How to get into teaching?? Advise please?

[BlueBumedFly]

Please can anyone give me any advise?

My DH wants to change his career after being made redundant from a career in advertising a year back.

He wants to get into Primary teaching but only has a HND from 20 years back not the required degree.

He is fab with children, has the patience of a saint and is an excellent artist to boot.

Please can anyone help me? OU say he cannot top up his HND to a degree with them as its more than 16 years old.

We are so not flush for cash, this is a lifestyle change as he is desperate to do something that means something, iyswim?

Thabsk

He will need C grade or above or equivalent at GCSE Eng Lang and Maths, plus a degree in a relevant subject eg English, Maths or similar. Then he will have to do a one year PGCE or a school-based training programme (used to be called the GTP, not sure now what it is called as the govt are changing it but if you google GTP you'll find out).

I'm afraid I'm not sure if you can top up an HND anywhere, if the OU won't do it. However there are lots of other roles in schools that don't require a degree, though often less well paid eg working in finance, admin, teaching assistant, cover supervisor, lab/technology dept technician. And you can work as an unqualified teacher if you can convince a school to take you on in that role, though you earn less than a qualified teacher. What subject was his HND in?

Best of luck, sorry I can't be more optimistic on the degree bit!

Teach in a Gove academy! Sorry not helpful. He couldnt do the graduate teacher training I don't think as he doesn't have a degree. Also look at the number of primary jobs in your area- many areas have very few jobs. Contact the teacher training agency. Pm me if you need more detail

I think working unqualified would be easier in secondary. He could be an art technician but the money is not very good.

I wouldn't recommend it. He will need to become fully qualified which will take time and money, and then he will be competing in an oversaturated job market.

There are far too many qualified primary school teachers for the jobs going. I know lots of teachers out of work as they simply cannot get jobs. Last time I was applying there were 100 applicants for some of the jobs I went for! Not good.

Very, very difficult, OP. I hate to sound negative, as I'm generally a positive kind of gal, but I've taught for over 20 years so here goes.....

1. You need a degree. Plus O level Maths/English of at least C grade. (I'm going on the old system as I assume DH is in his 40s from his HND of 20 years back). You then need 1 year PGCE (teacher training). You then need to do a NQT year in a school to be fully qualified. So...long process.
2. Teacher training places are very limited. Basically there are far too many people wanting to teach and its difficult to get onto one.
3. There are a hell of a lot of unemployed teachers. Too many people have gone through the training, are desperate to teach, love teaching and are all chasing too few jobs.

Plus points - as a man wanting to do primary he would be seen as a desirable candidate. Primary schools are keen to encourage male staff as lots of children don't have a good male role model and they are aware that primary is often full of lady teachers.

I hate to sound so negative. Trying to be honest with you. My best recommendation would be to go look on the TES website which is basically for teachers. Lots and lots of helpful advice on how to get into teaching, etc on the forums. Please do read the forum for unemployed teachers, however, as it is full of genuine, honest and heartbreaking situations. www.tes.co.uk.

Oh golly....swamped by what sounds like lots of teachers who all think the same as me, lol. I think basically we all agree that he's likely to find it very difficult to get a job in teaching.

He would have to start again and do an undergraduate degree with QTS.
There's a lot of competition for primary PGCE places, my DP originally wanted to do one but after working as an unqualified teacher for a third sector provider (charity than ran lessons for excluded children) he changed his mind and is now on secondary Maths PGCE with its lovely bursary.

He should try and get a job in a school first, to see if it's for him- I am a TA and we only have one male TA, they are pretty rare and sought after! We also have activity leaders at lunchtime, sports coaches, a building manager etc.

A friend who is my age (mid thirties) is just about to qualify as a teacher- he did an access course (1 year) then a BA (3 years) and then a pgce (1 year). A long slog, but perfectly doable if he is motivated.

He could also try cubs/scouts etc to get experience.

Just a thought about finances....not my business obviously, but TA wages are very poor (I'm sure coldcupoftea agrees ). They do a great job but if DH is main/only breadwinner then you might be struggling.

I think if he is considering this seriously he might consider secondary if he has art qualifications, as there will be more job opportunities. Alternatively, if he really is a natural, private/independent schools would be the ones to approach as they can hire who they like.

As he's had a career in something commercial that might make him more attractive as it will help him advise students on careers. Also schools are having to think more about promoting themselves these days - some of his skills could be transferable.

I've recently changed career into teaching and I don't disagree with the posters above who say it's a long hard slog to get qualified, but I do think an ex-advertising man is likely to be good at selling himself if he can just get those meetings with headteachers.

He shouldn't assume teacher training providers will have any interest in his work experience though I speak from experience they had no interest in my 15 years in the workplace; it was like I was exactly the same as a 21 year old university leaver!

Wow, so much to read and digest, many many thanks for all your advise, I will have a good read and will keep checking back. Miracles not gonna happen then :(