 17:01

Hi OP,

I have just been accepted onto my course of choice.

I did an OU degree part-time in my 20’s. No A levels.

I have no school experience. I did shadow in a school for a few weeks but that was 10 years ago.

After the interview with my training provider, they offered me a place on condition of getting at least 2 weeks experience. They kindly arranged this for me.

PersianCatLady · 20/12/2018 22:22

Did anyone get into teaching later in life?
Yes, I am 39 years old and I am just about to complete my first term as a trainee teacher.

I’m only mid 20s
You are just starting out, I would definitely say that you are not "later in life". The other trainees on my course range from 22 - 55.

I don’t know if this route would go against me when applying for teachers?
In some respects I would say that the opposite is true, in that working for and graduating from an OU degree takes dedication and perseverance.

Also, if you manage to complete a degree when you have a family to look after it shows that you can manage study and caring for them.

How would I go about doing an Experiance day?
Once you are applying for a place on a teacher training course, you can arrange these through the DfE but I don't think that any schools would be willing to do this for someone who is not ready to apply yet.

What you could do is to speak to your child's school and ask them if they could accommodate you or if they know anywhere that could. (When I say "speak", I mean write a letter or email)

didn’t manage to get any qualifications behind me
When I was your age, I had:
10 GCSEs (all A-C except Music D) and a Diploma of Higher Education in Law

(Basically I did a law degree and never sat my final exams so instead of getting a degree I was awarded the DipHE)

I did not graduate from my degree until December 2017
BSc (Hons) Computing & IT from the Open University

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