Getting into teaching?
Discussion
Lecturing at an FE College to be more specific.
How difficult and what to expect? I'm a Plumber and I fancy a change of scenery, I'd like to lecture in Plumbing.
I'm aware I'd need to do a PGCE and I understand C grades in English, Maths and Science at GCSE level will be enough? Which I have.
I have lots of various plumbing qualifications and I've 90% completed a Level 3 NVQ in Plumbing (work related stress from a previous job put a stop to that), which I can complete in no time at all.
The only thing that concerns me is my age. If I started a two year PGCE in September, I'll be 28 when I finish, with 10 years in the industry, 4 of which were technically as an apprentice, but in reality I was working unattended after 2 years. I've also been self employed since June 2012.
What are the chances of me being considered for a teaching job at that age?
Has anyone here ever made the transition from a Tradesman to a Lecturer?
Any advice or guidance?
How difficult and what to expect? I'm a Plumber and I fancy a change of scenery, I'd like to lecture in Plumbing.
I'm aware I'd need to do a PGCE and I understand C grades in English, Maths and Science at GCSE level will be enough? Which I have.
I have lots of various plumbing qualifications and I've 90% completed a Level 3 NVQ in Plumbing (work related stress from a previous job put a stop to that), which I can complete in no time at all.
The only thing that concerns me is my age. If I started a two year PGCE in September, I'll be 28 when I finish, with 10 years in the industry, 4 of which were technically as an apprentice, but in reality I was working unattended after 2 years. I've also been self employed since June 2012.
What are the chances of me being considered for a teaching job at that age?
Has anyone here ever made the transition from a Tradesman to a Lecturer?
Any advice or guidance?
No direct experience myself, but I am a lecturer at post-graduate level.
From what I understand it is possible to get a job in FE colleges without a PGCE, as you can do these once employed (i.e. on the job). I know of someone who doesn't have a teaching qualification but has experience in the trade, and so was able to secure a job of the sort you mention (they did have an MSc relevant to the role, so that could be a factor).
Get in touch with a few colleges and see what they say. Perhaps speak to those at the managerial level (heads of departments or equivalent).
From what I understand it is possible to get a job in FE colleges without a PGCE, as you can do these once employed (i.e. on the job). I know of someone who doesn't have a teaching qualification but has experience in the trade, and so was able to secure a job of the sort you mention (they did have an MSc relevant to the role, so that could be a factor).
Get in touch with a few colleges and see what they say. Perhaps speak to those at the managerial level (heads of departments or equivalent).
STW2010 said:
No direct experience myself, but I am a lecturer at post-graduate level.
From what I understand it is possible to get a job in FE colleges without a PGCE, as you can do these once employed (i.e. on the job). I know of someone who doesn't have a teaching qualification but has experience in the trade, and so was able to secure a job of the sort you mention (they did have an MSc relevant to the role, so that could be a factor).
Get in touch with a few colleges and see what they say. Perhaps speak to those at the managerial level (heads of departments or equivalent).
Just to have a bit of a side thread. I was wondering how my girlfriend could get back into Teaching again, as she has been out of it for the past 12 years? She taught in a Primary school before looking after her children. The government have stopped teacher retraining course's !!From what I understand it is possible to get a job in FE colleges without a PGCE, as you can do these once employed (i.e. on the job). I know of someone who doesn't have a teaching qualification but has experience in the trade, and so was able to secure a job of the sort you mention (they did have an MSc relevant to the role, so that could be a factor).
Get in touch with a few colleges and see what they say. Perhaps speak to those at the managerial level (heads of departments or equivalent).
I'm afraid I don't have an answer for that. Have a look here though- http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/retu...
Rickyy said:
Has anyone here ever made the transition from a Tradesman to a Lecturer?
I haven't, but I know a few people from different trades who have done it.Most of them have been well into their 30's when they made the jump too. I don't think your age will be a problem as all the theory will still be fairly fresh in your mind.
Edited by MonkeyHanger on Friday 17th January 16:13
Thanks for all of your input.
I think a chat with my old lecturers is in order then. I'm currently doing a job for a retired University Lecturer (which has prompted this thread) and he has told me that you can teach one level below in which you are qualified. So when I complete my Level 3 NVQ I could teach Level 2 according to him, but he seems to think I will need a PGCE.
Just need to overcome my fear of public speaking too!
Thanks again!
I think a chat with my old lecturers is in order then. I'm currently doing a job for a retired University Lecturer (which has prompted this thread) and he has told me that you can teach one level below in which you are qualified. So when I complete my Level 3 NVQ I could teach Level 2 according to him, but he seems to think I will need a PGCE.
Just need to overcome my fear of public speaking too!
Thanks again!
PGCE is mandatory for state sector primary and secondary. It's up to private/academy and FE and HE establishments to set their own requirements. A trawl of HE and FE job sites will give you an insight to which establishments are asking for what qualifications and experiences. Good luck!
I've got a couple of interviews for a PGCE coming up. I think I will be in a strong position as I've been teaching guitar full time (self employed) for the best part of a decade. Still nervous about interviews as I haven't had a 'proper' job or an interview for that same amount of time, so I'll probably f
k it up.
Anyway, for the courses I have applied for (Primary education), I needed a C grade in science GCSE, while a B grade in Maths and English. Something to bear in mind as it states in the OP that it's a C in all three that you need. Not sure if those grade's were specific to my course or not.
Ironically, back at 16 I failed my Maths GCSE so re-sat it 6 months later and got a B. If I had originally got a C then I wouldn't have done the re-sit and would have to do it now instead!
k it up.Anyway, for the courses I have applied for (Primary education), I needed a C grade in science GCSE, while a B grade in Maths and English. Something to bear in mind as it states in the OP that it's a C in all three that you need. Not sure if those grade's were specific to my course or not.
Ironically, back at 16 I failed my Maths GCSE so re-sat it 6 months later and got a B. If I had originally got a C then I wouldn't have done the re-sit and would have to do it now instead!
I've a friend that was a teacher before I met them and whose since returned to it. They work as a supply teacher. I thought it was to avoid the marking they replied that besides the marking it was the:
Planning,
Preparation,
Assessment,
Organising,
Recording,
Grading,
Staff Meetings,
Data Collation,
Exam Setting,
Parents' Evenings,
IEP's (Individual Education Plans),
Curriculum Responsibility,
SEN provision (Special Educational Needs),
EFL provision (English as a Foreign Language),
Report Writing,
Displays,
Etc., etc,, etc,
They said if that if they didn't do supply work they'd have all that to do.
I've yet to go to prison, but I hate the tick box mentality and forms. I may find prison more appealing.
Planning,
Preparation,
Assessment,
Organising,
Recording,
Grading,
Staff Meetings,
Data Collation,
Exam Setting,
Parents' Evenings,
IEP's (Individual Education Plans),
Curriculum Responsibility,
SEN provision (Special Educational Needs),
EFL provision (English as a Foreign Language),
Report Writing,
Displays,
Etc., etc,, etc,
They said if that if they didn't do supply work they'd have all that to do.
I've yet to go to prison, but I hate the tick box mentality and forms. I may find prison more appealing.
I attended a pgce interview last week. Without going into boring details, I'll just say that it was an almost overwhelmingly negative experience; a shambles and a mess. It has led me to thinking that I may not even attend my next interview, and instead plough the significant amount if effort (and finance) into expanding my own business.
Obviously this isn't experience of the job itself, but the first step on the ladder has been, for me, quite excruciating.
Obviously this isn't experience of the job itself, but the first step on the ladder has been, for me, quite excruciating.
scrubchub said:
I attended a pgce interview last week. Without going into boring details, I'll just say that it was an almost overwhelmingly negative experience; a shambles and a mess. It has led me to thinking that I may not even attend my next interview, and instead plough the significant amount if effort (and finance) into expanding my own business.
Obviously this isn't experience of the job itself, but the first step on the ladder has been, for me, quite excruciating.
This is sort of where I'm at at the moment. I set myself a goal, that I don't want to be "on the tools" past the age of 40. Obviously this isn't experience of the job itself, but the first step on the ladder has been, for me, quite excruciating.
Mainly as a target, but also because I'm going to be in a bad shape by the time I retire. I've done heavy manual labour since my early teens and I suffer with my back and knees already.
So I either want to be teaching or expand my business to the point where I don't have to be doing manual work 40+ hours a week.
The next year or two will be the decider, going to look into advertising and consider taking on an apprentice.
Yeah it's difficult, and I'm exactly the same as you (though as a guitar teacher I don't have the physical issues that you describe!). A steady pay, a pension, sick pay etc - all very appealing, but it does have it's drawbacks, and I'm not sure I want to give up the teaching practice I've laboured over for the past decade, especially for a career that a lot of people seem to give up on very early into their first jobs!
So, like you, I'm thinking of hiring a premises, lots of advertising, maybe another teacher, expand into hiring a drum teacher as well, etc etc. Tricky decision, as I have an interview again next Thursday so need to make up my mind!
So, like you, I'm thinking of hiring a premises, lots of advertising, maybe another teacher, expand into hiring a drum teacher as well, etc etc. Tricky decision, as I have an interview again next Thursday so need to make up my mind!
I'm a teacher and i find morale is low amongst many teachers i know, luckily my school is great and i love my job.
A lot of NQTs and PGCE students drop out because they don't expect it to be so much work (it is and it never really stops) and many struggle (rightly so) with all the added jobs they have to do and therefore simply quit.
The first year is tough, tougher than the training but you get out what you put in, it will never be easy but then again, it will probably never get boring either.
A lot of NQTs and PGCE students drop out because they don't expect it to be so much work (it is and it never really stops) and many struggle (rightly so) with all the added jobs they have to do and therefore simply quit.
The first year is tough, tougher than the training but you get out what you put in, it will never be easy but then again, it will probably never get boring either.
Miss VR said:
I'm a teacher and i find morale is low amongst many teachers i know, luckily my school is great and i love my job.
Our daughter teaches and she's been staying with us this week while having some work done on her house. She's at a good school in a good area and I thought she was pretty happy but I'm taken aback at how demoralised and exhausted she is. She gets involved in teacher training and says for people coming from other careers the biggest problem is they just have no appreciation of the sheer volume and intensity of the work required. During the week in term term she basically does nothing except work and sleep.
One thing that's new to me is parents emailing staff - she spends the evenings between lesson planning and marking fending off parent's emails.
Hi,
Sorry to hear your PGCE interview didn't go well.
I've been teaching at a college for 4 years now and have to say I found the teacher training side pretty interesting. It was paid for by the college and was run one day a week for the first 2 years.
Working at a college can be very rewarding when working in vocational areas, having young people arrive having been failed by the secondary schools and seeing them progress through their lives with a passion for what they do. If you aren't looking to deal with the issues the young people have then you wouldn't enjoy it much!
One thing that might be a problem at the moment is the cutting in funding which means that very few colleges will be looking to take on new lecturers as hours have been cut.
If you are still interested take a look at the FEJOBS website which has a lot of opportunities.
Sorry to hear your PGCE interview didn't go well.
I've been teaching at a college for 4 years now and have to say I found the teacher training side pretty interesting. It was paid for by the college and was run one day a week for the first 2 years.
Working at a college can be very rewarding when working in vocational areas, having young people arrive having been failed by the secondary schools and seeing them progress through their lives with a passion for what they do. If you aren't looking to deal with the issues the young people have then you wouldn't enjoy it much!
One thing that might be a problem at the moment is the cutting in funding which means that very few colleges will be looking to take on new lecturers as hours have been cut.
If you are still interested take a look at the FEJOBS website which has a lot of opportunities.
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