How to retrain as a primary school teacher?

[curiousgeorgie]

I already have a degree in English Literature... So is it a one year PGCE?

That seems too simple and I'm sure I must be wrong!

It is a one year PGCE but, to get accepted on the course, most universities will expect a bit of related experience. After my politics degree I helped out in a primary school for a couple of weeks.

Thanks... How did you get the primary school experience? Did you literally just send out lots of letters or is there a route you have to go through?

I just rang the school up the road and volunteered!

I'm in Wales and I contacted the graduate careers service who encouraged me to ask my DC's school. I would never have been brave enough otherwise, but I did and the headteacher was so nice about it. I should be doing some shadowing there quite soon hopefully once my CRB check comes back, and hopefully I can carry on volunteering from time to time. Do you have a primary age DC?

Wrt training, the best thing is to look at the various teaching websites and the Get Into Teaching blog as there are different routes you can take. Good luck.

I don't have school age DC yet... My daughter is going to start nursery in September though, and it is attached to a school.

I do have a friend who is a primary school teacher but in a 'friend of a friend' kind of way. Maybe I could ask her.