Becoming a teacher

[Zeuhl]

I have a relative (21) who though very bright dropped out of A levels to take a job.

She now works in Local Govt admin connected to Social Services and has great inter personal skills.

She would like to teach but recognises that lack of degree blocks off secondary, however she would prefer infant/junior anyway.

Anyone know her options, best route to take or best sources of info?

Thanks.
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[LoftyLottie]

I think you need a degree now even to teach at primary level Zeuhl. But I am not 100% sure. How about her doing an OU degree alongside her work. I think the usual way in is to get a degree and then do a one year course to become a teacher. This is what all the young people I know have done.

A good site for you

http://www.tda.gov.uk...asicrequirements.aspx

[sophie_1003]

She would still need a degree for infant/junior age, there are different ways of getting onto a degree, as she's 21 I would duggest she goes back and finishes her A-levels or another course that would give her the equivalent UCAS points. There is the Access course but not sure of how this works. If she wants to go through a faster route regarding the degree a degree that has QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) attached would be her best bet as these are usually three year courses as opposed to doing adegree then gaining a teaching qualification.
The only other option is to do a childcare course which will allow her to be a teaching assistant then she may be able to progress to being a Higher Level Teaching Assistant by doing the relevant course but would still need a degree to teach.

[sophie_1003]

*suggest

[Mosaic]

She has the necessary qualification (NVQ level whatever in english and maths) and can apply for jobs in schools as of now, as a teaching and learning assistant and / or (if she prefers secondary) cover supervisor. If she then gets her feet under the table at a school, she could enquire about the GTP route whereby you get paid on the job at the host school. Word of caution - with GTP all is dependent on your teacher mentor, and some see GTP students as an opportunity to offload work onto a tame supply teacher.
An additional way in with secondary is to look for summer school, learning resource centre work, and even clerical work. Just to get yourself known in a school.

[Zeuhl]

Thank you ladies for the useful information and suggestions.

Much appreciated xxx
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[bertiebear]

You still need a degree first to go on the Graduate Teacher Programme. BB

[naughtyboy]

What do you mean 'even to teach at primary level' LL? Did you know that primary teachers can also teach in key stages 3, 4 and 5 but secondary teachers can't teach in primary schools? If you don't know what you're talking about, don't comment!
You do need a degree to teach in any school, either a BEd or a degree plus a PGCE.
Oh and the degree must be a 2:1 or above.

[bertiebear]

I am pleased you have commented on the ''even to teach at primary level'' naughtyboy. I couldn't bring myself to go down that line earlier! I have known several secondary trained teachers do the conversion course for pimary teaching and beat a hasty retreat back to secondary teaching, being unable to keep up the pace and additional workload of having to teach every subject in the primary curriculum, including all the extra paperwork. BB

[bertiebear]

or even primary teaching.

[Prudie]

"She would like to teach but recognises that lack of degree blocks off secondary, however she would prefer infant/junior anyway"

LL as the first response was only replying to the poster's remark. which the 'anyway' implied they didn't think a degree was required for primary. Quite sure it wasn't meant in a derogatory way.

[LoftyLottie]

You are right prudie. Obviously naughty boy has a big chip on his shoulder! Never mind eh.

Seeing as I worked in schools for a long time, my remark was in no way derogatory. And I do know what I am talking about.

[LoftyLottie]

and my response was to this:

"She would like to teach but recognises that lack of degree blocks off secondary, however she would prefer infant/junior anyway"

[Zeuhl]

Sorry everybody, my question did assume a lack of a degree was likely to be less of an obstacle to teach infants or junior.

But hey, how educated do you need to be to teach 5 year olds how to do finger painting?
(adjusts body armour and retreats to a safe distance :-) )

.

[LoftyLottie]

I hardly dare say it Zeuhl but teaching primary children does not compare with teaching beligerant and often violent teenagers that have absolutely no interest in learning anything, and primary teachers do have to teach every subject but only to a certain level. The stress in primary schools bears no comparison to the stress teachers are under in secondary education. And personally I think that teacher training colleges after A levels were perfectly adequate to to prepare a teacher for primary school teaching. A degree in the relevant subject is much more necessary for secondary school teaching. Still, it seems that degrees are needed for everything these days.

Having said that, my posts were just in answer to your question and not derogatory in any way.

[LoftyLottie]

But, of course, I don't know what I am talking about, do I? ;o)

[sophie_1003]

Zeuhl, seeing as that comment was made tongue-in-cheek I will overlook the finger painting thing; however will say that working in a nursery/primary school is far more than play and paint!

[Prudie]

And as I was a secondary teacher for 10 years I would say the pressures are certainly different!

[chattykathy]

In the not too distant future all teachers will be expected to have a Masters degree!

[sophie_1003]

Did you find secondary or primary more difficult Prudie? Or the same level of difficultness but in different ways?

[sophie_1003]

ah, sorry just read back and that question made no sense! For some reason thought you said you had taught in primary too!