MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
academies can (AFAIK) employ non-qualified teachers
They can, but on unqualified teacher pay.
matt_outandabout - Member
I do think you have a point pjay about life experience and all that can bring to working with young people. IMO one of our education weaknesses here is having too many teachers of similar background, too many women (especially in younger age) and not enough experience outside of teaching.
There are other ways into teaching without degree, or flexible options to get that degree now... Go for it.
I've considered it a lot, I'm going through that whole "what am I doing with my life" mid-life phase.
The sticking point, is the degree thing - I didn't really get the chance to go to Uni, I could have I guess, but a lot of financial barriers put me off.
Teaching would mean a lumpy pay cut for me, but I could handle that, even the 12 months of PGCE, but 3 years study would be too much of a burden for my family, the 3 years my Wife was studying for her Nursing degree nearly broke us.
As above, if I had a 20 year old degree in anything, even if I had forgotten every lesson and had never used a single skill gained from it - I could qualify for the course, but I don't. 20 years of real world experience in business, finance, IT doesn't help. Seems unfair to me, maybe I'm just bitter.
Yes, but the beauty of academies is that pay is potentially negotiable. Well, it is if you're a fan of semi-privatised education!
Some of the best teachers I know have 2:2 or 3 degrees, but lots of life/industry experience.
I hated school, and didn't engage very well - in some ways that really helps me see things from the kid's point of view!