PhD or PGCE

[SunshinePie]

I’m finishing a MSc and can’t decide whether to go straight into PGCE or PhD. I’m under the impression a PhD means I could bypass the PGCE (if teaching in independent schools), is that correct?

The main reason I’m put off PGCE is because I’m worried I will always have that feeling of “I could have got a PhD”….🤷‍♀️ And also it cost £10k, whereas the PhD is funded.

I ultimately want to work as a teacher in secondary. What are everyone’s thoughts? PGCE or PhD?

PGCE isn't the only route in to teaching. Have you thought of the others?

If you want to work in state schools, you need QTS.

A PGCE isn’t just an academic qualification. It’s a structured teaching qualification with various teaching placements which help you to become competent in the various teaching standards. Being knowledgeable about your subject via a PhD doesn’t mean that you can teach it while managing a class.

You don’t need to be a qualified teacher in independent schools but most are and you would be in direct competition with them. That said, I know some of the very prestigious senior schools want the odd academic to stretch their very able Oxbridge bound top set pupils. I can’t imagine there are many of these vacancies about though…

My partner did on the job teacher training rather than a PGCE and is an incredible teacher.

I would do your PHD and then a graduate on the job training route. I did the graduate teacher programme, was paid as an unqualified teacher for the year as I trained. At the school I teach at a PHD is well regarded and you would have a leg up over other candidates. But I do think your need to get a teaching qualification in some shape or form.

You probably will need both, unless you are in an area with loadsof private schools and a recruitment issue.
I teach in a state school in a fairly leafy area, and in my department alone more than a third of us have PhDs as well as PGCEs

@HeliosPurple

A PGCE isn’t just an academic qualification. It’s a structured teaching qualification with various teaching placements which help you to become competent in the various teaching standards. Being knowledgeable about your subject via a PhD doesn’t mean that you can teach it while managing a class.

You don’t need to be a qualified teacher in independent schools but most are and you would be in direct competition with them. That said, I know some of the very prestigious senior schools want the odd academic to stretch their very able Oxbridge bound top set pupils. I can’t imagine there are many of these vacancies about though…

My partner did on the job teacher training rather than a PGCE and is an incredible teacher.

This.

PhD takes you deeper into your individual subject, but doesn't teach you how to teach.

Do both. You could easily hate teaching, but if you do, you can leave it and still have a doctorate.

I would say "Do you Phd and see if University teaching is for you?"

I did a PhD, then a PGCE. In terms of teaching, and my teaching career, I don't believe the PhD was helpful in the slightest. It might have been different if I had pursued a career in private schools, but I've been in state schools since training so I don't know much about that. I'm 100% certain that in state schools every career goal I could wish to pursue would be just as possible without the PhD as with. In fact, if I was really career driven, and wanted to scale the heights of school leadership, the PhD was a bad choice. I only got in a few years of teaching post PhD and PGCE before starting a family. I'd have been better starting teaching at 22/23 and securing a few promotions before having kids whilst I was young and energetic. The PhD was all sorts of difficult and really quite stressful, it wasn't an easy few years by any means. The PGCE and teaching is going to be stressful and difficult too, but if you're doing that anyway, there's no need to add in the extra difficultly and stress of the PhD. If I'd have known I would end up in teaching, I wouldn't have done the PhD. If you have a burning passion to pursue your area of research it will be worth it for that, but it doesn't add much career wise for a regular state teacher. If however you know you want to avoid state schools (and who can blame you), then it might be a good move. It's worth getting some experience in private schools near you to see if that is really necessary. They're not all choc full of teachers with PhDs, it will depend on the recruitment environment where you are.

I did a PhD, during which I found out I enjoyed teaching more than research, and am now applying for teacher training. I would not do a PhD if you know that you want to teach in secondary schools and if you don't want an academic career.

The PhD is more than writing a long dissertation; it really takes it out of you, and it can take a while to get over it. The teaching you do is in addition to (or usually instead of, for weeks at a time) researching and writing up, and isn't valued by the universities beyond student evaluation results.

I understand the "what if" nagging feeling, but many people finish PhDs wondering "what if" they hadn't bothered.. these things aren't always simply resolved. A lot of mediocre students get their PhDs, it's not a stamp of a great intellect by any means and there are many other ways to distinguish yourself in life.

In my experience, independent schools want QTS as a minimum. I would not rely on a PhD as something that will make you better than other candidates if you don’t have QTS.