ECT years part time?

[marmiteoneverything]

I’m thinking of applying for teacher training for September this year. Still lots of places left, which is potentially a bit worrying in itself…

I would ideally be looking to do the training part time, so it would take 2 years rather than 1. I would also ideally then work part time after completing it, ideally on a 0.6 contract. I have a toddler DC and I’d really like to avoid her being in nursery full time and then having to go to breakfast and after school club every day, which I know would happen if I was working full time.

I know this is technically possible, but I’m wondering if it’s something that schools try to avoid if they can? I think that would take my ECT time up to over 3 years, which I’m not sure would be very appealing. Although I have also heard that they’re really struggling to recruit teachers, so perhaps it wouldn’t be too much of an issue 😬

Has anyone done their ECT part time, or know of anyone who has?

I think it will depend what subject you want to teach, the greater the shortage the more likely you are to be able to negotiate this. I did my training year and NQT 4 days a week and have since gone down to 3 but not met many others who have done.

If you were 0.6 then yes, your ECT would take more than 3 years. Depending on your mentor(s) you might get pretty sick of being mentored!

Thank you for the reply. It would be for English (probably should have included that in my OP!) but I would also like to teach drama in the future. I know English is a priority subject but I think it’s also one of the courses that fills up the fastest when applications open.

I would consider 4 days, but 3 would be my preference. I would potentially do the training full time to get it done, but I wouldn’t want to actually teach full time at the moment.

Have you found a QTS provider that allows part time?

I did the Teaching apprenticeship with QTS which was a one year full time course where I needed to be employed full time by a school (though strictly speaking it was one day out for training and non-contact time - but I was still onsite for this, and employed full time - my training was via zoom and non- contact sometimes moved).

The provider offered QTS Apprenticeship along with an additional PGCE on top if you wanted a PGCE certificate (I had no desire to do essays) - both options required a full time contract. I don’t know about other routes that allow part time - I only say it as, whilst you may get a part time teaching job, it could be tricky to get a part time training course - did you want paid training or to go with a university based course?

On another note, I would also consider

getting the training done in one year because it is A LOT of work and quite hard going and to stretch that over 2….it’s all the theory, possible essays if you choose a certain route, constant reports, reflections…..my course involved weekly observations, all the mentor meetings…..hard with a toddler yes but I personally would strongly consider just getting the QTS year done as fast as you can.

What kind of provider are you looking at - uni PGCE, apprenticeship, TeachFirst type provider?

@ImAMinion Yes, there are a couple of providers locally who offer the training part time over 2 years. I know one of them is 1.5 days in school and 1 day in training during the first year, then 2.5 days in school and occasional training days during the second year, so I assume the other provider is similar. They are SCITT type providers with the option of either PGCE or QTS only. I would ideally like to the the PGCE as I think it opens more doors, but perhaps it’s not worth the extra work. There are also a couple of excellent unis near me who also offer teacher training, but that is only on a full term basis. I’m not eligible for Teach First due to my degree/ A level combinations, but I’m not sure that’s a bad thing as I haven’t heard great things about it.

So I know the training can be done full time, it’s more the job afterwards that’s the worry! It is a very good point you make about just getting it done though. That would also mean that I’d get the £10k bursary all in one year rather than stretching it over two.

I did my 4 days teacher training via Now Teach who are trying to get people with previous careers into teaching. They don't have their own training programme but might be able to advise on finding something

I've known people who've trained part time, and it hasn't been an issue for them. As long as you're happy and can afford to do the training part time, I don't see it as a problem. Established SCITTs with a part time option are often well respected in their local area, and have good links with employers.

I've worked in two schools since ECTs have been a thing, and both have been happy to take on part time ECTs. I think the issue is more for the ECTs in that the training period seems to drag on forever! If it's going to take nearly 4 years to "fully qualify" then it can feel like there is no end in sight! I know one ECT who ultimately left teaching because of this, and another who chose to up her hours for a year.

Some academies also don't let ECTs move up beyond a certain point on the pay scale (they aren't meant to do this, but it is a thing) so you may find your income is capped for the 3+ years it will take you to train.

It is worth bearing in mind that in Secondary, 0.6 doesn't necessarily mean 3 days a week or the same 3 days each week. In some schools it will end up spread over 4 days- I don't know how you'd feel about that?

one of them is 1.5 days in school and 1 day in training during the first year, then 2.5 days in school and occasional training days during the second year

Sorry OP but I think you would make life dreadfully hard for yourself if you did this. It is incredibly difficult to establish yourself as a part timer on less than 0.5, even as an experienced teacher. It will be much harder to build relationships and maintain momentum. I would seriously consider training full-time, even if you then go on to do your ECT part-time.

I trained part time and qualified in 4 terms rather than the standard 3. I trained over 3 days (1 day in central training and 2 in placement for the first 3 terms, 3 in placement for the last) and worked as a TA the remaining days. I work full time now but part time ECTs are pretty common; I work with one.

By the way, I don't agree that PGCE opens more doors (in England and Wales). I might go back to it later for academic interest but I have managed fine on 'just' QTS.

I’m not eligible for Teach First due to my degree/ A level combinations

This must mean that you have neither a degree nor an A level in English, either lang or lit? You will likely need to do an SKE if this is the case so you need to factor this in.

I did Teach First when it was QTS only, before it included a PGDE (I appreciate it’s not for everyone) and have not found any doors closed to me because of my lack of PGCE / PGDE.

Thank you everyone- some really good points to consider!

It is worth bearing in mind that in Secondary, 0.6 doesn't necessarily mean 3 days a week or the same 3 days each week. In some schools it will end up spread over 4 days- I don't know how you'd feel about that?

I hadn’t thought too much about that, but you are absolutely right. That would be less of an issue if I did the training part time as DD would be in reception by that point, but still something to consider. My previous school really tried to get 0.6 as close to 3 days as possible, but it’s definitely something to think about.

@CommanderShepard I have always really liked the idea of teaching in an international school (admittedly not any time soon) but it’s probably not worth committing to a PGCE just for that reason.

@YippieKayakOtherBuckets Well diagnosed! I actually have an MA in English lit, but my undergraduate is in a different arts subject and I didn’t take it for A level. Teach First and one of my local(ish) unis have said no because of that, but the SCITTs and a couple of the other unis were fine about it when I emailed them. Definitely up for going a SKE course though- it’s already mentioned in my personal statement! (Love your username too… my favourite Christmas film!)

One thing that might make it easier to work PT once qualified could be to teach A Level rather than secondary. Something to think about…

Agree with a previous poster that training part time could be difficult, it would be really hard to form relationships with your department, the students, build up your teaching load, personally I would choose to train over one year and then look for part time work afterwards if that was an option.
I also did an English PGCE without an English degree, I have had to work hard on my subject knowledge and in my planning but generally it hasn't held me back.

I have known a few people do training/ECT part time it worked for them - as people said it does mean you are a long time teaining/ECT but with a young child probably a good trade off