Advice on learning to teach

Tonytank

Tonytank

Tonytank

Associate
Joined
4 Sep 2006
Posts
514
Hello everyone.

I am currently in a bit of a rut. I lost my job just after Christmas this year and have suffered a few personal setbacks since. I as it stands I currently have about 10 years of retail experience under my belt with about 4 of those years being in a senior position. I also have a HND in graphic design (pass) and a BA in Games Art and Design (first). I also have a descent set of GCSEs and 2 A Levels as well.

Now I have recently been giving some thought into training to teach. It seems like a noble profession and not terribly paid. One thing that has become evident from my years of retail work is that I really thrive in an environment where I can train and tutor individuals either in groups or on a one to one basis. I think I am good at it and a lot of my bosses said I was good at it.

I can appreciate that teaching is far more then that but taking that into account along with my academic history I surely have have a good place to start with teaching?

Rather embarrassingly though I have no idea where to even begin to look or ask questions about any of this. It seems like every time I ask someone I get a different and slightly more complicated answer then the one before.

I want to break out of my rut and I want to excel where I have before. A few people I know have whispered very hurtful things about my academic past and how it was all "a waste" so I figure if nothing else I would like to prove it to them and myself that I can use my creative talent the way I should have done when I graduated.

I know/suspect that there are several teachers/teaching assistants or just people who work in education on these forums and I was hoping any of you could offer me some advice on where to look, who to speak to or indeed what training/certificates or paperwork I would need to follow this up.

Thank you in advance

Tank
 
Get into teaching website seems a good place to start from. Could also have a look at some local uni's and contact them with regards to advice on how to go about it. I looked at it a while ago and the two main routes into it seemed to be a PGCE and also the GTP with the latter being much tougher to get on (as it pays a decent rate while you train)
 
I may as well add something more constructive.

I teach English as a foreign language in a private language school in Glasgow. I did a CELTA (cost around £1200 and is a 9-5 4 week course, with further work needed at home and weekends) which is a certificate accredited by Cambridge University and is seen as the best entry qualification for this type of work and is accepted worldwide.

It's rewarding, great fun and pretty tough. However, it's pretty hard to get a job in the UK and almost impossible without experience. I'm not entirely sure how I managed to fluke that one!
 
As you have a BA the best option would be for a PGCE, depends whether you want to be a primary or secondary teacher also. Primary teachers do not necessarily need a specialism whilst training whereas generally a seconday PGCE does require a specialist subject and qualifications in those areas (usually the degree or A Levels).

My partner did a seconday PGCE and I am a year 3 primary school teacher.
 
Wow I am stunned. Thank you very much for all your responses.

I must admit that I did have an eye toward teaching at a secondary level but I wouldnt be opposed to teaching at a primary level.

Is it possible to teach at a primary level for so long and then utilise that to then teach at a secondary level?

I consider myself quite a creative and artistic person so teaching Art or any Design related would be good.

I would mind being a lecturer either if that ever becomes an option.
 
Tonytank said:
I would mind being a lecturer either if that ever becomes an option.
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I have done quite a lot of lecturing and it's really quite hit and miss. An awful lot of your peers will hate the lecturing side of their jobs - it's part of their contract they are obliged to fill but they have no interest in it and it very much comes across as an inconvenience.

You also need the advanced academic background or something substantial to demonstrate why you are qualified to teach at that level. From what you you initially posted I would not think you were in a position to get a lecturing job. There may be info you have though which would make you desirable that you have not posted though.

I would recommend contacting your local primary and secondary schools and seeing if they can give you advice or the possibility of a visit to see what it's about and whether it is for you.
 
Xordium said:
I would recommend contacting your local primary and secondary schools and seeing if they can give you advice or the possibility of a visit to see what it's about and whether it is for you.
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Thanks for that fella. I am a little bit out of the way being based in a small village in Norfolk, but on the plus side I am now learning to drive plus I have a lot of schools (primary and secondary) plus a fair few colleges and even a few Universities all within a reasonable distance.

I am going to go for this with both hands.
 
The first thing you need to do is work out what you want to teach. Either Primary or which Secondary subject.

For PGCE places the deadline for applications for Primary is December so you may want to get a move on if that is the route you want to take. For Secondary there is no deadline but the sooner you apply the better your chances as, unlike UCAS, they pass your application along as soon as it arrives.

The GTTR website is where you need to start for a PGCE.

The other options are School Centered Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) which is a bit hit and miss where I am so you need to see if you have any local providers.

Then there is School Direct which is the replacement for the Graduate Training Programme. Details for which schools will be offering which places and how to apply should be online early November.
 
If you can afford not to have an income as such for a year, then the PGCE route may work. You seem to have the qualifications too.

Otherwise, if you want the GTP route so you get paid while you teach in a school (harder than a PGCE but you get full experience and more pay) you have two options.

Option 1: Apply for the GTP while working outside of education.

Option 2: Get a job in a school, even if you intend to just have it for the year before you hope to start and apply for the GTP. They love you to have school experience and it makes it far easier to get on the course. You would be looking for either Mentor positions or Associate teachers/cover supervisors. The cover role would introduce you to a wide number of subjects, the full range of age ranges and behaviour - and is why GTP course like it so much.
 
They wanted an entertainer, they reward bad behaviour with toys and trips out. low pay. massive hours.

I was told to not bother with getting them to write as they would go mental, I tried. They went mental, one boy strangled a girl and I had to evacuate the room while the "behaviour manager" restrained him.

Tales of abuse in the home, fights between parents in the school field, drugs and abusive homes.

Not for me, quit and strongly suggest no one ever goes into teaching.

Set your sights higher, aim for me in life.

I now earn a lot more than a teacher, luckily I have had my mid-life crisis in my mid-twenties. Now back into my career.
 
Ahleckz said:
I may as well add something more constructive.

I teach English as a foreign language in a private language school in Glasgow. I did a CELTA (cost around £1200 and is a 9-5 4 week course, with further work needed at home and weekends) which is a certificate accredited by Cambridge University and is seen as the best entry qualification for this type of work and is accepted worldwide.

It's rewarding, great fun and pretty tough. However, it's pretty hard to get a job in the UK and almost impossible without experience. I'm not entirely sure how I managed to fluke that one!
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You're from Glasgow, do you have the language skills to teach people English? :p
 
GTP is generally aimed at people who already work in schools, you need to setup your own placement. Basically that means you need to be able to convince the school you're worth having as a paid employee.

With PGCE the uni will arrange your placement. You won't get a wage, but you will probably get a bursary.

The main issue you've got is that you probably won't be able to start a course till next September.

Most schools will let someone who's interested in teaching come in a do some lesson observations and sometime even help out a bit (under supervision). I would start by contacting some local schools.
 
I am going to make some phone calls tomorrow to some of my locals schools and see what I can start to organise.

Thank you all very much for you advise.

I now earn a lot more than a teacher
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Do you mind if I ask what you do now?, instead of teaching I mean...
 
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