How did you find it?

I’ve got a mechanical engineering degree and 20 years industrial experience, but I’m tired of it and am considering doing something better with my life.

I applied for a Primary PGCE 5 years ago, they didnt want me because my degree was in Geotechnical Engineering, and it was’nt a national cirriculum subject! 15 years experience as an engineer counted for nothing! I made the effort to gain experience in a school, and was also a qualified UKA coach. I had alot to offer.

They did offer me place on the Geography PGCE, didnt accept as it was Primary I wanted.

It sickens me as my wife is a Primary school teacher, and half of the teachers I have met through her are thick as P*g **it.

How will you cope with the four figure salary?

maths is a shortage subject so you can probably swing that by doing a conversion course
I do careers stuff e-mail me if you want actual real advice
I am a teacher as well. Who would have thunk it with my spelling

I’m half thinking of it. There’s been a few informative threads on it in the last year or so (good luck searching!). I’m doing a bit in a mate’s P7 class.

Secondary = subject more interesting/demanding, kids more mouthy/cynical.

I’d be down for Maths, no way! Spunkyard I may email you also.

I’m not sure that my maths would stand up to cross examination after 20 years in the real world. I’d go for physics.

Hi, I have just taken to plunge and been accepted onto a PGCE course. Can’t wait to start. though I know i’m going to have no life for the next two years!

Primary or Secondary and what subject you thinking of?

I’ve heard similar stories to geologist’s above about educated blokes with science/techy backgrounds and frequently a sporty background and lots of life experience not getting a look in to get into Primary PGCEs yet young (dare I say it, female and a bit “fluffy”) arts degree holders are still sailing straight in. This is a tradgedy as far I can see from my dealings with primary/middle schools (I’m an academic HoD at a secondary school and often go into our feeder schools) where techy/science orientated; sporty; or male influences are sorely needed (this could be techy or sporty females too). Too many primary schools are full of too many stereotypical primary teachers imho.

edit – cross post. Check out the current maths curriculum. If you are from the O’level generation you will be surprised at the subjects that are now in A level maths that were previously in the 14-16 qualification. It might not be as hard as you think to get back upto the required level.D&T might also be an option with a lot of vocational gcse engineering courses running within those depts too and HoDs looking for staff with proper skills rather than a bit of “craft” ability.

I’ve got a mechanical engineering degree and 20 years industrial experience, but I’m tired of it and am considering doing something better with my life.

Personally I’d abandon any notion that you’re doing something better with your life. Its a job. Very different from engineering but still a job.

Are you in England or Scotland? Primary or Secondary? If secondary, what subject?

Volunteer in schools to get an idea of what’s involved and to show the college entrance panel that you are keen. Not just once or twice but regularly. I really can’t emphasise how important that is. Also do you have any teaching experience in your current job? Even responsibility for student placement engineers will count.

Courses vary wildly but expect the taught sections of the course to be a skive and the school placements to be nuts.

Check out the salary scales if you haven’t already. Scottish ones are available on-line, don’t know about englandshire.

Like everything else it will be tough work for a few years then you can sit back a bit or start thinking about promotion depending on your personality type!

I’m not sure that my maths would stand up to cross examination after 20 years in the real world. I’d go for physics.

Have you checked out the academic requirements for subject entry? That would be a first port of call.

It sickens me as my wife is a Primary school teacher, and half of the teachers I have met through her are thick as P*g **it.

Soft skills are important too.

😉

Right back atcha 😉

Have you checked out the academic requirements for subject entry? That would be a first port of call.

so long as you have a similar background or willingness to attend a subject enhancement course, you don’t need a degree in physics to teach it. I have a geographical information science degree and i’m doing Physics.

Besides, upto KS3 you will be teaching all sciences and not just your subject

Apply but before you go for interview go and watch the teachers in a school. If you think you can handle lots of things going on around you and control 25-30 kids for 6 hours a day then go for it. If you can handle the govt telling you you are doing a bad job once a week then go for it. If you can afford it then…

Maths/ICT teacher 6 years in after 20 in IT. And still loving it (most days 😉 )

I’m tired of it and am considering doing something better with my life

I feel the same after 10 years teaching 🙂

It is very tough. I know that teaching and teachers get a bit of a drubbing on here, but the workload is demanding and continuous. Holidays are not holidays – they’re used for preparation, lesson planning and getting your breath back. If you teach KS3/4, prepare to be slated by your SMT, your students and their parents on a regular basis. If you decide on the Primary route, then in my personal opinion you are the bravest of the brave, as it is ten times harder on a day-to-day basis.

Having said all of that, it’s amazing. Your impact on pupils’ lives is subtle and sometimes undetectable, but when you notice it, it means the world to you. As a deputy head I have less contact time now, but every now and then I get to impact (in a positive way) on my students, and it makes it all worthwhile.

GTP route, QTS, Secondary PE Teacher, HoD, PDM, and now DH, all in under ten years and after working for local govt/NHS.

Good luck mate! Email me if you need advice…

Educating Essex tonight on More 4 22.00 , real children and um intresting teachers.

Holidays are not holidays – they’re used for preparation, lesson planning and getting your breath back.

If this is the case then you are either:

a. a bit of a workaholic / perfectionist.
b. doing it wrong.

Perfectly possible to be a good teacher without it impacting on your personal time like that.

I’m not a workaholic or a perfectionist and I don’t think I’m doing it wrong. I’ll have a couple of days off during this half term week, but they don’t quite offset the weekends and evenings that I’ve lost so far this year.

I retrained as a science teacher 4 or 5 years ago. Teach 11-18 its great mostly. Bloody tough time and emotional energy wise. I trained in a double tough school for my gtp and nqt year it was really hard but the occasional high was brilliant. Currently at a nice comp. As said though management are morons who just tell us to improve yet they have no idea how we should do it and the gov obviosly think we are lazy scum. Everyonce in a while a parent will say thank you which is nice but usually they just complain. All in all i love it just a bit concerned about how i’ll keep going to 68 !!!

i cant ignore bullhearts comments following his recent exposure in the national meedja
BUT.. if its all prep how can the domestic science teacher and her primary school head husband who live opposite spend every day of the xmas holidays and this half term ski-ing.
if its so challenging why does my 9 yr old have to have 3 teachers over a two week period (as they job share, is the kid the most important person in the class or the teacher.?)
my 6yr olds teacher is ‘winding down’ to early retirement at 55 so she only does 4 days a week at the mo. and the head is letting her teach the same class all the way through primary ( there now in yr1 so 3 yrs in and 4 to go)
the teaching assistants dont take register or what ever they do for the first 15mins so its always entertaining to see them eating huge bowls of cereal in the staff room..
i’m sure there must be teachers grafting at the coal face somewhere but i havent seen any yet.

See what I mean about getting slagged off all the time…

aye they are all lazy and they are only in it for the ski holidays

Does this sound like you then sign up 🙄

It does. Where do I join?

Wow totalshell’s post reaches a new level of stupid!

I blame the teachers for his stupidity 😉

http://www.tda.gov.uk

if its so challenging why does my 9 yr old have to have 3 teachers over a two week period (as they job share, is the kid the most important person in the class or the teacher.?)
my 6yr olds teacher is ‘winding down’ to early retirement at 55 so she only does 4 days a week at the mo. and the head is letting her teach the same class all the way through primary ( there now in yr1 so 3 yrs in and 4 to go)

Sounds like someone doesn’t know how to complain!

At my lads primary school, there are no male teachers at all. I often wonder why, surely kids need a bit of balance from male and female teachers.

Harry, go to GTTR.ac.uk – you have to apply asap if you are thinking of going for 2012/2013 intake as courses fill up fast. if you are thinking of primary, I think you will already be too late for this coming year.

Totalshell:

Possibly because they have put in long nights to allow some time off.

Jobshare seems unlikely, possibly “specialists”, i know that there is set non-contact time which is covered by other members of staff (like non-contact time in secondary schools).
Not many reasons that she’d be allowed to retire at 55. Ill health or really sheite.
Teaching assistants are, erm, not teachers and get paid pennies. Why should they do the teachers job?
You can pop into my place of work anytime to see grafters. (that is is we’re not all away skiing)

I was a “Boffin at Farnborough” now Chem teacher and Outdoor Ed co-ordinator.
Love it though what with Trips DofE and Rugby on top of normal teaching load the only weekends free of kids are in the holidays.

Just having a break from my planning of OE for next year and the DofE licence renewal. Need to do 27 reports for Monday and marshal the cross-country on Saturday. On the upside watched on of the kids (13y.o.) flash a 7b lead route in the Scottish Schools Climbing Comp today.

If this is the case then you are either:

a. a bit of a workaholic / perfectionist.
b. doing it wrong.

That’d be perfectionist then.

I like to piss excellence.

there are no male teachers at all. I often wonder why, surely kids need a bit of balance from male and female teachers.

do you think there are primary schools hogging all the male teachers?

How many female engineers do you have at yours?

It was always thus 1 in 10 iirc is the ratio of male to female

BUT.. if its all prep how can the domestic science teacher

perhaps you also live in a time warp – there has not been subject called “domestic science” for about 30yrs….

Damn shocking of them to go on holiday in their holiday time too and how dare they let the teaching assistants at your kid’s school eat. That sort of behaviour would never been seen in other places of work, tsk tsk!

No idea about the part time teacher malarkey, although I do hear there are part timers in other professions too. Do you think your child’s education is suffering? If so I’d be asking for info/clarification from the head so you can have an informed opinion.

So many teachers particularly Primary being trained there are few jobs – especially as most female teachers who go on maternity leave, return to the job after their year off.
My daughter qualified 4 years ago, a very good teacher but! has never had a permanent job, most maternity covers!! was promised a permanent post this year as the school had enough children to keep her on – but Somerset have decided not to offer a permanent post despite the Head wanting to make her permanent.
I go into the school as a volunteer 1 day a week, as I am a 62 year old retired FE lecturer – the school love it as I am the only male in the school other than the caretaker and I love it to helping children prepare for their SATS!!
So be wary – they are training too many primary teachers

Totalshell proves my point perfectly…. The cock….. See’s the word teacher and has to come and have a moan…..

Have you thought of teaching at college? They do a basic course (PTLLS) at Bury which is 10 weeks which can then be followed up with a longer course if you enjoy it. I’m just on the short course as work told me to go but am really enjoying it. Thinking of maybe applying for the other course now.

On the other hand my wife was a teacher for 4 years and was nearly alcoholic by the end of it, she’s still working with kids but doing more assessments etc now.