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Why no refresher courses for returning teachers?

I passed a PGCE in post compulsory education in 2003, in that year only 15% of teachers of further education had a PGCE let alone one of the new ones, what I found back then was I worked really hard and yet lived in poverty and that was when I was fortunate enough to get a position, but then having left that position and several years later trying to rejoin the workforce it was all ten page application forms, personal statements that met exacting criteria and current references which you may find as I did impossible to get past yet all the time still highly qualified with abilities that according to my research still only a minority in the field had yet for some reason significant barriers to successful employment, I would say that a refresher course somewhere in thie country would be beneficial for many people from all sorts of backgrounds and with all sorts of reasons to have left and now look at returning. A PGCE is a qualification for life says postgrad.com and that is what it should be, but there has simply been nowhere to turn.

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 1

Get into Teaching

Official Rep

Original post by mark68

I passed a PGCE in post compulsory education in 2003, in that year only 15% of teachers of further education had a PGCE let alone one of the new ones, what I found back then was I worked really hard and yet lived in poverty and that was when I was fortunate enough to get a position, but then having left that position and several years later trying to rejoin the workforce it was all ten page application forms, personal statements that met exacting criteria and current references which you may find as I did impossible to get past yet all the time still highly qualified with abilities that according to my research only a minority in the field had yet for some reason unemployable. I'm not sure if it's a cunning trick on behalf of authority but I would say that a refresher course somewhere in this land would be beneficial for many people from all sorts of backgrounds and with all sorts of reasons to have left and now look at returning. This like so much I have written will probably fall on deaf ears and I will remain on the shelf but it has never been fair, a PGCE is a qualification for life says postgrad.com and that is what it should be, but there has simply been no where to turn apart from the job centre.

Hello

If you are looking to teach MFL, Maths or Physics in a Secondary school setting, then there are Teacher Subject Specialism Training (TSST) and support from the Return to Teaching support team.

All the best,

Jane

Reply 2

mark68

Original post by Get into Teaching

That's interesting and of course it's quite specialised with obviously a shortage of trained people which suggests that other subjects haven't got a shortage they just keep graduating new ones.

When I trained to teach it was quite difficult and I expected to be respected and employable for years to come, what I found was I was basically abused for a couple of years after graduation then nothing at all. I think refresher courses are necessary in all areas of higher education otherwise you're simply unemployable with letters after your name and qualified for life but not respected by almost anyone. It's either a graduate job which you're qualified to do (with a refresher course) or in my experience a job in a supermarket like Lidl with no qualifications required, or a job in a DIY shop like B&Q where they have an online aptitude test, no questions about qualifications but a section on unspent convictions with examples of convictions which include murder. As a graduate or a postgraduate qualified teacher you should have certain rights and in my opinion those rights can be reinstated with a refresher course.
I've added some images so show what I mean about this. They give me a sense of inflated pride in a way and righteous indignation but they are all from good sources and I think what they say suggests that I'm probably correct in my thinking.
level 7.jpg

(edited 4 years ago)

Original post by mark68

I just wanted to show what I mean by the need for refresher courses with two emails i received from the University of Greenwich where I trained to teach. I firstly wanted it clear that I had passed a PGCE and that it was still valid in 2017 even though I had taken the course in 2002/03 but also to show that I was willing to accept that that was a long time ago now and I was happy to retrain at something I had demonstrable ability in. What I found was yes I had a PGCE and yes it was still valid but no I couldn't retake the course as I already had passed it (why take the same course twice) But that I could consider a top up course somewhere else as they didn't offer top up courses. What I found with quite extensive research was that no one anywhere offered top up courses or refresher courses in any way what so ever. I find this quite paradoxical and it has remained something that spurs me on years later. I have had no luck finding employment for many years and yet on paper I'm qualified in about the top 10% of people and with what I consider to be commendable abilities as a postgraduate qualified teacher of further education.
To be honest the boat sailed years ago but I remain quite frustrated and indignant

Hi Mark68.

You're best bet is to speak with the Return to Teaching team through 'Get Into Teaching' on 0800 389 2500 and they will be able to advise you on what top up courses there are for certain subjects. They will know what your options are mate.

Hope this helps.
Dan

Reply 4

Muttley79

Original post by mark68

I would just like to stress that when i say refresher course I mean recognition for already graduating but the opportunity with respect and dignity to have a look at your skills and abilities that as i have demonstrated are supposed to be for life and the transferable skills which appear to be significant but sympathy for the fact that employers simply don't want or need you but that you deserve to be able to do something about that at a reasonable level.

Local Authorities used to run this sort of course but with many of those services being run down, there are not the people to do this.

Reply 5

InArduisFouette

the OP needs some treatment for their obvious self esteem issues and supreacromial chipectomy

Reply 6

Get into Teaching

Official Rep

Original post by mark68

I've just looked again at the 'get into teaching' website and it's really geared for people considering a career in teaching, you may be right that if I phone they could offer me some pointers (although I doubt it) it's not my point the point is dedicated refresher courses for people who have already qualified or recognition for the excellent education they already have.

We have a Return To Teaching team that will deal with people like yourself. So just ring the number and ask to speak to an advisor and they will direct you to the right team. :-)

Reply 7

username5006282

Hi Mark,

Reading your posts, its clear that you're in a very frustrating position and you've had a lot of trouble in terms of finding jobs. I don't want to sound rude at all but it sounds like, because of the PGCE and degree qualifications you've got, you feel as if employers to owe you a job? Unfortunately, that's not how the job market works and you can't demand respect from employers simply because of your qualifications.

When you apply to teaching jobs its important to remember who you might be up against - how much experience will you have compared to others? If you graduated in 2003 and have only had a couple of years of teaching experience in the 17 years since then then your applications will probably pale against other candidates who might have the same qualifications and/or more experience. That isn't to say you're not a suitable candidate - just that others will have more attractive CVs to employers. That's just how the job market works. You play the game the way the system wants you to or else you'll sink.

If you still want to get back into teaching then phoning the Return to Teaching team seems like your best option - but reading your replies on this thread you seem reluctant to do that? Why is that?

I honestly don't want to come off as rude or patronizing with this reply - but it seems to me like you need to change your approach and attitude to job hunting. I honestly hope you have some luck with it all soon.

Reply 8

mark68

Teaching was probably the best thing I ever did workwise, I heard that FE was the Cinderella service when I was training but I thought at the time all I've ever known is Cinderella service as far as my own work experience is concerned so that's okay, in fact I was a bit amused I remember thinking, but the funny thing was I only managed to afford flat share then a studio flat in London and then three years later a very modest two bed flat about one hour commute to London when I decided to leave the job, my hope was that prospective employers would see the value in having someone who had a postgraduate education in education for the various skills and abilities like for instance not just taking a level 3 course but actually teaching it and of course being qualified in about the top 7% of working age people. That's all I can say really.