The Student Room Group
One of my a-level maths teachers has a masters in engineering, I reckon he just took a course to become a maths teacher afterwards.
my mum teaches a level maths and has a maths degree however if you only want to teach a level and not secondary then you don't always have to have the degree in some cases.
Reply 3
Original post by peanutbutterjam
One of my a-level maths teachers has a masters in engineering, I reckon he just took a course to become a maths teacher afterwards.


But Engineering is basically Maths! My father is a university lecturer for Engineering and he teaches a session a week of a level Maths so that the students can find their course slightly easier.
You won't get a teaching qualification to teach maths unless your degree is at least 50% maths.

The best schools will want a maths degree ...
There's an A2 maths teacher at my school who doesn't even have a degree. He's 21 yo, been teaching here since last year.
He can't be a qualfied teacher or be earning a teacher's salary - he wouldn't get a job in most schools.

How is this allowed?
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by Muttley79
He can't be a qualfied teacher or be earning a teacher's salary - he wouldn't get a job in most schools.

How is this allowed?


He done his A-levels at a neighbouring school and got A*A in Maths and FM (not sure about 3rd subject). Then my school took him on to teach younger kids who are struggling to keep up ( years 7-11) but this year he taught the A2 maths classes. My school took him on and offered to pay for him to study with the open university whilst he teaches here and he as to stay on for a few years after he finishes. I don't know the full story but its something like that.
Original post by Economistician
He done his A-levels at a neighbouring school and got A*A in Maths and FM (not sure about 3rd subject). Then my school took him on to teach younger kids who are struggling to keep up ( years 7-11) but this year he taught the A2 maths classes. My school took him on and offered to pay for him to study with the open university whilst he teaches here and he as to stay on for a few years after he finishes. I don't know the full story but its something like that.


He would be paid instructor ratee which isn't much.

Is this a Private school or an academy? This is not a standard route into teaching and he wouldn't be allowed near a class in my school.

No teaching qualification, no degree ... surely parents aren't happy?
Original post by Muttley79
He would be paid instructor ratee which isn't much.

Is this a Private school or an academy? This is not a standard route into teaching and he wouldn't be allowed near a class in my school.

No teaching qualification, no degree ... surely parents aren't happy?


It's an Academy, I know it's not normal but most of his students seem to really like his teaching. He's gonna be teaching me next year for A2. So, i'll see how good he is then.

it seems like most parents at my school don't care about their children's education tbh
Original post by Bobjim12
I want to do Computer Science at University, but i am also interested in possibly teaching A level maths. Now i assume if i did Maths and Computer Science as a degree then it would be ok, but could i do it with just Computer science? It is Mathsy plus i would have done Maths and Further Maths to A2 (With atleast As hopefully).

Thanks.

Could be possible since you can do a subject enhancement course but the best place to check is the DfE teacher training website, I think a secondary school maths PGCE covers A-level maths as it ranges from ages 11-18 which covers A-levels.
Reply 11
Original post by Muttley79
You won't get a teaching qualification to teach maths unless your degree is at least 50% maths.

The best schools will want a maths degree ...


This is far from the truth.
(edited 9 years ago)
This is far from the truth.


No it isnt - if your degree is not at least 50% you have to do an enhancement course before a PGCE.

I would not interview anyone for my department who did not have a maths degree and a teaching qualification. That is also true for most of the top departments I know.

If your school is happy to have unqualified teachers then that's your choice ...
Reply 13
Original post by Muttley79
No it isnt - if your degree is not at least 50% you have to do an enhancement course before a PGCE


This isn't enforced for mathematics. Teach First mathematics specialists just need an A Level in the subject for example.

Original post by Muttley79
If your school is happy to have unqualified teachers then that's your choice ...


Schools in the wrong geographical location or with the wrong Ofsted grading receive so few applications for mathematics jobs that they don't have a choice.
This isn't enforced for mathematics. Teach First mathematics specialists just need an A Level in the subject for example.

Schools in the wrong geographical location or with the wrong Ofsted grading receive so few applications for mathematics jobs that they don't have a choice.


The OU and other providers don't accept anyone without a degree that is at least 50% maths - fact.

How is accepting someone without a degree and a teaching qualification going to help a school improve???!!!

I don't think anyone with just an A level can teach maths well ... they just don't have the knowledge.
Reply 15
Original post by Muttley79
The OU and other providers don't accept anyone without a degree that is at least 50% maths - fact.


Yet I have mentored OU mathematics trainees that do not have this background.
Yet I have mentored OU mathematics trainees that do not have this background.


I have interviewed and tutored on the flexible PGCE Secondary maths and it is one of the criteria for selection in the course ..
It depends on your budget for maths qualifications and level of accreditation of maths course you want to teach. A joint degree in maths and computer science will qualify you for both maths and computing. If you are on a budget, consider a subject knowledge enhancement course or one of the cheaper online maths courses. If you want better accreditation for mathematics then yes, obviously take more maths modules at university.
Options if you are on a budget:
Cheap maths textbooks.
Private maths lessons with a tutor.
Cheap online maths courses such as khan academy, IXL and reed.
YouTube videos on maths.
Subject knowledge enhancement courses.
BBC bite size online.
Options on a moderate budget:
GCSE and A level retake exams. (You’d be surprised some questions on the syllabus today are still tricky.)
Level 3 to 5 teaching credentials. (These are intended at people who want a more specialised maths route for their needs.)
Options on a high budget.
Degrees in mathematics from the open university or your local university.
Obviously, the higher the budget, the more qualified you get and the better accreditation you get.
I teach a-level maths with an engineering degree.

I believe as long as you are eligible to teach maths based on your university subject, there is no further requirement for a-level.

As someone else has said your degree needs to contain around 50% maths content.
Well I teach maths and I found more hard work really important especially for mathematics so I studied maths at more than one university over a longer time period. Don’t let it define you if you lack confidence in teaching maths with only a three year degree in maths because I needed more. If you are familiar with abstract theoretical mathematics like studied at a research based university and want a university course closer to how maths is actually taught try discovering mathematics with the open university.