Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Career change : how to get into teaching? (without going back to school)
Having spent the past ten+ years facing a computer screen I have decided to dedicate the rest of my working life to people. Nice thought, but how do I get about it?
I'm in my late forties, have changed directions a few times, needless to say that I have more skills than qualifications and that I do not have a proven experience of working in my new chosen field. As a qualification I have what I think is an equivalent to a foreign BSc, but I couldn't even tell if this counts as a degree. I have taught skills to people along the way through my different jobs, but this doesn't exactly make it to my CV. Finally, I only want a part-time occupation once I'm in, which I guess rules out a lot of options. And, no, I am not a parent, forget about mum jobs. The only positive is that I have been doing some voluntary work with kids since earlier this year.
I thought of becoming a teaching assistant, someone else said I could become a mentor, either way I know I'd be good at it (I would!) but... this is such a maze! I don't know the education system over here, but can't face going back to school for a year or more to study. Can I start somewhere and get training along the way?
Does anyone here know about the teaching world and could give me some advice?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Isabelle on
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Not a lot. I just refer to sites or ads that seem to be aimed at parents looking for work or at returning to work. Jobs that require parenting experience. There seems to be a whole world out there that 'you cannot understand' if you are not a parent. I am possibly stereotyping, but this was half a joke and not what my post is about.
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Permalink Reply by Angela on
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It is perfectly possible to get a job as a TA without being a parent but you do need training whether it's in a school on an initially voluntary basis and/ or via short course. Ask your nearest school or other childcare setting for voluntary experience to start with.
I've yet to see jobs that require parenting experience tbh!
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I do have a CRB and I signed up with agencies online... no success so far. I have not followed up by calling them and having a chat though. I ought to, but my CV is complex and I struggle selling my skills on the phone. Plus I can't describe precisely what I want, because I'm only finding out what's out there. Which is why this forum is helping me turning ideas around :).
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The only training I can validate is some voluntary work I started earlier this year. I really enjoy it, but also need to earn a bit of money therefore cannot add more days of unpaid work. A short course seems a good option. I was looking at Teaching Assistant level 2, which I could do from home – but again I'm not sure this is the best course for me? Am trying to find out...
As for the parenting experience requirement for jobs, like I said it was half a joke. Looking for flexible employment + kids, I have come across lots of 'jobs for mums'. Whether or not being a mum guarantees them the job is another story! Might be just a way to recruit in a different market. Next to that, it is also a common assumption that, if you are not a parent and if you don't have a clear record of working with children, you are not going to be as good with kids. I've heard that many times along my childless life – and, granted, it's not really a joke, I only threw this in for info.
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There are many routes into the profession now, but as mentioned above, a degree or equivalent is necessary.
It's possible now to go straight from a degree to 'on the job' training. Have a look at http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching to see some different routes.
Would strongly suggest shadowing a teacher for a week to get some idea of what is expected. Be prepared for extreme highs and lows like few other jobs. Be prepared to work bloody hard. Have seen many people come into the profession later in life, thinking it's an easy option and not survive the first year. Others have done very well, and love it.
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Thanks. I had come across that link, but stalled on the 'Do you have a GCSE grade?' and 'Do you have a degree?'. I studied abroad and am not sure what the formal equivalent is. Plus that was some 25 years ago and, frankly, how could it count more than the professional experience I gained since, which anyway has been in different fields than the ones I studied? Perhaps I should email DfE for clarification.
I don't think teaching is an easy option. I've had experience with young kids and teenagers this year and I can tell it's become a LOT harder than when I used to go to school. But they've also made me want more! I'd be happy to start as a teaching assistant and see if it takes me anywhere further.
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Wow. And here's me who wanted a quiet little job with lovely children... Thanks for the warning, that's almost put me off! Saying that, you wouldn't have worked for that long with the devil if you didn't also find it rewarding.
I'm not looking at a full-time career complete with institutional battles. I'll be happy if I can find a part-time job where I feel useful to a few kids.
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Permalink Reply by Elisa Kaczynska-Nay on
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Brilliant. That just did it. Don't want it!
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Permalink Reply by pamish on
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You could think about teaching at post-16 'post compulsory' level in a college ie Further Education. Nowadays you will have to be 'working towards' getting a teaching qualification but it's much less onerous at F.E. level, and can be done at the same time as working, though it will affect where you are on the pay scale. Unfortunately most of the interesting part-time adult courses have disappeared because of a mad Dept of Education need for everything to be about qualifications for getting work, not just education for its own sake, for fun, for fitness, for the joy of learning something new.
All 16 to 18 years old young people have to be in college now if they are not in work, as they can't sign on till they are 18, so there is plenty of work, but there are few new job openings as the trend for the past 2 - 3 years has been drastically to cut jobs, so those in jobs are staying put.
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Permalink Reply by ElleCarumba on
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You can teach in a private school without any qualifications at all. All you would need is a criminal record check.
Only state schools require Qualified Teacher Status (which normally comes from a degree/PGCE or more rarely on-the-job training).
I was a volunteer mentor in a secondary school for a couple of years- I wasn't aware of there being paid mentors in either of the schools I worked in. There used to be careers advisors in schools who had a mentoring role but I think many of those roles were scrapped.
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Yes in theory you do not need qualifications for, say, a teaching assistant position. However in practice the jobs do go to people who have that training on their CV. Or lots of experience (back to getting a job in a state school first).
A nursery staff told me that a learning mentor is better paid than a teaching assistant, so there must be some (perhaps also the needs have changed since you volunteered). But I wonder if one has to be a teaching assistant first, then move on (via a higher level course).
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