Teaching assistant courses! Do you need Alevels/GCSEs?

Hi,

I just wanted to ask on behalf of a friend: is it possible to become a teaching assistant or someone who just monitors school halls at a primary/Secondary school without having any qualifications? ( GCSE/Alevels)

If not, is it possible to study a course at uni regarding this sector without GCSES/Alevels?

She's not from here, hence sadly she doesn't have these qualifications.
Thank you!

(edited 7 years ago)

bump

To become a teaching assistant she can study an NVQ in support teaching and learning where she will have to complete a level two course and then progress to a level three, most schools will prefer a level three. Luckily, I had the chance to study this course along side my 4 A levels as my school has teachers that was qualified to do so. This has been very helpful in boosting my university application to psychology and education 😊 in short, she will need to go go college to become a teaching assistant and have a DBS check

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Reply 3

mercuryman

Original post by Welshgirl20

Ah I see, I figured so!
So she has to start off from a level 2 course onto a level 3 right (just like BTECs right?)

How long is the duration of all of this, roughly? I've checked that it's normally 9 months on some courses. Would that be the same for training to become a teaching assistant?

Also, is there a fee for doing an NVQ?

Thanks a lot!

Reply 4

Welshgirl20

I wouldn't have a clue because I did the course when I was in year 12 but I completed the level two in a year so I suppose it would be the same in college so maybe one year for the level two and two years for the level three. I'm not really sure she'd have to check with her local college

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Reply 5

doodle_333

You need GCSEs in Maths and English to be a TA in 95% of schools now. Without those qualifications your friend will really struggle to get a job as she will be competing against graduates and others with higher skill sets.

I worked as a TA and know plenty of others who did and I think the few who had TA qualifications had done them after getting a job anyway. Doing the TA course is not necessary to get a TA job. It would be more useful to get a bit of relevant experience to talk about at interview, do some voluntary work with kids who are vulnerable (learning disability, ASD, looked after children, mental health etc).

She could be a lunch time assistant without qualifications although this is very part time.

I'm not sure what you mean about uni? You need qualifications to get onto a uni course although the only university degree you would use in a school would be an actual teaching qualification.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 6

mercuryman

Original post by doodle_333

I've looked online and found that doing a Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools. Is enough for becoming a teaching assistant? But I'm a bit sceptical on this as some courses vary, it's not clear as uni courses.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 7

doodle_333

Original post by mercuryman

Look at person specifications for jobs your friend would want to apply for - that will give you an idea of the basic expectations. As I said those are likely to be GCSE English and Maths and some relevant experience. Bear in mind these are a minimum though.

Reply 8

JamieInPompey

You do not need to have any qualifications to become a teaching assistant. I became one without any experience, though I did want to become a teacher so that may have helped.

Reply 9

elzorillo

Reply is a little Late.. but I have been a TA in a school for 16 years. I have NVQ Teaching Assistant Level 2 & 3 which I did with my local college many years ago. The Head has recently told me that I must undertake GCSE English/Maths to keep my job !!!!

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 10

nitubhutda

Hi,I have an engineering degree and now as per my interest I am doing volunteering in DE class. What more qualification I need to become teaching assistant. I don't have Gcse certificates as I am from India.

Reply 11

doodle_333

Original post by nitubhutda

you're better off making your own thread

if you have a degree in engineering then providing you can prove good English language skills you don't need anything more to be a teaching assistant

you should bear in mind you'll make 11k a year if you're lucky - is that really enough when you have an engineering degree?