[elldeegee]

I am starting my PGCE in September, and i was originally planning on going travelling as soon as i had finished (i.e July/August 2013).
The length of time travelling is not concrete, it will be anywhere between 2 to 12 months, but it is still a longer period than the summer holidays between the end of PGCE and start of NQT year would be (i.e 6-7 weeks).

I was wondering what people's opinions are on whether it would be on taking a break between the end of PGCE and the start of trying to attain my NQT.

Has anybody on here taken a "gap year" between end of PGCE and NQT? Was it a good idea, did you find that the NQT year was harder than it would've been if you hadn't've taken the gap year?

Am i right in my understanding that there is no deadline for starting my NQT, but that once i do i have to finish within 5 year?


also, another sort of unrelated question; once i've finished my PGCE have i actually QTS? or is my gaining QTS linked into attaining my NQT?

I am looking up on it, and trying to understnad it, but i thought it would be a good idea to actually ask specific questions to ensure things are clear-cut in my own mind.

[Mr M]

No deadline for starting OR finishing NQT year.

When you finish the PGCE, QTS is awarded.

[elldeegee]

(Original post by Mr M)
No deadline for starting OR finishing PGCE year.

When you finish the PGCE, QTS is awarded.

NQT year you mean?

I thought there was a deadline for finishing PGCE? If you do it full time, it's a 1 year course and if part-time it's 2 years?

[Mr M]

(Original post by elldeegee)
NQT year you mean?

I thought there was a deadline for finishing PGCE? If you do it full time, it's a 1 year course and if part-time it's 2 years?

Yes I meant no deadline for starting or finishing NQT year having completed a PGCE.

[dobbs]

(Original post by elldeegee)
I am starting my PGCE in September, and i was originally planning on going travelling as soon as i had finished (i.e July/August 2013).
The length of time travelling is not concrete, it will be anywhere between 2 to 12 months, but it is still a longer period than the summer holidays between the end of PGCE and start of NQT year would be (i.e 6-7 weeks).

I was wondering what people's opinions are on whether it would be on taking a break between the end of PGCE and the start of trying to attain my NQT.

Has anybody on here taken a "gap year" between end of PGCE and NQT? Was it a good idea, did you find that the NQT year was harder than it would've been if you hadn't've taken the gap year?

Am i right in my understanding that there is no deadline for starting my NQT, but that once i do i have to finish within 5 year?


also, another sort of unrelated question; once i've finished my PGCE have i actually QTS? or is my gaining QTS linked into attaining my NQT?

I am looking up on it, and trying to understnad it, but i thought it would be a good idea to actually ask specific questions to ensure things are clear-cut in my own mind.

It's all possible, just bear in mind that whilst travelling you will find it difficult to apply for jobs and find it impossible to go to interviews! You won't be able to do telephone interviews as they will want to observe you teaching, especially as an NQT.

However, if you're wanting a couple of months, take a look at your finishing date for your PGCE, they tend to finish BEFORE the end of the school term, so you could probably fit in 2 months of travelling from the end of PGCE to the start of term in September, if you so wished. So if you managed to secure a job during your PGCE year you could do travelling before you started - though beware that this would give you no time to prepare (I spent about 8 full days in school during the summer holidays before the start of my NQT year sorting out my mess of a classroom and planning, etc.)

Hope that helps a little

[elldeegee]

(Original post by dobbs)
It's all possible, just bear in mind that whilst travelling you will find it difficult to apply for jobs and find it impossible to go to interviews! You won't be able to do telephone interviews as they will want to observe you teaching, especially as an NQT.

However, if you're wanting a couple of months, take a look at your finishing date for your PGCE, they tend to finish BEFORE the end of the school term, so you could probably fit in 2 months of travelling from the end of PGCE to the start of term in September, if you so wished. So if you managed to secure a job during your PGCE year you could do travelling before you started - though beware that this would give you no time to prepare (I spent about 8 full days in school during the summer holidays before the start of my NQT year sorting out my mess of a classroom and planning, etc.)

Hope that helps a little

This has helped a lot, thanks

I've looked at my end date for PGCE it only gives me about 7 weeks in between,and like you said i would have liked to have had the opportunity to get to know the classroom and prepare etc. Plus i would also need to be available for any last minute interviews, as over-the-phone (as you mentioned) is a no-go,which would then bump my travelling availability down to at most 6 weeks.

Is it possible to start an NQT, say, in January? As I believe you acheive the "qualification" after 3 full terms, so if i travelled from July 2013 -Dec 2013,could i then do the three terms after - Spring 2013/2014, Summer 2013/2014 and then Autumn 2014/2015 ?

I hope i have explained properly...

[dobbs]

(Original post by elldeegee)
This has helped a lot, thanks

I've looked at my end date for PGCE it only gives me about 7 weeks in between,and like you said i would have liked to have had the opportunity to get to know the classroom and prepare etc. Plus i would also need to be available for any last minute interviews, as over-the-phone (as you mentioned) is a no-go,which would then bump my travelling availability down to at most 6 weeks.

Is it possible to start an NQT, say, in January? As I believe you acheive the "qualification" after 3 full terms, so if i travelled from July 2013 -Dec 2013,could i then do the three terms after - Spring 2013/2014, Summer 2013/2014 and then Autumn 2014/2015 ?

I hope i have explained properly...

Yes, you can do your NQT year in blocks of terms, though not ideal...but yes if you came back and managed to get a job starting half way through the year then you could start your NQT training straight away

[elldeegee]

(Original post by dobbs)
Yes, you can do your NQT year in blocks of terms, though not ideal...but yes if you came back and managed to get a job starting half way through the year then you could start your NQT training straight away

Hmmm it's an idea, especially when i was looking out of interest just after christmas this year there were quite a few opportunities.

How hard is it to get jobs teaching these days? Bearing in mind that I will be teaching Secondary Maths

[Mr M]

(Original post by elldeegee)
How hard is it to get jobs teaching these days? Bearing in mind that I will be teaching Secondary Maths

Reasonably easy although there are huge regional variations.

To give you some idea, we appointed in PE, history and maths this year (amongst other subjects). There were 120 applicants for PE, 42 for history and 3 for maths.

[elldeegee]

(Original post by Mr M)
Reasonably easy although there are huge regional variations.

To give you some idea, we appointed in PE, history and maths this year (amongst other subjects). There were 120 applicants for PE, 42 for history and 3 for maths.

woah! that is a MASSIVE difference. Why is there no love for maths makes me very sad it does...

[gingerbreadman85]

Speaking as a chemistry specialist, there are enumerable careers you can go into with a good degree in science/maths, many of which offer substantially better starting pay and quicker pay progression. For the PE and History there are still a range, but not as broad, so more go into teaching.

QTS requires you to meet the Q-standards, which are a series of tick-boxes that you provide evidence for your ability to perform as part of qualification. This can be done through a PGCE or via GTP or other routes.

Your NQT year involved you meeting a higher set of standards, the C-standards, which are what are expected of "normal teachers". I would think VERY strongly about how much time you spend outside the classroom between PGCE and NQT, bear in mind most PGCE school placements finish May/early June, already you are 3 months out of the classroom before September. All those hard-earned skills will atrophy quickly.

Finding jobs in the middle of the year is a little hit-and-miss, but they do exist if you are willing to look around. If you are more geographically tied then that makes life more difficulty.

An alternative might be doing some travelling, then trying to find supply (which for Maths there likely will be) and look for a NQT position from there. Supply would allow you to re-find you skills somewhat after gallivanting the globe before starting an NQT job proper.

[dobbs]

(Original post by gingerbreadman85)
Speaking as a chemistry specialist, there are enumerable careers you can go into with a good degree in science/maths, many of which offer substantially better starting pay and quicker pay progression.

To be honest, with a good degree in any major 'traditional' subject (i.e. a national curriculum subject) there are probably any number of careers you could go into with better starting pay and quicker pay progression than teaching - and many people do go into these careers before they become teachers. I worked as a transport planner for 3 years, and although I'm now a teacher on the lowest pay scale I would've been earning ~£30k by now if I'd stuck with that job.

But as we all know, we don't go into teaching for the hard and fast money, do we?

[gingerbreadman85]

Indeed, we go into it for the stress, long hours, lack of appreciation, work filled holidays and constant back-stabbing by the government......

I do love my job. I get a lot of enjoyment out of it and don't mind the work so much as long as i feel i'm making a difference. I work my ass off for my kids and put in a lot of time to help them out (including being in school one day this half term for revision!). But it's more of a vocation and lifestyle than a job. Teaching is who you are, not what you do.

[dobbs]

(Original post by gingerbreadman85)
Indeed, we go into it for the stress, long hours, lack of appreciation, work filled holidays and constant back-stabbing by the government......

I do love my job. I get a lot of enjoyment out of it and don't mind the work so much as long as i feel i'm making a difference. I work my ass off for my kids and put in a lot of time to help them out (including being in school one day this half term for revision!). But it's more of a vocation and lifestyle than a job. Teaching is who you are, not what you do.

Yep - completely agree. I have spent a number of days of this half term working, and will be spending today marking Year 9 assessments (approximately 90 of them), and then going into school tomorrow to plan next week's lessons. Sigh, who says teachers have too many 'holidays'? ha

[gingerbreadman85]

Indeed, i have a Masters thesis to write as well!

Fun times, still cant see myself doing anything else though!

[elldeegee]

(Original post by dobbs)
Yep - completely agree. I have spent a number of days of this half term working, and will be spending today marking Year 9 assessments (approximately 90 of them), and then going into school tomorrow to plan next week's lessons. Sigh, who says teachers have too many 'holidays'? ha

Haha i agree with that, i know how much work goes into it and i've only been doing on the side tutoring!