[Closed] Anyone retrained as a teacher?

Those who can't, teach.

Cheers, c0ckend. Haven't you got a sand pit to play in?

I've thought about it.

To respond to sofatester, I have been there, and done that (successfully!), and am looking for a second career, new challenge and the opportunity to feel that I am contributing to society.

Same concerns though, it would mean a massive drop in earnings.

sofatester - Member

Those who can't, teach.

Clichéd bolx ;-). Those who can teach, create those who can.

(And no, I'm not a teacher!)

I'm doing some part-time teaching atm; I want to gain a pro qualification if I can, but it appears I don't actually need one! I already have a BA. I only intend to work with Adults, so I don't need a PGCE. Thought I needed something else, but I'm not sure, now. Any thoughts on that? Would I need to go on to an MA, to do anything above FE level?

Those who can't, teach.

Bollocks. Those who can, and feel they want to help others learn, teach.

I love it, me. Really fulfilling, and fun! Saw one of my last-term's students last night, and she was showing me stuff she'd done, using techniques she learned on my course. Was a really lovely moment for me. Felt I'd done something worthwhile.

Reel them in...

I did. Taught for 2 years and then thought surely there is more to life than this.
Don't get me wrong i enjoyed some of the classes (years 7 and 11 and my sixth form group) but years 8 to 10 little nightmares.
I taught at a school with a good record but just decided it wasn't for me.

willyboy - out of interest, what was it that made you decide to teach in the first place?

It was a fairly easy choice in that they paid my student loans off (whilst i was teaching) and that it was the most interesting option available to me after i had finished my degree. I taught DT by the way.
Don't get me wrong i have friends who love teaching, but i just fell out of love with it over time.

Hijack . . .

Willyboy, . . . it's you isn't it Will?

Love

Keith

It is Keith. How are you? Looking forward to the alps i'm guessing.
love
Will
xxx

Fair enough. It's something I've always wanted to do.

more hijack

Will mail me

keith72(at)fastmail(dot)co(dot)uk

and how do you know about the alps?

Has Neil or Mike been blabbin?

Lata lover!

daughter is doing her pgce atm. on her second placement. her first placement was in one of the worst city areas and her current placement is where all the posh(would be)people gravitate to. Guess which school she has gotten most satisfaction from?? She has gone straight from uni MA into this because she wanted to.

Don

d

s just a passing phase/I need a job etc. Do it because you want to. There is a lot of prep work/lesson plans etc to do. Some of her course mates are struggling with this part(re-cycling hers!!)

At the end of the day money is`nt all that important if all you are doing is earning, not spending or just plain misserable. Maybe buys you a few toys to impress the mates/neighours/family but what do they really think?? Doing something you enjoy for less may be more rewarding. Having watched a recently promoted colleague wander up the hill, 2hrs after his finishing time, from the main office block with his knuckles trailing the ground I just think to myself WHY???

I am sure many people will now be reassesing their priorities in life due to the "crunch"...it had to happen, culd not carry on imo.

Do some homework re colleges/providers in your area, potential employers(short/fixed term contracts at first?) Agencies etc.

Watch teachers TV and read all paper/magazine supplements.

Chr1st you two, get a room 🙂

The money side isn't really an issue. I'd take a hit at first, especially when I was training, but now that teachers are actually paid a reasonable professional salary I don't think it's be that long before I was earning pretty much what I earn now. Anyway, one cuts ones cloth accordingly.

IHN - if it all goes pear shaped,(see binners' doom thread), its something i'll seriously consider, so I,m interested in what you find out.

Shall we teach maths? 🙂

I did it. I served my apprenticeship with my Dad's business on the understanding that if I did he would pay for my education. I did my degree and then just kept on plastering.About 6 years ago when my first child arrived I decided I wanted to stop travelling.I did my pgce and love teaching. It is NOT for everybody and the money isn't as good as I used to make. However it is very rewarding, the banter is usually good and the holidays are A1. Another point is that I am credit crunch safe.With regards to you choice of course, Physics, Chemistry and Maths..where would Sir LIKE to work?

Has anyone on here heard of Google it is this fantastic thing that if you type in words it gives you answers... some say it is better than asking relative strangers who dont do the job...
try typing this in
how to become a teacher

click on the first link I suspect the govt and the TDA may know a little about this!
here i saved you th trouble

[url= http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=how+to+become+a+teacher&meta= ]i am to lazy to use google to get relebvant information I ask MTB there is nothing they done know [/url]

Junkyard I think you'll find he was asking for peoples experiences and not how to do it.

IHN - To be fair we couldn't be worse that Miss 'hippo' Smith.

JUNKYARD - read the post you twit. 🙄

Duckman - what do you teach?

MrsF/willyboy - thankyou

Junkyard - perhaps nightschool to polish up on your basic literacy?

true but he also does not know about entry requirements or bursaries so they will get the info from there
do find it odd that people ask questions on here that Google will answer never really understod why suppose I will answer the expereince which was i got the information from Google and did my training 😆

There is a bursary and a variety of ways to enter teacher training.
You can do the FT STUDENT route providing a bursary (check website but £6000K when i did it and golden Hellos for shortage subjects again no up to date knowledge - you can also train in a school called GTP - which will give you more money[url= http://http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/thetrainingprocess/typesofcourse/employmentbased/gtp.aspx ]sorry being more helpful now after rant!!![/url]
In terms of teaching you can either handle the classroom and the work or you cannot I dont teach much anymore so there is your answer from me.
Teaching adults (FE community) is generally easier but hours are more erratic and wages lower. Ignor poster above you do require a teaching qualification but in shortage subjects (generally vocational ones) they will let you train on the job. Dont be fooled by the long holidays notion as there is more planning than you can imagine (in beginning you will plan as much as you teach ... though once you have done it if the syllabus does not change(it will) then you are laughing.
You can either do it or not I found the school rules hard and always sided with those who were fighting the system .. that and I spent most of my time trying to get poeple to behave (which I am sure some will say means I was rubbish and they may have apoint) rather than educate them.
Hopefully more helpful this time(but probably better to post this during half term

I teach History at Carnoustie High up here in benighted Angus! We are in a brand new building, I get to cycle (most) of the way home along the coast, and I get paid to teach a subject which is also one of my hobbies,oh and take my silver Duke of Embra' group out on bikes...which is nice.

Junkyard - thanks. Although I pray you didn't teach English (and, for what it's worth, I can use Google and I am aware of the entry requirements and the bursaries).

I reckon being a primary school teacher would be pretty cool.

Househusband, off of here, has recently retrained as a teacher.

I did and I love it. I teach Maths and its a different experience every day. The routine can get a bit tiring after a while (you know what you are doing in 6 months time) but the kids change all the time.

Just started mentoring new PGCE students and its fascinating watching them screw up just as badly as I did while training. My tip - if you are not organised then don't bother - its hard to learn to be organised and you have to be to survive. Oh and GTP (while tempting money wise) is terrifying!

IHN, physics teachers are a dying breed so in one way that's a good thing for you: a nice bursary and all that, but long term the reason they are dying out is lack of demand for them: less and less kids are taking physics as a GCSE, instead opting for combined science courses, and A level numbers are getting poorer and poorer - the kiddies see it as just too hard! If you don't mind teaching all the sciences you should be fine though, but you might have to hunt around for a job where you teach mainly physics. I say all of this as an Economics & Business Studies teacher by the way! The same thing has been happening with Economics - I've recently moved to a grammar school so I can get my fix of 'proper' Economics teaching. Have a look on the TES website around about Easter time to gauge the job market, it'll be quiet right now.

Without wanting to sound all 'high-horsey', teaching is not something to be entered into lightly: the training and the first few years are damned hard work! Expect to have no life during term time. Best of luck!

robbo - GTP?

headfirst - really? I thought they were crying out for Physics teachers. I'm not sure I could teach the other sciences (didn't even do them to GCSE). I might be able to teach Geography as well I suppose.

ihn my second link is to the site Gaduate Teacher programme

http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/thetrainingprocess/typesofcourse/employmentbased/gtp.aspx

IHN, That is mainly from anecdotal evidence - ie. chat with physics teachers at my current (started in Sept) and last school (was there for 14 years). But I'm pretty damn sure that the number of students taking AS/A2 physics is low and only heading in one direction. 'Safe havens' for physics are grammar schools and the independent sector. The vast majority of state comp's offer 'Dual Award Science' at GCSE which is worth 2 GCSEs and combines all 3 sciences.

I trained as a science teacher (biology specialism) 2 1/2 years ago. I did a GTP which is on the job training at a lovely new academy (short hand for nightmare school). The place had the worst GCSE past rate in the country, the kids were described as "challenging". I did my training and then did my NQT (newly qualified teacher) year there. It was good, I only got stabbed once!! I now teach at a "better" school (actually its no better but the kids are easier).

In all seriousness though I loved the challenge of the first school I taught in I wouldnt recommend learning to teach in such a place. I wouldnt go so far as to say I love the job, I like it but there's always too much to do. Having moved to a higher achieving school I have had to teach all new courses which is a pain as it doesnt allow you to get a pattern and then alter it to suit the kids. I found training and NQT year very stressful but I think it was the school I was in. Money wise I still earn less than I did when doing research but its moving along, holidays are usually fairly free and make up for the high workload but that said I have done naff all for 6 weeks every summer which is great.

For my GTP I got 18grand which was more than all the other people I met at the UNi days (danger money) who seemed to be getting 14, GTP means less written essays (well none actually) but you dont get the golden hello at the end of your NQT so its swings and roundabouts.
I'm rambling a bit but if you have any questions that are specific I can give you my email addy I am off work following a hip op at moment so have some time free.

oh and most places are crying out for physics teachers, you would teach mostly "science" but then get a nice crop of a-level and maybe a crop of the bright kids doing 3 sciences.

dont know where you are, but here you go: the only physics job that came up for a yorkshire wide search of physics jobs*

http://www.tes.co.uk/jobsSearchResults.aspx?parametrics=JOBCATEGORYCODE|10546&cmd=AddPm&val=JOBCATEGORYCODE|10571

*as I said, this is a quiet time of year right now

I reckon being a primary school teacher would be pretty cool.

Been there, done that, hated it.

Teaching at a sixth form now, which is great. Our physics numbers are up at the moment.

bugger.

it was at leeds grammar school

The most important thing in life is how much free time you get. If I had my time over I'd go for a profession that gave me that. It's more important than swags of money.

You can spend your working life saving up to get free time. Enjoy it while you can 🙂

IHN, so hopefully youve actually experienced real work, in a factory or office, not just left school , gone to uni and then decisded its a lark and want to be a teacher as do a lot of the muppets out there, going into teaching you need experience of real life, and work, you need personality, and a good demenour, you need to be organised and like kids proffesionally, depending on the school you need to put up with idiots and petty minded little kids(the staff) and dont forget that you dont leave all the kids in the playground they become teachers.

Most schools advertise for science but physics teachers are in very short supply, out school wont let someone retire he just comes in part time to teach a level. You wouldnt just teach physics but you cant train to just teach physics you train as a science teacher. Every year the crop of PGCE students placements are practically fought over to get the physics specialists.

I teach all sciences at KS3 some science at GCSE but mostly just biology and just A level biology, at my last school I just taught science. The teachers at you place must have had there head in the sand or just wanted to teach only physics.

Project - I'm 34, so have had, indeed currently have, a 'proper' job. Now I fancy teaching 😉

The most important thing in life is how much free time you get. If I had my time over I'd go for a profession that gave me that. It's more important than swags of money.

If you're currently being paid £40k to £60k, you could work part-time and make more money than being a teacher. The free time is all in the holidays, there's very little free time on evenings and weekends.

epicyclo hits nail on head.

time is priceless. 3 score and ten on the earth, it would be nice to spend as much of it as possible doing what you want.

Hence why Im a freelancer. I choose my hours, my clients, the amount I work. Means I can spend more time throwing Finzi The Bear around the room with my 2 yr old son, like what Ive been doing most of this afternoon 🙂

Yes, time not money.

Stoner
epicyclo hits nail on head.

time is priceless. 3 score and ten on the earth, it would be nice to spend as much of it as possible doing what you want.

I've been my own boss and worked my own hours for the last 25 years 😀 If I had to start again and pick a profession, I'd do teaching, because in the period I had a job I felt trapped (even though I liked my job).

Free time is all!

Hey, I'm a secondary school Geography teacher- you HAVE to want to teach, I figured out the other day that I work about 25 hours a week, on top of the 'expected' 8-3 day. I love my job, and can't imagine doing anything else, but there were other people who trained at the same time as I did and who did it because they thought it was easy, and liked the idea of long holidays..... they didn't last.....

As a physics teacher, any high performing school would want you. Most high performing schools have a percentage of students who do triple science GCSE, so need physics teachers. I work at the best school (80% 5A*-C) in the large town where I teach and we want physics teachers.

The best thing to do would be to get some experience in school, take some holiday and go into a school for a week or two, it'll give you a realistic idea of what to expect.

fns' other half

"The best thing to do would be to get some experience in school, take some holiday and go into a school for a week or two, it'll give you a realistic idea of what to expect."

This was compulsory for getting on the course I did. As for hours I work from 7.30-4.30 most days a couple of hours at weekends... and I consider myself pretty slack.

IHN, so best of luck with your career change, just avoid the kids in the staff room,

Very funny project, and how right you are!

freeandsingle - so you teach colouring in then? 😉

I should be starting a PGCE in August to go and teach the same. 😀

After years of being a hoodlum and general man of leisure I decided (in my early 30s) I needed a career, finished the geography degree I started when I was much younger and started to train as a geography teacher. What a horrible, horrendous job. Going into the same classroom day after day, to teach the same lessons to 4 different classes of the same year, some who are absolute ****s, then go home and have to spend several hours preparing for the next day, couldn't drop it soon enough. Then went and did a masters and now work in planning, with adults, and I finish at 4 everyday if I want and do not have to think about work at all until the next day.

Those who can, teach, at least that way I will never have to ever again!!!!

Worked as an Engineer for 12 yrs then did Diploma in Education (Australia). Now have been working as a Maths teacher for 7 years. I would strongly recommend that you find a school to go to for a week and try it out. You have to want to do it otherwise the kids will see through you in about 30 secs! I had a student teacher that I had to supervise...Student came in late to the class and sat at the back with me...Comment: "Sir, this guy's s..t!" - pretty hard to keep a straight face as student teacher was s..t! Students are brutally honest.
Kids will make and ruin your day - BUT if you are that sort of person, it's the best job and the money is irrelevant - after all, there is always too much month left at the end of the money!

I've just been accepted onto a PGCE for next year. I started thinking about changing jobs a couple of years ago and settled on teaching after talking to a lot of teachers, spending time in a couple of different schools etc. I certainly don't think it is going to be an easy life.

In response to the original post I know the schools where I live (Essex) are desperate for science teachers and are recruiting people from Canada, America, the Philippines etc to teach here.

There are quite a few different routes you could take into teaching such as SCITT's, GTP, PGCE's all with various cost and time implications. As a mature student wanting to teach Physics you would basically have your pick of routes in and schools to work in.

Cheers all. Getting some work experience at a local school sounds like an excellent idea, I'll look into it (a friend's a teacher so hopefully may be able to help).

I'd love to do it. Was going to do a 4 year primary education degree and pgce at Uni then decided to serve an apprenticeship instead. Enjoy what I do now. But my wife packed deloitte and touche in to become a teacher a few years back, but doubt we could afford to do it again, as 4 years for me to get a degree and pgce would be a struggle

Go for it IHN

My wife is now in her 4th year of teaching. She finds it hard work. As much as I take the mick out of her for all her holidays, its true they do work hard. She tends to get in school early, about 7:30am, does all her preparation then, rather than bring work home at night.

I think she gets very frustrated with the bureaucracy, government interference and also the constant wave of new delivery teaching methods - only because it seems that every time they're starting to make something work - the goalposts get changed again.

But, even though it is difficult - its clear that she does get immense fulfillment - something I can only dream of!

I was thinking about it muchly a couple of years ago, particularly interested in primary education as I feel it's sad and detrimental for kids to be educated in an environment where there are no males. My daughters school has zero male teachers with just the head being a male. However my partner is a stay at home mum for the moment and there's no way I can afford to give up my job, so kinda stuck really.

Sitting here in a class full of year 6 11 year olds during their golden time.
doss time but I am out voted here. I could mark or prepare but too many distractions.
Try primary.Generally the kids are less hassle and they want to learn. The mums are younger too!!

IHN- where are you?? Could see about some experience if your local to me (or my parents who both teach).....

Smee- my PGCE was sponsored by Crayola 🙂

Had a truely wonderful moment today... 11year old who can't read or write told me exactly how waterfalls are made,when I attempted to teach him this about 3 weeks ago now. Its the best of jobs and the worst of jobs really....