Am i too old?

Hi I'm 35 and just gone back to college to get my gcse maths and English, i would like to do a degree but i will have to work due to circumstances... Im looking at doing a biology or education kind of degree with a view to becoming a teacher but i worry if it takes me 3-4 years i will be approaching 40! Realistically is it worth me trying or have i missed the boat?

This is blunt but you have two choices: You can either be 40 with your desired degree and be doing your dream job or 40 and still no degree or qualifications. The choice is yours.

Nobody is ever too old to go back into education, you can do it!

Should have added im looking at the open university and would be looking to squeeze a full time degree in do 30+ hours a week at my age can it be done as well as working 5 days a week??

I would say do an Access to HE course at your local college. (tuition fees for this are wiped once you go on to complete a degree)

Do Bsc Biology -> PGCE (4 years)
OR
BA teaching related then work placements.

You will be expected to go on school placements for teaching courses.

You are not too old, you need to just do it. We are always learning no matter the age.


Note: There are a few non-degree routes into teaching which may be quicker. All the info you need is here: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/

An access to he course is Monday and Tuesday i can't get both days off work without upsetting the apple cart and given the covid situation i don't want to right now.. I have 2 kids and a family and I'm a manager so it's quite a secure job for now. That's why i was thinking the Ou route i realise i have to find a placement but could do that further into the degree?

Hi I'm 35 and just gone back to college to get my gcse maths and English, i would like to do a degree but i will have to work due to circumstances... Im looking at doing a biology or education kind of degree with a view to becoming a teacher but i worry if it takes me 3-4 years i will be approaching 40! Realistically is it worth me trying or have i missed the boat?

Are you saying you need to do GCSEs, BTEC/A-level then do an education degree part time?

Because I think 3-4 years would be pretty optimistic (it could well take quite a bit longer). I don’t wanna put a dampener oni as the
n the situation, just be realistic,

The OU don’t do a teaching route in itself. They do childhood studies but doesn’t qualify you as a teacher.
They do however do biology and plenty of other subject degrees if you wanted to teach secondary.
You would then have to do your one years post grad teaching after that.

As for studying and working full time-many of us do it. And yes it’s hard, yes it can be time consuming but it’s not impossible. It all comes down to time management. You can also mix it up so you start full time and then split your final year into two so it would take 4years. (Full-time would be 3years, part time would be 6years in general)
Funding depends on whether do a re you live but your age doesn’t factor in.

https://help.open.ac.uk/becoming-a-teacher

This link provides info about becoming a teacher through the OU and what paths are available depending on where you live

Would you be wanting to teach primary or secondary?