Becoming A Teacher

[JustZach]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for a bit of advice off someone who may have researched into this a bit more than me or maybe even is currently in the process. My number one career goal is to become a Police officer, and I've been for an interview the other week and find out in a few weeks if I've progressed to the next stage to become a PC.

Obviously, I need a backup plan if that doesn't work out. The only other job I have ever wanted to do is to become a teacher. Is there anyone who knows how to become a teacher, if you need experience, best things to do etc. I'm looking to becoming a secondary school teacher if the Police doesn't work out, and hopefully work my way up to the pastoral team in the school.

Help would be much appreciated!

Thanks

[Phil]

I think Kardan; might be able to help you out here. For some reason I think he's studying to become a math teacher, could be very wrong.

[Futz]

I think you should find a subject you like, choose A-levels that are related to that subject, go to university and do that subject and usually you do an extra year I think to become a teacher

this both opens you to do a job related to that subject or teach kids about that subject

other than that route I have no idea

[JustZach]

I think you should find a subject you like, choose A-levels that are related to that subject, go to university and do that subject and usually you do an extra year I think to become a teacher

this both opens you to do a job related to that subject or teach kids about that subject

other than that route I have no idea

Thanks for this. I am currently at University studying Policing, but I can't do a year after for teaching could I because they don't teach Policing in high schools.

[FlyingJesus]

The "extra year" after the degree course for prospective teachers is the PGCE (PostGraduate Certificate in Education) and it doesn't matter what degree you hold before you go into it, it's still a pre-requisite for becoming a teacher in the UK. It doesn't just tell you how to teach what you've just learned as that would be pretty pointless, it's an all round educational training course and actually counts towards total credits for a Masters if you ever go back into education as a student

[e5]

I did a 'UPS' course in sixth form, but it included at alot of stuff rather than solely about policing

Thanks for this. I am currently at University studying Policing, but I can't do a year after for teaching could I because they don't teach Policing in high schools.

[JustZach]

The "extra year" after the degree course for prospective teachers is the PGCE (PostGraduate Certificate in Education) and it doesn't matter what degree you hold before you go into it, it's still a pre-requisite for becoming a teacher in the UK. It doesn't just tell you how to teach what you've just learned as that would be pretty pointless, it's an all round educational training course and actually counts towards total credits for a Masters if you ever go back into education as a student

Thanks for this! So I could do a PGCE after my 2 year Policing course?

[FlyingJesus]

Absolutely, if you know anyone who's done a teaching course get in touch with them to see how they went about it but the UCAS page for it is actually pretty useful and obviously people need teachers all the time so if it's something you want to get into there'll be pretty decent support

www.ucas.com/teacher-training

[JustZach]

Absolutely, if you know anyone who's done a teaching course get in touch with them to see how they went about it but the UCAS page for it is actually pretty useful and obviously people need teachers all the time so if it's something you want to get into there'll be pretty decent support

www.ucas.com/teacher-training

Thanks a lot for this, I will check it out! +rep

[lawrawrrr]

I think you might have everything covered but I'm doing a PGCE next year, got my application and everything sorted so give me a shout if you need anything else!

[JustZach]

I think you might have everything covered but I'm doing a PGCE next year, got my application and everything sorted so give me a shout if you need anything else!

Would you be able to let me know what your future ambitions are, what your PGCE consist of etc. Just everything you can really would be greatly appreciated!

[lawrawrrr]

Would you be able to let me know what your future ambitions are, what your PGCE consist of etc. Just everything you can really would be greatly appreciated!

All I've ever wanted to be is a teacher. One day I'd like to be a University Professor; just work my way up really! I want to teach English at 11-18 level, and maybe one day set up a Classics (ancient Greek/Roman literature) department, which is my real passion.

At the moment I'm studying a normal degree in English & Creative Writing, which obviously feeds quite nicely into doing an English PGCE - with a more specialist course I don't know what you'd manage to get onto as some universities will ask you to have a related degree/qualification to the field you want to teach in.

There's lots of ways to become a teacher - a PGCE is just one of them, the other most popular one being Teach First (http://www.teachfirst.org.uk/), which have different methods of teaching. PGCEs you do one semester (August - December I think, depends on which Uni though) in education, theoretical stuff, then do two different and contrasting placements in two different local schools to the university you are "studying at". All I know about Teach First is just that it's more hands-on - you work straight in schools.

Urm, don't know if you want the boring financy stuff but let me know if you do...

PGCE applications are a lot like undergraduate applications: you apply to the universities you want with your grades and a personal statement etc. and they'll give you an offer. Only difference is (and this is a new system this year), you apply to 3 universities from November 1st, and they can offer you a place. It's done on a first come first served basis, so if you get your application in early you're more likely to get a place.

From January though, if you've had no offers, you can apply to different universities again.

I think that's most of the information I can give you, but if you have any specific questions I'll be more than happy to help :)

[JustZach]

All I've ever wanted to be is a teacher. One day I'd like to be a University Professor; just work my way up really! I want to teach English at 11-18 level, and maybe one day set up a Classics (ancient Greek/Roman literature) department, which is my real passion.

At the moment I'm studying a normal degree in English & Creative Writing, which obviously feeds quite nicely into doing an English PGCE - with a more specialist course I don't know what you'd manage to get onto as some universities will ask you to have a related degree/qualification to the field you want to teach in.

There's lots of ways to become a teacher - a PGCE is just one of them, the other most popular one being Teach First (http://www.teachfirst.org.uk/), which have different methods of teaching. PGCEs you do one semester (August - December I think, depends on which Uni though) in education, theoretical stuff, then do two different and contrasting placements in two different local schools to the university you are "studying at". All I know about Teach First is just that it's more hands-on - you work straight in schools.

Urm, don't know if you want the boring financy stuff but let me know if you do...

PGCE applications are a lot like undergraduate applications: you apply to the universities you want with your grades and a personal statement etc. and they'll give you an offer. Only difference is (and this is a new system this year), you apply to 3 universities from November 1st, and they can offer you a place. It's done on a first come first served basis, so if you get your application in early you're more likely to get a place.

From January though, if you've had no offers, you can apply to different universities again.

I think that's most of the information I can give you, but if you have any specific questions I'll be more than happy to help :)

Wow, you've answered a lot of my questions in one! If you don't mind going into finance that would be helpful? Here is my situation. I would love to work in a high school, but on the pastoral side of things. Some high schools call this senior leadership team, pastoral team and other terms. I want to deal with attendance, discipline, help children who need that extra support, the ones who skip lessons, find it hard to settle in the classroom etc. However, from what I know, you have to be a teacher in the school in the first place to become part of SLT.

So if this is the case, I would want to teach English or IT. Like I said, I am doing Policing at University which isn't really any relation to any of these subjects. Do you reckon I need to approach the PGCE in a different way because of this?

[Kardan]

All I've ever wanted to be is a teacher. One day I'd like to be a University Professor; just work my way up really! I want to teach English at 11-18 level, and maybe one day set up a Classics (ancient Greek/Roman literature) department, which is my real passion.

At the moment I'm studying a normal degree in English & Creative Writing, which obviously feeds quite nicely into doing an English PGCE - with a more specialist course I don't know what you'd manage to get onto as some universities will ask you to have a related degree/qualification to the field you want to teach in.

There's lots of ways to become a teacher - a PGCE is just one of them, the other most popular one being Teach First (http://www.teachfirst.org.uk/), which have different methods of teaching. PGCEs you do one semester (August - December I think, depends on which Uni though) in education, theoretical stuff, then do two different and contrasting placements in two different local schools to the university you are "studying at". All I know about Teach First is just that it's more hands-on - you work straight in schools.

Urm, don't know if you want the boring financy stuff but let me know if you do...

PGCE applications are a lot like undergraduate applications: you apply to the universities you want with your grades and a personal statement etc. and they'll give you an offer. Only difference is (and this is a new system this year), you apply to 3 universities from November 1st, and they can offer you a place. It's done on a first come first served basis, so if you get your application in early you're more likely to get a place.

From January though, if you've had no offers, you can apply to different universities again.

I think that's most of the information I can give you, but if you have any specific questions I'll be more than happy to help :)

Quick note that UCAS Applications have been delayed from November 1st to November 21st.

[JustZach]

Quick note that UCAS Applications have been delayed from November 1st to November 21st.

Thanks for this, I've seen it on the UCAS website. :)

[Kardan]

I think Kardan; might be able to help you out here. For some reason I think he's studying to become a math teacher, could be very wrong.

I'm about to start my application to train for a Maths teacher, will start that next year and be teaching in Sept 2015 :)

As it's been pretty much said, you'll need a degree for a PGCE and depending on what you want to teach you may need a certain degree. E.g: To teach Maths at secondary school, you will need a Maths degree. But for Primary School teaching, most degrees will do.

[lawrawrrr]

Quick note that UCAS Applications have been delayed from November 1st to November 21st.

Oh what, I was so ready to go!

You're applying this year too aren't you?


on phone xx

[Kardan]

As for finance, I was under the impression that you cannot get a loan from student finance, since it won't be your first degree course (assuming you've already took one out).

As for bursuarys, it really depends on what PGCE course you do. At the top end if you want to train to teach Physics or Maths at secondary (Like me) you can get £20,000 for a first or 2:1, £15,000 for a 2:2 or £9,000 for anything else. So your tuition fees are paid for.

This scales down depending on how bad they need teachers for each subject, and goes down to ordinary primary school teachers that get £9,000 for a first, £4,000 for a 2:1, and nothing for anything else.

I'm glad I relooked this up, because last year it was £20k/£15k/£10k for Maths at Secondary, but now it's £20k/£20k/£15k - great news :D

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Oh what, I was so ready to go!

You're applying this year too aren't you?


on phone xx

Yup :) Was aiming for Leicester Uni, but just got an email that my Uni (Loughborough) is now offering my course starting next year, so I have a choice now, which is great :D I was ready too, since it was already delayed from October since UCAS took over :P Don't trust them with anything :P

[JustZach]

Where do you find out which Universities do the PGCE?

[Kardan]

Where do you find out which Universities do the PGCE?

Pretty much just browse the Universities websites. You could simply google 'Primary PGCE Universities' for example.

Each University will do different PGCEs though. For example, Loughborough are only introducing a Maths Secondary PGCE next year.

[lawrawrrr]

As for finance, I was under the impression that you cannot get a loan from student finance, since it won't be your first degree course (assuming you've already took one out).

As for bursuarys, it really depends on what PGCE course you do. At the top end if you want to train to teach Physics or Maths at secondary (Like me) you can get £20,000 for a first or 2:1, £15,000 for a 2:2 or £9,000 for anything else. So your tuition fees are paid for.

This scales down depending on how bad they need teachers for each subject, and goes down to ordinary primary school teachers that get £9,000 for a first, £4,000 for a 2:1, and nothing for anything else.

I'm glad I relooked this up, because last year it was £20k/£15k/£10k for Maths at Secondary, but now it's £20k/£20k/£15k - great news :D

- - - Updated - - -



Yup :) Was aiming for Leicester Uni, but just got an email that my Uni (Loughborough) is now offering my course starting next year, so I have a choice now, which is great :D I was ready too, since it was already delayed from October since UCAS took over :P Don't trust them with anything :P


I'm sure you can still get a loan for Teacher Training courses after an undergraduate. I'll have to look into it properly though, not 100% whether I'll get my first or not (right on the border :()

I've got my heart set on Exeter at the moment, Southampton & Bristol are my other two!

[FlyingJesus]

Student Finance England do have loan schemes for postgrad teacher training, yes. With that in mind, it's a pretty good idea to go through a PGCE anyway just because it's an extra step towards a Masters without needing full funding haha, am totes taking advantage of this

[Kardan]

Student Finance England do have loan schemes for postgrad teacher training, yes. With that in mind, it's a pretty good idea to go through a PGCE anyway just because it's an extra step towards a Masters without needing full funding haha, am totes taking advantage of this

That's good then, but hopefully I won't need to take out a loan since the bursary should cover the costs nicely :) We'll see :)

[lawrawrrr]

A lot of people will take out the full loans now because it's the lowest interest loan you're ever likely to get - if you think you MIGHT have to borrow money in the future just get the loan now. I think I'll have 4k funding so I'll need to stump up 5, but I'll still take out the maximum amount as a down payment on the future basically :)

[Zak]

Not sure about High School teaching but I didn't do any teaching qualifications when I taught the HNC in Computing at College. This was ok but I think the only difference was in the pay .. For me I believe it was £21 an hour apposed to £24 an hour if I had a teaching qualification.

Just to clarify I only did this for a year - I was going to carry on (and may do in the future) but I was offered a full-time position.

[-Moniquee.]

Hey there,
I'm doing primary (elementary) teaching at the moment, I thought it was what I really wanted to do but I went on prac and I realised I didn't want to do it. Some kids these days are horrible and I don't think I have the patience haha.

The units you do in course have been really fun and pretty easy.

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If you do want to do it I advise you do well in English and Maths.

[Zak]

Teaching isn't all that it's cracked up to be :P

[Demi]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for a bit of advice off someone who may have researched into this a bit more than me or maybe even is currently in the process. My number one career goal is to become a Police officer, and I've been for an interview the other week and find out in a few weeks if I've progressed to the next stage to become a PC.

Obviously, I need a backup plan if that doesn't work out. The only other job I have ever wanted to do is to become a teacher. Is there anyone who knows how to become a teacher, if you need experience, best things to do etc. I'm looking to becoming a secondary school teacher if the Police doesn't work out, and hopefully work my way up to the pastoral team in the school.

Help would be much appreciated!

Thanks

Hi JustZach,
You may not know but some do - but I completed my PGCE last year and am on my NQT year, which is just another year of having a smaller timetable but you're actually working at the school and get paid.

To start teaching you have to have had enough experience in an industry before hand or hold a valid undergraduate degree from University. You then go on to a postgraduate course called a PGCE in # (I say # because you can do it in any subject or a couple depending on subjects) - this training puts you in placements to get experience of the classroom, schools and then some! You have to do 3-4 assignments depending on Universities and have to actually pass each stage to gain your PGCE diploma.

To get on to a PGCE course you also need to have QTS tests done, these are done by the same people who do your driving license and it is basic GCSE Maths and English tests. I passed first time.

Basically, if you're someone they feel like could be a good teacher when you go through the interview process - regardless of massive qualifications or other things, they will let you on the course. I think at my University there was a minimum of a 2.2 at University and all C's at GCSE, I had to go to a whole day interview process as it was very competitive as it was one of the best Uni's for teaching - I had to present, do written and oral tests, interview, second interview and some other things.

It's a fantastic career, hard but rewarding.

That's all I have off the top of my head, but feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I'm thinking of becoming a teacher in the future although I need to find out a lot more about it. I think before I do become a teacher though i'm starting to incline towards a stint in the Royal Navy. I'll see anyway.

But yeah i'd want to teach History ideally.