Can you become a secondary teacher with a joint honours degree?

I want to study History and Spanish, as they are two subjects I’m good at and interested in. But I’m unsure which specialism I would want to choose as a teacher, would I have the choice at the end of my degree? Or would a joint honours hinder me?

Reply 1

casperyc

Yes. you can.

Only legal requirement in England is GCSE C for maths and English.

Reply 2

nutz99

Original post by futurefirefall

To get onto any secondary PGCE course you require a degree which gave you 50% or more content. So if your degree was 50% both History and Spanish then you could do a PGCE in either. If it was say 60/40 then you could only do the PGCE which relates to the 60%.

In addition, to get onto a Spanish PGCE you also need another language (they prefer French) that you can speak a little. Doing it to A level will usually suffice.

Reply 3

Mr M

Study Forum Helper

Original post by nutz99

To get onto any secondary PGCE course you require a degree which gave you 50% or more content.

This is a complete myth which is repeated time and again on this website. There is no such restriction.

Most MFL teachers offer two foreign/ancient languages (typically Spanish/French or Spanish/German) so ideally you would have some knowledge of another language.

Reply 4

SarcAndSpark

Original post by Mr M

It's not a DofE entry requirement, but it is the bar set by most unis.

However, if you're applying for a shortage subject e.g. MFL then if your degree is less than 50% relevant, they will usually offer you a place conditional on doing an SKE course instead.

MFL teachers are also often offered an SKE to bring their second language skills up to scratch.

Reply 5

Mr M

Study Forum Helper

Original post by SarcAndSpark

It's not a DofE entry requirement, but it is the bar set by most unis.

I realise I'm being contrary but It isn't. DofE is the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. You mean DfE.

Reply 6

SarcAndSpark

Original post by Mr M

I realise I'm being contrary but It isn't. DofE is the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. You mean DfE.

I applied with a degree that wasn't directly the subject I wanted to teach. I emailed just about every uni in the southwest, and even those who didn't list the 50% bar on their website mentioned it via email- not every uni but most. Admittedly, this was two years ago now, but I'd be surprised if things have changed that much.

What evidence do you have to prove this is a myth?

ETA: The open uni also disagrees with you- see page 7 of this PDF https://help.open.ac.uk/students/_data/documents/careers/becoming-a-teacher.pdf

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 7

nutz99

Original post by Mr M

This is a complete myth which is repeated time and again on this website. There is no such restriction.

Find me a university that doesn't list the 50% restriction as an entry requirement. It is there in black & white!

Reply 8

Mr M

Study Forum Helper

Original post by nutz99

Find me a university that doesn't list the 50% restriction as an entry requirement. It is there in black & white!

Blimey! I must have a fake PGCE then along with thousands of others. Thanks for enlightening me.

Reply 9

nutz99

Original post by Mr M

Blimey! I must have a fake PGCE then along with thousands of others. Thanks for enlightening me.

Maybe you have or maybe you need to simply keep up with current requirements. I assume they were giving them away with Happy Meals when you got yours.

Reply 10

Jonathan1995

There's always the SKE for applicants whose specialism hasn't been explored with sufficient depth/breadth, which is something to only concern yourself with after the degree. I wouldn't be deterred from the joint programme in your position.

Reply 11

Mr M

Study Forum Helper

Original post by nutz99

Maybe you have or maybe you need to simply keep up with current requirements. I assume they were giving them away with Happy Meals when you got yours.

I’m up to date. The NQT in my Department has a Psychology degree and took a Secondary Mathematics PGCE. Psychology includes use of statistics but has nothing like 50% mathematical content. I’ve been involved with the appointment of dozens of teachers, have read several hundred application forms and could list no end of similar examples.

Reply 12

TheMandalorian

As long as your degree contains 50% content of the subject you want to teach you are considered qualified to teach that subject. I have a joint honours degree in History and English. I currently teach English. If you have QTS and have experience of teaching a subject then a school may still hire you even if your degree doesn't contain 50% of that subject.