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Primary or secondary teaching. Which in your opinion is better?
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username1039383
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#1
Also please state the benefits and disadvantages 
after I complete my psychology degree, I want to train as a teacher so badly but not sure whether i should stick with teaching psychology at GCSE/A-level or teaching the national curriculum to primary students..
after I complete my psychology degree, I want to train as a teacher so badly but not sure whether i should stick with teaching psychology at GCSE/A-level or teaching the national curriculum to primary students..
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Penguins&Pandas
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#2
Personally, I think secondary would be better. I don't have much reasoning but I guess teaching primary would be going too far back for me and it would be hard to teach such basics like addition. But I think it depends on what sort of age group you prefer
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Shelly_x
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#3
(Original post by Secretnerd123)
Also please state the benefits and disadvantages after I complete my psychology degree, I want to train as a teacher so badly but not sure whether i should stick with teaching psychology at GCSE/A-level or teaching the national curriculum to primary students..
Also please state the benefits and disadvantages
after I complete my psychology degree, I want to train as a teacher so badly but not sure whether i should stick with teaching psychology at GCSE/A-level or teaching the national curriculum to primary students..
You may also want to consider the fact that psychology is not widely taught at GCSE level, so jobs will be thin on the ground. But if your heart is in secondary it is still worth going for it
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username1039383
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#4
(Original post by Penguins&Pandas)
Personally, I think secondary would be better. I don't have much reasoning but I guess teaching primary would be going too far back for me and it would be hard to teach such basics like addition. But I think it depends on what sort of age group you prefer
Personally, I think secondary would be better. I don't have much reasoning but I guess teaching primary would be going too far back for me and it would be hard to teach such basics like addition. But I think it depends on what sort of age group you prefer
I would want to teach anywhere from children aged 8-13 years old. I think teaching at secondary schools is really stressful (after watching young tough teachers) and i'm not sure if i want to put myself under all that stress. Atleast prinary school kids don't talk back (most) or insult you lol!
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username1039383
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#5
(Original post by Shelly_x)
This is an entirely individual decision. You need to get experience in both primary and secondary schools and then you will know which one is right for you.
You may also want to consider the fact that psychology is not widely taught at GCSE level, so jobs will be thin on the ground. But if your heart is in secondary it is still worth going for it
This is an entirely individual decision. You need to get experience in both primary and secondary schools and then you will know which one is right for you.
You may also want to consider the fact that psychology is not widely taught at GCSE level, so jobs will be thin on the ground. But if your heart is in secondary it is still worth going for it
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ChrisTMH
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#6
Teaching secondary would involve a lot more work and especially stress, primary teaching is not as hard...then again, my mum used to be a teacher and if I asked her, she would simply say "What ever you do, don't become a teacher".
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TraineeLynsey
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#7
(Original post by ChrisTMH)
Teaching secondary would involve a lot more work and especially stress, primary teaching is not as hard...then again, my mum used to be a teacher and if I asked her, she would simply say "What ever you do, don't become a teacher".
Teaching secondary would involve a lot more work and especially stress, primary teaching is not as hard...then again, my mum used to be a teacher and if I asked her, she would simply say "What ever you do, don't become a teacher".
In what way?
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ChrisTMH
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#8
(Original post by TraineeLynsey)
What is your experience that makes you state primary is not as hard as secondary?
In what way?
What is your experience that makes you state primary is not as hard as secondary?
In what way?
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username1039383
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#9
(Original post by TraineeLynsey)
What is your experience that makes you state primary is not as hard as secondary?
In what way?
What is your experience that makes you state primary is not as hard as secondary?
In what way?
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El Salvador
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#10
At either level you can get good and bad students academically and behaviorally so I don't think that matters as you don't exactly know where you are going.
But secondary students are generally cognitively smarter; but primary are more motivated and creative.
But secondary students are generally cognitively smarter; but primary are more motivated and creative.
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TraineeLynsey
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#11
And here's the point where I tell you that I'm a primary trainee and you shouldn't make such sweeping statements about things you don't even have any second hand experience of, never mind first hand experience.
I'm not saying either is harder than the other, primary and secondary have their own challenges. Even within primary there's a big difference between early years and upper primary, as I imagine there probably is from KS3 up to 6th form.
I'm on my phone right now but will be back in a moment to address some of the specific misconceptions stated above once I've got my laptop.
I'm not saying either is harder than the other, primary and secondary have their own challenges. Even within primary there's a big difference between early years and upper primary, as I imagine there probably is from KS3 up to 6th form.
I'm on my phone right now but will be back in a moment to address some of the specific misconceptions stated above once I've got my laptop.
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Penguins&Pandas
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#12
(Original post by Secretnerd123)
Oh i see. Do you prefer more challenging age groups?
I would want to teach anywhere from children aged 8-13 years old. I think teaching at secondary schools is really stressful (after watching young tough teachers) and i'm not sure if i want to put myself under all that stress. Atleast prinary school kids don't talk back (most) or insult you lol!
Oh i see. Do you prefer more challenging age groups?
I would want to teach anywhere from children aged 8-13 years old. I think teaching at secondary schools is really stressful (after watching young tough teachers) and i'm not sure if i want to put myself under all that stress. Atleast prinary school kids don't talk back (most) or insult you lol!
hmm it really depends on what you prefer. Try getting experience in both. And see what you actually prefer teaching.
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username1039383
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#13
Hmm i'm really interested now 
(Original post by TraineeLynsey)
And here's the point where I tell you that I'm a primary trainee and you shouldn't make such sweeping statements about things you don't even have any second hand experience of, never mind first hand experience.
I'm not saying either is harder than the other, primary and secondary have their own challenges. Even within primary there's a big difference between early years and upper primary, as I imagine there probably is from KS3 up to 6th form.
I'm on my phone right now but will be back in a moment to address some of the specific misconceptions stated above once I've got my laptop.
And here's the point where I tell you that I'm a primary trainee and you shouldn't make such sweeping statements about things you don't even have any second hand experience of, never mind first hand experience.
I'm not saying either is harder than the other, primary and secondary have their own challenges. Even within primary there's a big difference between early years and upper primary, as I imagine there probably is from KS3 up to 6th form.
I'm on my phone right now but will be back in a moment to address some of the specific misconceptions stated above once I've got my laptop.
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Shelly_x
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#14
(Original post by Secretnerd123)
How easy is it to get access to schools for experience purposes?
How easy is it to get access to schools for experience purposes?
You will need classroom experience when you apply for your pgce so you may as well start early.
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Shelly_x
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#15
(Original post by TraineeLynsey)
And here's the point where I tell you that I'm a primary trainee and you shouldn't make such sweeping statements about things you don't even have any second hand experience of, never mind first hand experience.
I'm not saying either is harder than the other, primary and secondary have their own challenges. Even within primary there's a big difference between early years and upper primary, as I imagine there probably is from KS3 up to 6th form.
I'm on my phone right now but will be back in a moment to address some of the specific misconceptions stated above once I've got my laptop.
And here's the point where I tell you that I'm a primary trainee and you shouldn't make such sweeping statements about things you don't even have any second hand experience of, never mind first hand experience.
I'm not saying either is harder than the other, primary and secondary have their own challenges. Even within primary there's a big difference between early years and upper primary, as I imagine there probably is from KS3 up to 6th form.
I'm on my phone right now but will be back in a moment to address some of the specific misconceptions stated above once I've got my laptop.
Each phase has it's own challenges and you need to experience both to appreciate this.
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Juichiro
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#16
(Original post by Secretnerd123)
You're only in charge of one class if you're a primary school teacher wheras in secondary you have to teach many different year groups which obviously results in more work to mark?
You're only in charge of one class if you're a primary school teacher wheras in secondary you have to teach many different year groups which obviously results in more work to mark?
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TraineeLynsey
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#17
(Original post by ChrisTMH)
I would say secondary is harder because of the workings of puberty especially on men would cause a higher amount of badly behaved students, making it a hard job.
I would say secondary is harder because of the workings of puberty especially on men would cause a higher amount of badly behaved students, making it a hard job.
(Original post by ChrisTMH)
Also, there is a lot more marking, mock test marking, homework marking etc. involved, whereas with primary the homework is probably a lot easier to mark.
Also, there is a lot more marking, mock test marking, homework marking etc. involved, whereas with primary the homework is probably a lot easier to mark.
Re mock tests. Are you under the impression that primary school students do no take tests? My class is assessed 6 times a year in reading, writing, maths and mental maths, plus 'creative curriculum' assessments 3 times a year to assess their understanding of their current topic (this incorporates art, geography, history etc). I'm still training so maybe I'm a little slow, but it takes me 5-10 minutes to mark each reading test. You can work out the maths on that one and tell me how easy and quick it is.
(Original post by ChrisTMH)
I would have also though that with primary teaching you would get more free time, as I said because of the homework situation and no need for out of ours marking..or at least, not as much as secondary.
I would have also though that with primary teaching you would get more free time, as I said because of the homework situation and no need for out of ours marking..or at least, not as much as secondary.
(Original post by Secretnerd123)
You're only in charge of one class if you're a primary school teacher wheras in secondary you have to teach many different year groups which obviously results in more work to mark?
You're only in charge of one class if you're a primary school teacher wheras in secondary you have to teach many different year groups which obviously results in more work to mark?
3 classes x 6 lessons
6 classes x 3 lessons
9 classes x 2 lessons
Exactly the same work load. Some might even argue that secondary colleagues benefit here because there are sometimes occasions where the same lesson can be used for two different classes. Primary teachers don't have that luxury.
(Original post by clh_hilary)
At either level you can get good and bad students academically and behaviorally so I don't think that matters as you don't exactly know where you are going.
But secondary students are generally cognitively smarter; but primary are more motivated and creative.
At either level you can get good and bad students academically and behaviorally so I don't think that matters as you don't exactly know where you are going.
But secondary students are generally cognitively smarter; but primary are more motivated and creative.
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El Salvador
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#18
(Original post by TraineeLynsey)
I mostly agree with this, though there are plenty of demotivated primary pupils just as I am sure there are plenty of creative and engaged secondary students.
I mostly agree with this, though there are plenty of demotivated primary pupils just as I am sure there are plenty of creative and engaged secondary students.
Other things like 'talking back' actually cannot be generalise based on age because it based even more on family/education background and motivation.
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TraineeLynsey
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#19
(Original post by clh_hilary)
But that's like my point. You can find any kind of student at any level. In general, primary are more motivated and secondary are cognitively more developed.
Other things like 'talking back' actually cannot be generalise based on age because it based even more on family/education background and motivation.
But that's like my point. You can find any kind of student at any level. In general, primary are more motivated and secondary are cognitively more developed.
Other things like 'talking back' actually cannot be generalise based on age because it based even more on family/education background and motivation.
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El Salvador
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#20
(Original post by TraineeLynsey)
As I said, I mostly agree. I just disagree with your use of the generalisation about motivation / cognitive ability. My personal opinion is that you really can't generalise about the 'type' of children you find in different school types or phases - kids are like snowflakes and you can find every different version that you can imagine in any situation.
As I said, I mostly agree. I just disagree with your use of the generalisation about motivation / cognitive ability. My personal opinion is that you really can't generalise about the 'type' of children you find in different school types or phases - kids are like snowflakes and you can find every different version that you can imagine in any situation.
I'm not engaging in this any further.
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