Reality check

[123321Sycamore123321]

Hello- apologies for a really long post!

I’ve recently joined this forum to get a bit of advice/ a reality check! I’ve spoken to a few careers advice people but I thought it might be better to ask actual teachers.

I have just finished a level 4 qualification in accounting. I left school part way through sixth form, due to family reasons and sort of fell into accounting. I decided quite a while ago that it wasn’t for me, however have stuck out the qualification.

I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was tiny, however I thought until recently that my lack of A levels would stop me.

I’ve since found out that I can do a credit transfer for my qualification for the business/ business with a language degrees at open university, or also potentially do a top up degree in accounting. I would also have the options of an access to he course and then open University in a different subject.

I have the benefit of being able to speak french quite well, so a business and language degree, with credit transfers, hopefully shouldn’t take to long. I will have to study part time as I have a mortgage, however I have just turned 21 so believe I would be classed as a mature student and possibly able to get a student loan.

I basically need to know, for the following situations, would it be worth it? As in, how likely am I to get a job at the end of the studying.

The first option would be to do either the open University business and french degree, and then apply to train to be a french teacher. I’m not sure, however if my lack of french A level would be a problem. I could also do the top up degree purely in accounting, and then do a french A level alongside, however I don’t know if then I would struggle not having a degree in french. I could maybe also do the open University degree alongside a french A level.

The second option is to do the same training, and apply to be a primary school teacher, which is what I really want to do. I think that with how competitive it is, I don’t really stand a chance, as I would have no a levels, and only half a degree in a proper subject.

I’m also really conscious of how long it will take to train, as I will really struggle long term with a large pay cut, and i can’t risk training for the next however many years, and then not getting any work at the end of it.

I currently volunteer with the brownies, and I have work experience lined up in my annual leave next year.

Realistically, what are my chances of becoming a teacher? I’m assuming that I’ll have a better shot at being a french teacher, but I maybe need to have a total career rethink!

Thank you

Hoping someone more knowledgeable will come along but rather than leave you hanging, I'll give you my two cents...MFL teachers in secondary usually need a second language - used to be German, now it's Spanish that is more in demand (or Italian).
Primaries often offer French later in the school (y4-6) so in theory having a language to your bow might help you - I would opt for where your heart lies and go for primary if retraining.

Thank you, that’s really helpful to know.
I suppose then the question is, if I was to do french and Spanish A levels, and an unrelated (accounting) degree, would that be a good option? Would it allow me to teach primary and secondary mfl, or is it best to do a language degree? Thank you

I knew a few teachers whose second language was to A-level only so they taught that only to key stage 3 not GCSE but they weren't confident in teaching it at all.
Maths is in short supply - are you sure you couldn't transfer your numeracy skills?

@HardStare I had considered maths- I don’t currently have a maths A level, but I may take one and see how I do- I do struggle with my confidence with maths, but I feel like that’s just from bad experiences at my own school.
I suppose to teach maths I can do my accounting degree and then a subject knowledge enhancer course? After I have an a level.
I think there is also an option to be a maths specialist at primary school so I may look into that, might give me more options. Thank you

Have a look at doing an access course for university entry.
You can do it part time at a local college.

if primary education is your dream - please go for it.

I'm a primary school teacher and don't have A levels.
I did an OU degree then PGCE.
Why not look at doing some of the childhood/ education OU modules?
Ring them- ask about credit transfer.
Put an application in for student finance- see what they offer?

Thank you, it’s really encouraging to see people saying go for primary school teaching, as it’s definitely my preference. I do worry about finding work though, as I’d imagine people who have taken the traditional route are preferred!

@wonderpants

I'm a primary school teacher and don't have A levels. I did an OU degree then PGCE. Why not look at doing some of the childhood/ education OU modules? Ring them- ask about credit transfer. Put an application in for student finance- see what they offer?

Please could I ask how long it took you to do your degree with ou? And also, do you know if credit transfers are only to relevant subjects? Thank you

I am a primary school teacher and I do not have A levels. I did my degree with the OU and then did a PGCE Scitt course. I was offered a job with my trainee schools but I wanted experience elsewhere so applied to a school and was offered the job within an hour.

Primary schools are particularly interested in candidates that bring something else to the school and your knowledge of languages definitely falls into the bracket.

As for applying to the OU, as you are a mature student, they are likely to take your current experiences in lieu of A levels. They may even offer a credit transfer. 60 credits is roughly 15 hours of study and 120 full time. However, I did 120 and worked a full time job with 5 children and managed fine.

Believe me when I say that an OU degree is very respected in the education sector. It takes a huge amount of self motivation to achieve.

Thank you! That is incredibly helpful, and gives me a lot of hope! Can I ask what you did your degree in?

I did a history degree.

Our SCITT provider took all types of degrees from tourism to maths. I am also aware that they took some candidates who had a 2:3 degree despite advertising that 2:2 was the minimum grade.

Jobs were not interested in my degree. They were also not interested in the PGCE. All they wanted was the QTS certificate.

It is much more flexible than anyone suggests.

Have a look at an access course (college) - this covers 4 subjects plus any GCSE's.

I did that - then a degree at uni followed by PGCE.

Go for primary...it's amazing!

Thank you all so much, this is incredibly useful! I am definitely going to have a look at applying for the open university, and I also have the option of the top up degree in accounting, as it does sound like the degree subject isn’t the end of the world from these comments! Thank you!