been told my 12 GCSEs and 3 A levels are 'historical' since I sat them in 1988 and 1990 so count for NOWT!

[izzysauntyclaire]

Having decided to go back to college and do a teaching assistant course, with a view to eventually gaining a teaching qualification, I was told I couldn't do the level 3 course because it was 20 years ago that I sat my English and Maths GCSEs so they are not recognised. I would have to do the level 2 course instead then resit my english and Maths, followed by the level 3 course.
I was a bit gutted actually about it cos I feel like I totally wasted my time getting these qualifications.
I would like to get into teaching but am unsure of which path to go down. I thought starting with the teaching assistant thing might be a good place to start followed by a foundation degree then a full time year at University. Anyone have any better ideas? I can study part time at the moment but could probably step it up in years to come if needs be.

Yes, but she didn't say how much. She also said you could resit them as many times as you like but obviously you pay every time.

You can't do a PGCE without a degree, but you can do teacher training at local schools if they are in partnership with a university. Might be worth looking into.

I took both the short courses and the exams with Learndirect completely free of charge.

ah, he has a degree?
boy do i wish id gotten me one of those babies...

That's exactly what I think too zippi.

I wonder if it is worth you writing a letter to the Principal of the colleage of the Dean of the Education dept to tell them what the policy is, and point out that you are excluded from the course on this basis.

I think it is definitely worth challenging. Perhaps a chat to a friendly headteacher might help, perhaps he or she would be willing to go on record if they too think it bonkers.

Have just finished my NVQ level 3 in July and my O levels were taken, dare I admit it, 27 years ago and no-one asked me to take any new tests. To be honest, I agree with CarofromWton and would say that if you want to be a teacher go straight for that course. More money than a TA but an awful lot more work and hassle than we have.

o levels and gcses are basic quals so if they have a shelf life the surely degrees have more of one being harder

if you regress it will be from those surely

so people doing degrees better watch out there qualification will be obsolete before they have even paid it off

do you know, I've seen Learndirect on the telly n stuff but never thought to look at what they offer, might just have a look..

Open university also do education courses. GCSE's don't expire but I guess that in this case for teaching they need to ensure you have recent relevant study.

I would go to Learn Direct and get the Maths and English out of the way. The courses are free - it's all very simple. They assess you first, you can go over anything you are weak at on your computer at home and sit the exam almost straight away. It's actually quite fun.

I would go to Learn Direct and get the Maths and English out of the way. The courses are free - it's all very simple. They assess you first, you can go over anything you are weak at on your computer at home and sit the exam almost straight away. It's actually quite fun.

a friend of mine on a post-grad course had to make up for her too low grade in maths gcse by taking a numeracy course, I think it was the one with learn direct that some other people have mentioned. She was allowed to do it alongside our course, and it was just a bit of tutoring, and an exam. Surely that would be sufficient for your course?

This is interesting. Age discrimination legislation is still limited in terms of where it applies. It currently applies to employers and to education and training providers in terms of vocational training. Have a look here, it gives a fairly broad definition of 'vocational training' which I think this course may well fit into. You would argue that declaring qualifications taken x years ago as invalid is setting an age-related criteria for entry to the course, and as such is discrimination.

As this legislation is fairly new, it may well be that this particular policy, which doesn't sound that unusual, hasn't necessarily been challenged much so there might not be much case law around it.

Interesting. I agree with those who say you should challenge it.

If the college are worried about your current level of knowledge, do they not have a test you can sit (free) to show where you are at knowledge wise, and then if you pass you're in, and if not you do some re-sits?

I had to do this for an accelerated teaching degree (full BA in 2 years, inc in-school placement). I had a degree, but not in the subject I wanted to teach, but did hae A levels in that subject. I sat a language test (course was for teaching languages) and passed it, so had no need for re-sits/make up courses, which had been suggested.

if the college are doubting your qualifications, surely it is up to them to provide a means by which youcan prove them?

sorry for slight high-jack
Silverfrog where did you do the accelerated teaching degree?

When I did my midwifery training I had to show evidence of recent study - within the last 4 years. So my GCSEs, a-levels and previous degree didn't count. Luckily I'd done a customer services NVQ after my degree which was recent enough.

They said its not really a case of older qualifications not counting, but if there's been too long a gap then they're worried you've got out of "study mode" and will struggle with the course.

Hope you find a way of getting there.

At Brighton uni.

I had finished my linguistics degree 2 years previously, so was 6 years post A level. I had studied languages for my degree, but none that I could (then) train in (Chinese and Hindi)

So Brighton offered a 2 year BA for those with previous experience, and were willing to accept my A levels and one year of (non degree) university level French as long as I passed the test. i had an interview in french, and sat a grammar based test.

The first year was lecture based to bring subjects up to the right level, and then the second year was school based, leading to a BA (MFL) with teaching qualification.

Can't remember the exact details, as was a while ago (and I gave it all up to go with then dp, now dh, to live in Africa!)

oh cripes, I was thinking of applying for a PGCE but I also did my A Levels 20 yrs ago.

Thanks silverfrog I am tempted to do degree but 4 year job seems too long and doesn't fit too easily with the 'getting pregnant soonish plan' but liked idea of 2 year course

this is absolute nonsense! I run a teacher training course and get plenty of mature applicants who (like me) have O levels, CSEs etc and I happily take them because I know that GCSEs have got easier adn easier

I did an access course a couple of years ago and if you apply to university in Edinburgh you highers/Alevels do not count for anything after years!!!

• THAT SHOULD BE 3 YEARS

I had a similar problem when I looked into training to be an audiologist. I have a Physics degree and a masters and they wanted to do a foundation course in science.

I would be happy to do an A-level in a subject I have not done before to prove I can still study, but I not doing a science foundation course when I have a Physics degree.

So I am spending my life fixing PCs. The fact that I have had experience of having a child with hearing aids (due to a mild loss) and working with chilren who are profoundly deaf does not count. Its sh!t.