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How do I become an A-Level Philosophy teacher?
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lil sister
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#1
I noticed there is no PGCE for Philosophy. How do I become an A-Level Philosophy teacher?
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varcolac
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lil sister
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#3
(Original post by varcolac)
Expect to become a KS3 and KS4 Religious Education teacher as well.
Expect to become a KS3 and KS4 Religious Education teacher as well.
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Shelly_x
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#4
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#4
(Original post by lil sister)
I have no interest in RE at all and I'm an atheist! I also don't really want to teach below A-level, but as there is no GCSE Philosophy (which is ridiculous, may I add), I have no choice but to teach just A-level anyway. I understand I'm limiting myself greatly but my question was HOW do I become an A-level philosophy teacher? i.e. which PGCE should I do? Or are there different teaching courses for Philosophy?
I have no interest in RE at all and I'm an atheist! I also don't really want to teach below A-level, but as there is no GCSE Philosophy (which is ridiculous, may I add), I have no choice but to teach just A-level anyway. I understand I'm limiting myself greatly but my question was HOW do I become an A-level philosophy teacher? i.e. which PGCE should I do? Or are there different teaching courses for Philosophy?
Search for current philosophy teacher vacancies. All of them require you to teach philosophy alongside other things, such as RE and humanities. RE is a popular one that they require you to teach.
PGCE wise I think RE is your best option. It links in really well to philosophy, considering it's part of the curriculum of RE, and you'd be able to teach both once you got established.
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justanothertechie
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#5
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#5
My Philosophy and Ethics teacher is Atheist - so that's not a problem. What I would say is you'll find it very hard to JUST teach philosophy as in most schools it is Philosophy AND Ethics.
Do your PGCE in RE then teach RE because most RE teachers (you'll have to do KS3 to A Level, sorry) only teach Philosophy OR Ethics at A Level (so students have two teachers).
That's the only real way that you'll be able to do it, i'm afraid.
Do your PGCE in RE then teach RE because most RE teachers (you'll have to do KS3 to A Level, sorry) only teach Philosophy OR Ethics at A Level (so students have two teachers).
That's the only real way that you'll be able to do it, i'm afraid.
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varcolac
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#6
(Original post by lil sister)
which PGCE should I do?
which PGCE should I do?
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lil sister
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#7
(Original post by Shelly_x)
There is GCSE Philosophy & Ethics, it's just not very widely taught. Philosophy is covered pretty widely in RE and you being an atheist shouldn't really have any bearing on whether you can teach it. RE is not preaching about religion, is it teaching children about diversity and what the different religions worship etc. And as I previously stated it contains a lot of philosophy and ethics in there too. Do more research into RE teaching, you don't seem to understand what it actually entails, it could be an option for you.
Search for current philosophy teacher vacancies. All of them require you to teach philosophy alongside other things, such as RE and humanities. RE is a popular one that they require you to teach.
PGCE wise I think RE is your best option. It links in really well to philosophy, considering it's part of the curriculum of RE, and you'd be able to teach both once you got established.
There is GCSE Philosophy & Ethics, it's just not very widely taught. Philosophy is covered pretty widely in RE and you being an atheist shouldn't really have any bearing on whether you can teach it. RE is not preaching about religion, is it teaching children about diversity and what the different religions worship etc. And as I previously stated it contains a lot of philosophy and ethics in there too. Do more research into RE teaching, you don't seem to understand what it actually entails, it could be an option for you.
Search for current philosophy teacher vacancies. All of them require you to teach philosophy alongside other things, such as RE and humanities. RE is a popular one that they require you to teach.
PGCE wise I think RE is your best option. It links in really well to philosophy, considering it's part of the curriculum of RE, and you'd be able to teach both once you got established.
I didn't realise philosophy teachers all taught other subjects alongside it, though I guess it makes sense, so thank you for that information. I think I may look into other arts/humanities PGCEs like history/politics/sociology/english and then try and get into philosophy like that.
(Original post by justanothertechie)
My Philosophy and Ethics teacher is Atheist - so that's not a problem. What I would say is you'll find it very hard to JUST teach philosophy as in most schools it is Philosophy AND Ethics.
Do your PGCE in RE then teach RE because most RE teachers (you'll have to do KS3 to A Level, sorry) only teach Philosophy OR Ethics at A Level (so students have two teachers).
That's the only real way that you'll be able to do it, i'm afraid.
My Philosophy and Ethics teacher is Atheist - so that's not a problem. What I would say is you'll find it very hard to JUST teach philosophy as in most schools it is Philosophy AND Ethics.
Do your PGCE in RE then teach RE because most RE teachers (you'll have to do KS3 to A Level, sorry) only teach Philosophy OR Ethics at A Level (so students have two teachers).
That's the only real way that you'll be able to do it, i'm afraid.
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lil sister
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#8
(Original post by varcolac)
A humanities-based one. As Philosophy is KS5-only, they'll expect you to teach something else the rest of the time. RE is the most closely related humanities subject, as it deals with ethics and morality, but I suppose History might do as well. Have you considered asking a school where A-level Philosophy is offered how their Philosophers are qualified?
A humanities-based one. As Philosophy is KS5-only, they'll expect you to teach something else the rest of the time. RE is the most closely related humanities subject, as it deals with ethics and morality, but I suppose History might do as well. Have you considered asking a school where A-level Philosophy is offered how their Philosophers are qualified?
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Shelly_x
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#9
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#9
(Original post by lil sister)
I don't think I could teach something that I have no interest in though. Thanks for the reply but I'm not really sure how you've concluded that I have no understanding of what it entails. It's pretty obvious it is not preaching about religion but if I am not interested in religion, why on earth would I become an RE teacher? I'm pretty sure passion for your subject is a prerequisite for teaching.
I didn't realise philosophy teachers all taught other subjects alongside it, though I guess it makes sense, so thank you for that information. I think I may look into other arts/humanities PGCEs like history/politics/sociology/english and then try and get into philosophy like that.
I don't think I could teach something that I have no interest in though. Thanks for the reply but I'm not really sure how you've concluded that I have no understanding of what it entails. It's pretty obvious it is not preaching about religion but if I am not interested in religion, why on earth would I become an RE teacher? I'm pretty sure passion for your subject is a prerequisite for teaching.
I didn't realise philosophy teachers all taught other subjects alongside it, though I guess it makes sense, so thank you for that information. I think I may look into other arts/humanities PGCEs like history/politics/sociology/english and then try and get into philosophy like that.
Be warned that History and English are extremely competitive so try to link your degree to the subject as much as you can in your application. I think there are a couple of PGCEs in Humanities and the Social Sciences, they could be an option too.
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Bencant
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#10
What about a job as a philosophy teacher at a 6th form college? That would surely get around the ks3 and ks4 issue. I'm afraid I don't know the answer to your original question though.
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lil sister
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#11
(Original post by Shelly_x)
I said you don't really know what it entails because you cited being an atheist as your reason for not wanting to teach it. Having no interest is a more valid reason.
Be warned that History and English are extremely competitive so try to link your degree to the subject as much as you can in your application. I think there are a couple of PGCEs in Humanities and the Social Sciences, they could be an option too.
I said you don't really know what it entails because you cited being an atheist as your reason for not wanting to teach it. Having no interest is a more valid reason.
Be warned that History and English are extremely competitive so try to link your degree to the subject as much as you can in your application. I think there are a couple of PGCEs in Humanities and the Social Sciences, they could be an option too.
I see, that makes sense. Can I ask if you remember which university offered the PGCE Humanities? I can't seem to find it with google, though I did find one called Citizenship which sounds like it could be good for Philosophy too. There is also a Classics one which I would like - I am currently learning ancient Greek so that may be an option. Isn't it strange how there are all these obscure PGCEs but no Philosophy ones?! We have gone from Plato's Academy where philosophy was the central focus of education, to modern society where philosophy is just an add-on to other subjects with no teaching qualification for it!
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lil sister
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#12
(Original post by Bencant)
What about a job as a philosophy teacher at a 6th form college? That would surely get around the ks3 and ks4 issue. I'm afraid I don't know the answer to your original question though.
What about a job as a philosophy teacher at a 6th form college? That would surely get around the ks3 and ks4 issue. I'm afraid I don't know the answer to your original question though.
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John Stuart Mill
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#13
A degree in philosophy and sadly education will probably be required, notice how Plato didn't need a degree to teach... -.-
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lil sister
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#14
(Original post by John Stuart Mill)
A degree in philosophy and sadly education will probably be required, notice how Plato didn't need a degree to teach... -.-
A degree in philosophy and sadly education will probably be required, notice how Plato didn't need a degree to teach... -.-
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John Stuart Mill
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#15
(Original post by lil sister)
I know... I was trying to understand which PGCE is best for teaching philosophy. You don't actually need a degree in philosophy as there is no PGCE for it, though 50% of my degree is philosophy so that's covered either way. My reference to Plato was just to highlight the decline of philosophy in modern education.
I know... I was trying to understand which PGCE is best for teaching philosophy. You don't actually need a degree in philosophy as there is no PGCE for it, though 50% of my degree is philosophy so that's covered either way. My reference to Plato was just to highlight the decline of philosophy in modern education.
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lil sister
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#16
(Original post by John Stuart Mill)
erm I confess to not even reading your post about Plato I was just mocking that to teach you needed a degree and yet Plato's Academy produced some of the greatest minds. As for not needing a degree in philosophy wouldn't having an independent post-graduate degree be useful? My teacher at sixth form studied for a degree in Intellectual History; if you do a PGCE it will probably have to be in religion because for some reason they don't teach it as a seperate subject despite the fact there's so many more areas of philosophy...
erm I confess to not even reading your post about Plato I was just mocking that to teach you needed a degree and yet Plato's Academy produced some of the greatest minds. As for not needing a degree in philosophy wouldn't having an independent post-graduate degree be useful? My teacher at sixth form studied for a degree in Intellectual History; if you do a PGCE it will probably have to be in religion because for some reason they don't teach it as a seperate subject despite the fact there's so many more areas of philosophy...
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Shelly_x
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#17
(Original post by lil sister)
I simply meant that as an atheist I have no interest in religion - sorry for the confusion and thank you for the help so far.
I see, that makes sense. Can I ask if you remember which university offered the PGCE Humanities? I can't seem to find it with google, though I did find one called Citizenship which sounds like it could be good for Philosophy too. There is also a Classics one which I would like - I am currently learning ancient Greek so that may be an option. Isn't it strange how there are all these obscure PGCEs but no Philosophy ones?! We have gone from Plato's Academy where philosophy was the central focus of education, to modern society where philosophy is just an add-on to other subjects with no teaching qualification for it!
I simply meant that as an atheist I have no interest in religion - sorry for the confusion and thank you for the help so far.
I see, that makes sense. Can I ask if you remember which university offered the PGCE Humanities? I can't seem to find it with google, though I did find one called Citizenship which sounds like it could be good for Philosophy too. There is also a Classics one which I would like - I am currently learning ancient Greek so that may be an option. Isn't it strange how there are all these obscure PGCEs but no Philosophy ones?! We have gone from Plato's Academy where philosophy was the central focus of education, to modern society where philosophy is just an add-on to other subjects with no teaching qualification for it!
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Faeryqueen
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#18
Hi there,
You need to do a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education, which will enable you to teach in 6th forms and Further Education Colleges.
You need to do a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education, which will enable you to teach in 6th forms and Further Education Colleges.
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magic_box
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#19
(Original post by lil sister)
Yes, that would be my ideal job - I just don't know how to attain this!
Yes, that would be my ideal job - I just don't know how to attain this!
As others have said, RE at KS4 and 5 is pretty much Philosophy at a majority of schools these days. Many also have a heavy philosophical emphasis at KS3 as well, obviously at a much more "basic" level and some are even renaming their "RE" classes altogether. I know lots of schools use a special "Philosophy for Children" course which may be of interest.
There is much less learning about specific religions, particularly as you move up the age ranges. However, you say you have researched this and still decided against, so fair enough.
I'm not sure you will get any closer to teaching Philosophy and the types of things you have mentioned than by doing an RE PGCE (unless that post-16 Philosophy PGCE does in fact exist?)
Sorry if this isn't the answer you wanted!
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username1042689
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#20
I did Philosophy and Ethics at GCSE and am doing it at A level; my teacher is also a KS3/KS4 RS teacher. If you have no interest in RS, doing Philosophy is really not an option - they're so closely intertwined. And atheism shouldn't really have much bearing on the decision.
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