I need career advice.

[AoWW]

If you're able to (if you work part-time, for example) I'd definitely try and get in to one or two primary schools for some work experience or simply to observe. Contact a few local to you and explain you're considering teaching as a career and want to get a feel for whether you're suited to it or not. Most schools will be receptive especially if you could focus on a few skills you have to offer - suggest you'd like to help out with PE/games, or ICT club, or something similar. It might also be worth saying what age group you'd most like to have some experience with too (Foundation Stage: age 4-5; Key Stage 1: age 5-7 or Key Stage 2: age 7-11). If you want some experience in all of them, then don't be afraid to say so!

 

As others have said, primary schools are crying out for male teachers. Yes, the salary isn't great initially but it increases year on year and there are very few other careers that offer such good job security. It really isn't an 8.30-3.30 job though, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise (!), but teachers do get long holidays (although we still do 'school work' for several weeks of them) and it is rewarding. 

 

You shouldn't have a problem getting on a teaching degree course with your A levels - they're far more interested in you showing a keenness and passion for teaching as a career, and that you're realistic about what it entails, than scrutinising what subjects you did and what grades you got. Spending time voluntarily in schools would certainly add weight to your application. As you haven't yet done an undergraduate degree I'd certainly recommend doing a teaching undergraduate degree  - why waste time doing another subject only to then have to top it up with a PGCE, SCITT, or GTP course so you get QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). You'd probably be able to carry on working part time (weekends/evenings) during the first couple of years of your degree. It's harder in the final year of a teaching degree and you'll spend more time on teaching practice ('real' teaching, in a school) which can be pretty full-on in the same way as a full-time job is. 

 

If you want more help and advice feel free to PM me. I'm far more willing to be completely honest about the pros and cons of teaching as a career in a non-public domain! Also, education is full of jargon and acronyms which you feel like everyone but you understands - don't be afraid to ask!

[fleckneymike]

You'll need to pay for your own CRB check if you want to go into schools and observe.

 

Teaching isn't for the faint hearted and as other have said it can be a right ball ache. I'd also say look at it as a job rather than a vocation, if you go in all hippy thinking you'll make a difference you'll find it completely soul destroying. It can be very rewarding though.

 

Good luck.

[Ozwin]

If you want more help and advice feel free to PM me. I'm far more willing to be completely honest about the pros and cons of teaching as a career in a non-public domain! Also, education is full of jargon and acronyms which you feel like everyone but you understands - don't be afraid to ask!

 

I'm glad you said this because to be honest a lot of this topic has felt this way. Not going to uni meant I never had to go to the uni application classes in school or fill in and forms or anything so a lot of the terms are a bit foreign to me. For instance I don't know how exactly you 'apply for uni' - it's a whole other universe right now.

 

Love the idea of an undergrad teaching degree though, that's what I was worrying about most. What's the point in studying something you don't really care about just for the sake of it? This way I'd learn as I go assuming I've understood what it is exactly? be nice if there was a chance to do this in Leicester though, so I can work on the side.

 

Cheers for the help again. Feel more and more optimistic about it now.

[AoWW]

This tells you a bit more about getting into teaching:

 

 http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/university-based-training/undergraduate-itt.aspx?sc_lang=en-GB

 

I don't think anywhere in Leicester now offers an undergraduate route into teaching. I think Uni of Leicester do a 3 year Education studies course (or a similar name) but it doesn't include QTS so you'd then need to spend another year doing a PGCE (Post-graduate certificate in Education) and I'm not sure what they're entry requirements are.

 

However I know Uni of Northampton do a 3 year undergrad Primary Ed course with QTS http://www.northampton.ac.uk/study/courses/courses-by-subject/teaching/primary-education-qts-ba-hons

 

Nottingham Trent do a 4 year course http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/pss/course_finder/105057-1/7/BA_(Hons)_Primary_Education.aspx

 

Also, Uni of Derby (not sure of course length)  http://www.derby.ac.uk/courses/education-bed-hons/

 

Just a few suggestions that aren't a million miles from Leicester. I'd suggest you get course brochures, etc, from a few places; perhaps go to a couple of open days if they're available?

[cambridgefox]

I was expecting you to pull him up on his" I get on really well with children" with a " that will soon fooking change" answer.

This tells you a bit more about getting into teaching:

 

 http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/university-based-training/undergraduate-itt.aspx?sc_lang=en-GB

 

I don't think anywhere in Leicester now offers an undergraduate route into teaching. I think Uni of Leicester do a 3 year Education studies course (or a similar name) but it doesn't include QTS so you'd then need to spend another year doing a PGCE (Post-graduate certificate in Education) and I'm not sure what they're entry requirements are.

 

However I know Uni of Northampton do a 3 year undergrad Primary Ed course with QTS http://www.northampton.ac.uk/study/courses/courses-by-subject/teaching/primary-education-qts-ba-hons

 

Nottingham Trent do a 4 year course http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/pss/course_finder/105057-1/7/BA_(Hons)_Primary_Education.aspx

 

Also, Uni of Derby (not sure of course length)  http://www.derby.ac.uk/courses/education-bed-hons/

 

Just a few suggestions that aren't a million miles from Leicester. I'd suggest you get course brochures, etc, from a few places; perhaps go to a couple of open days if they're available?

  

I was expecting you to pull him up on his" I get on really well with children" with a " that will soon fooking change" answer.

[AoWW]

I was expecting you to pull him up on his" I get on really well with children" with a " that will soon fooking change" answer.

 

I was trying to be nice and encouraging.  

[Captain...]

Love the idea of an undergrad teaching degree though, that's what I was worrying about most. What's the point in studying something you don't really care about just for the sake of it?

It's more the opposite, studying something you care about that doesn't really lead to a job. For example maths or history, you don't study them for a job you study them because they interest you, then it might be relevant to your job, for example maths leads to being an accountant, history would help in journalism. But as much as anything employers are interested in the fact you have completed a degree which involves self study, working with groups, completing a dissertation etc. It is more relevant when you are 18 I guess and study the wrong thing, then really it doesn't matter. If you know what you want to do then go for it.

[MooseBreath]

It's more the opposite, studying something you care about that doesn't really lead to a job. For example maths or history, you don't study them for a job you study them because they interest you, then it might be relevant to your job, for example maths leads to being an accountant, history would help in journalism. But as much as anything employers are interested in the fact you have completed a degree which involves self study, working with groups, completing a dissertation etc. It is more relevant when you are 18 I guess and study the wrong thing, then really it doesn't matter. If you know what you want to do then go for it.

Not sure about that. There are lots of vocational degrees that people get into because they're interested in it. Witness the entire scope of engineering for example.

[Jon the Hat]

Being a manager in retail store is no more fun that being an entry level employee.  I would not wait around hoping that something might change.  Go for it!

[Charl91]

This tells you a bit more about getting into teaching:

 

 http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/university-based-training/undergraduate-itt.aspx?sc_lang=en-GB

 

I don't think anywhere in Leicester now offers an undergraduate route into teaching. I think Uni of Leicester do a 3 year Education studies course (or a similar name) but it doesn't include QTS so you'd then need to spend another year doing a PGCE (Post-graduate certificate in Education) and I'm not sure what they're entry requirements are.

 

However I know Uni of Northampton do a 3 year undergrad Primary Ed course with QTS http://www.northampton.ac.uk/study/courses/courses-by-subject/teaching/primary-education-qts-ba-hons

 

Nottingham Trent do a 4 year course http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/pss/course_finder/105057-1/7/BA_(Hons)_Primary_Education.aspx

 

Also, Uni of Derby (not sure of course length)  http://www.derby.ac.uk/courses/education-bed-hons/

 

Just a few suggestions that aren't a million miles from Leicester. I'd suggest you get course brochures, etc, from a few places; perhaps go to a couple of open days if they're available?

 

Yeah, one of my friends did the 3 year Primary Ed course at Northampton - was meant to be fairly good, and came out straight into a job.

[Illusion35]

I'm a primary school teacher. I retrained aged 27 having got fed up of my previous job. There are lots of career changers on teaching courses and lots of grants and financial help available.

You CAN do a teaching degree straight off combining a degree level qualification and becoming a qualified teacher. You don't necessarily have to do another degree course first and then go into teaching. I don't think leicester uni do this course (though I did their one year post grad course) but Northampton uni definitely do it as we had a student from there at my school recently.

Hope this is useful. You should definitely follow your dream. Go and volunteer in a local primary school for a few days and you will have things to write on your application form.

[Illusion35]

P.s. you don't need to pay for your own CRB check to observe in a primary school,so long as you are under the supervision of a teacher and are not in unsupervised contact with children.

[Captain...]

Not sure about that. There are lots of vocational degrees that people get into because they're interested in it. Witness the entire scope of engineering for example.

I'm not saying there aren't, if you're interested in engineering and want to be an aerospace engineer, then you do aerospacad engineering. But if you are interested in physics in general and are yet to find your speciality you can do a physics degree which may have a module in aerospace engineering and not may realise then it is what you want to do you will still be able to apply for graduate trainee schemes in aerospace industry.

My point is that a non vocational degree opens up just as many doors as a vocational degree, the only difference is with a vocational degree one door is open much wider than the rest. Something like being a doctor is an exception, but in most industries the entry level requirement is a degree, in some industries it is a degree in a related field, eg sciences, but ultimately a degree of any sort opens a hell of a lo more doors than not going to university.

This all relates back to Ozwin, in that if he does a teaching degree and finds out that he hates teaching he is still much more employable than he was if he hadn't done it.

You are right that some people do degrees and don't know what to do with them and end up working in a call centre for Norwich union for 10 years without progressing.

[Ozwin]

I just worry about being skint for 4 years. That's the biggest drawback to it all. So what I'm thinking is waiting until Christmas this year as I said before, save as much as I can and then see where I'm at. Obviously I'll have until September next year before anything kicks in anyway so that's over a year of saving so I'll be sorted by then. The more I think about it the more I really want to do it, I just wish it could all be done in Leicester, I suppose I could do a course in Leicester then do the PGCE thing afterwards, probably my best bet actually. I don't want to have no job throughout it all, need something coming in y'know?

[Jon the Hat]

Maybe find a course and investigate the possibly if a job transfer if you work for a larger retailer? Seriously though, you just talked yourself into taking 5 years to get where you could in 3 years for the sake of having to watch your pennies. That is not a good use of 2 years. Find out about courses, and look into the funding you can get. Start this weekend, and target a course in September. If it doesn't happen you are well set for next year. If it does happen then brilliant, you are on your way to a new career!!

What do have to lose in investing the time NOW to see if you can do it this year?? Go on. I hate to see someone wasting two years for no reason.

[MooseBreath]

The money argument isnt even legit. As I said earlier the money you receive plus a part time job easily nets you the equivalent of a £17k job. Add a few extra hours during holidays and you're up to £20k. How many people working in retail are getting that much even, never mind so much more that they'd struggle to adjust.

[Captain...]

I just worry about being skint for 4 years. That's the biggest drawback to it all. So what I'm thinking is waiting until Christmas this year as I said before, save as much as I can and then see where I'm at. Obviously I'll have until September next year before anything kicks in anyway so that's over a year of saving so I'll be sorted by then. The more I think about it the more I really want to do it, I just wish it could all be done in Leicester, I suppose I could do a course in Leicester then do the PGCE thing afterwards, probably my best bet actually. I don't want to have no job throughout it all, need something coming in y'know?

Don't knock being skint for a while, it really teaches you the value of money and how to prioritise, it makes you evaluate luxuries, such as football tickets, you will learn how to cook things from cheap basic ingredients, that is one part of the uni 'experience' semi independence, and having to take control of your finances and admin, budgeting, bargain hunting, and taking responsibility for your actions. Despite the added cost I would recommend to any 18 year old to move out for uni, I appreciate you are a bit older and so your circumstances may be different.

One thing to look in to during this year is financing, see what is available to you in terms of loans, how much it would cost to do a degree in Leicester with the added year of a pgce, or doing a teaching degree in another city but with added costs, the chance of finding part time work, travelling back to Leicester. See what budget you have with that.

I would also say try and apply now, get in touch with a couple of unis, see what chance of getting a place for next year, you don't have to commit to anything and you may even be able to defer a place for next year if offered, then at least you will have it secured for next year.

[sphericalfox]

I think man sums up everything you need to know about following your dreams. Go for it!

 

http://www.theonion.com/articles/find-the-thing-youre-most-passionate-about-then-do,31742/

[Vardinhio]

Big A/C tomorrow for my career change! Wish me luck!

[Guest Bilo]

Big A/C tomorrow for my career change! Wish me luck!

 

Best of luck mate.

 

I've an interview for an MA next week.

[Ozwin]

So actually applying for uni, where do I start? I need a walkthrough

[Wymsey]

So actually applying for uni, where do I start? I need a walkthrough

 

De Montfort/Leicester?

[Father Ted]

Had a chat with boss man and he's sort of reassured me that he wants me to progress. Wants to teach me new stuff and help me on my way up. Im going to give it a few months, I'm going to seriously look into teaching and say if by Christmas this year I'm not happy I'm going to set the ball rolling for uni. You're right, you only live once, I might even try and see if studying abroad is an option.

This all came about because one of my best friends who I hadn't seen in years met up with me and told me all about her plans for the future and stuff. She seemed so positive and had such a good mindset, put me to shame. She's only a year younger than me and is in school until she's 26, so its not like I'm in a completely different boat.

Cheers again you lot, y'alright when you want to be.

If anyone could help me out with applying for uni that'd be fantastic. Just so I know where I stand if I do decide to go for it.

It's never too late really. Two lads on my course are 30 and 26 respectively, both coming from business backgrounds into an engineering degree because they fancied a change. My old Physics teacher who retired also went straight to university after retiring to gain a degree in English Literature!

 

*Don't worry about the money either, you should get a decent sum of money through grants and loans plus potential bursarys/scholarships from the uni. I receive £7000 per year and I'm definitely not worrying. Just have to spend it wisely!

[Captain...]

So actually applying for uni, where do I start? I need a walkthrough

 

I think you will need to apply through UCAS, 

 

http://www.ucas.com/about-us/contact-us

 

There is a phone number on the link, best thing is give them a ring tomorrow and ask them what to do, I remember the application form being a bitch, by the looks of the UCAS website you have to apply by 30th June to go through clearing, but I'm not really sure.