Redoing a degree- a qualified teacher
Hello everyone,
This is my first post, so please be gentle with me. I need a fresh pair of eyes and some professional career-related advice. xxx Long post alert so, this is a great time to 1- grab a coffee, 2-escape
I'm an overseas qualified teacher of English (non-native but with a GTCE recognised QTS in English). I'm into the 11th year of my teaching career in the UK, and I feel that my non-native speaker background is hindering my teaching career. I feel that I have been fighting an uphill career battle, and I am so tired. This is where your professional advice would be greatly appreciated.
As soon as my teaching qualification was recognised by the GTCE, I started applying for teaching jobs. It took me 9 months to secure my first job as a *teaching assistant*- A bitter pill to swallow but I worked hard and made the best out of it. It took me 2 more years of applying to her a teaching job - as a teacher of Spanish and English. I was thrilled.
Unfortunately, when I started, I was not given any Spanish classes, and the only English class I was timetabled to teach was Option Support, Literacy, Interventions for EAL students. This would become a trend in my career. I'd be employed as a qualified teacher of English, just to be put in EAL interventions, Option Support, bottom sets, Prince's Trust, ELC, IGCSE EAL, resits, non-credit-bearing classes such as extra English.
As most good schools asked for results, I couldn't give then anything, ie making it impossible to secure a role in grammar or private school so I was trapped in special measures or OFSTED 'good' but not really good. As I was here on my own I couldn't afford an MA and I couldn't access Student Finance as I already had a degree.
It wasn't till my 7th year of teaching that I'd finally make it into an outstanding school, where I was given mainly Ks3 classes - just to find out that my GCSE class was a nurture group made of students who were on average 4 grades below their target, kicked out of their classes to form mine. The students felt disappointed, I felt disappointed, but we worked hard and many got 6,7,8s. At the same time, PGCSE and NQT students would take able GCSE classes and even A-Levels.
I knew I was able to teach students to a high standard but this mistrust would really grind me down. I was openly told I needed to be observed more than others to make sure ' I didn't **** it up', even though my observations were good and good with outstanding. I wasn't invited to take part in the English Dept promotional video, and I can only wonder why. I was refused an opportunity to do a paid MA as my degree was classed as an ordinary degree, even though I had an academic scholarship for an 85% score. I also have an MA from uni which is in the same league as Goldsmiths and Royal Holloway, just abroad. Still not enough to be seen as a GCSE and A-Level English specialist.
I decided to try one more time and applied to a different school, of course in special measures, where I was given an LP role (EAL!) hoping I could follow the teaching and learning path and fulfil my ambition this way. I teach mainstream but the school is tough, fights every day, such low levels of literacy that we have year 11s who only write in capital letters, EAL arrivals who cannot write in their first language. I had an Italian student who didn't know what the Vatican was.
Now this LP role will be taken away and given to someone else as the school just jammed literacy and EAL into one and gave the thing to the literacy person. I was hoping the role could be a spring board to middle leadership, but not for me. I am where I was 10 years ago, in a *****y school, with no career progression. Sadly, we tell our students to believe in equality and hard work, just to treat anything different with suspicion.
I know teaching is hard but it seems that it's impossible to get into a really good school such as GDST with what people see as an ordinary degree from a foreign country when you speak English as a foreign language. Your starting point and your journey, your perspective, doesn't seem to matter. I am not sure if I am really to gibe up the dream to teach English lit in a good school, even though I might consider it.
If I was to follow this dream my options are: to redo my Ba English Degree and do an Open University - Maybe Ba English or Ba English with Classics, English with Philosophy, etc to broaden my horizons. Get 1:1, get onto a master's at Cambridge or Oxford, and shut people up (yes OU is good enough to Oxbridge, I asked and they were a bit surprised I thought it wasn't).
Option 2- suck it up and do a 1:1 at King's College or UCL again Maybe Ba English with Classics, etc I did a course at UCL and the quality of teaching was shocking - 136 slides per lecture, no teaching skills etc. KC still values research more than teaching but it seems as a good uni and education seems to be all about appearances and elitism.
Option 3 - Change the subject and move away from English- I have met many foreign teachers. Ou has Ba Philosophy, Ethics, and Religion - I wonder if my background would be more accepted with this subject. Again would oU be good enough for a nice private school? King's has the same course (the same teachers teach at OU but who will know this?)
Option 4 - Say '**** you' to teaching and do a degree in Physics or Psychology, go into engineering, or Educational Psychology.
Now, would you look down upon an OU degree in my situation? would you assume it's easy and I am not a high calibre candidate? How about KC?
Please be honest, I find that people chose politeness over honesty yet discriminate all the same.
What would you do?
Kindest Regards,
LD
This is my first post, so please be gentle with me. I need a fresh pair of eyes and some professional career-related advice. xxx Long post alert so, this is a great time to 1- grab a coffee, 2-escape
I'm an overseas qualified teacher of English (non-native but with a GTCE recognised QTS in English). I'm into the 11th year of my teaching career in the UK, and I feel that my non-native speaker background is hindering my teaching career. I feel that I have been fighting an uphill career battle, and I am so tired. This is where your professional advice would be greatly appreciated.
As soon as my teaching qualification was recognised by the GTCE, I started applying for teaching jobs. It took me 9 months to secure my first job as a *teaching assistant*- A bitter pill to swallow but I worked hard and made the best out of it. It took me 2 more years of applying to her a teaching job - as a teacher of Spanish and English. I was thrilled.
Unfortunately, when I started, I was not given any Spanish classes, and the only English class I was timetabled to teach was Option Support, Literacy, Interventions for EAL students. This would become a trend in my career. I'd be employed as a qualified teacher of English, just to be put in EAL interventions, Option Support, bottom sets, Prince's Trust, ELC, IGCSE EAL, resits, non-credit-bearing classes such as extra English.
As most good schools asked for results, I couldn't give then anything, ie making it impossible to secure a role in grammar or private school so I was trapped in special measures or OFSTED 'good' but not really good. As I was here on my own I couldn't afford an MA and I couldn't access Student Finance as I already had a degree.
It wasn't till my 7th year of teaching that I'd finally make it into an outstanding school, where I was given mainly Ks3 classes - just to find out that my GCSE class was a nurture group made of students who were on average 4 grades below their target, kicked out of their classes to form mine. The students felt disappointed, I felt disappointed, but we worked hard and many got 6,7,8s. At the same time, PGCSE and NQT students would take able GCSE classes and even A-Levels.
I knew I was able to teach students to a high standard but this mistrust would really grind me down. I was openly told I needed to be observed more than others to make sure ' I didn't **** it up', even though my observations were good and good with outstanding. I wasn't invited to take part in the English Dept promotional video, and I can only wonder why. I was refused an opportunity to do a paid MA as my degree was classed as an ordinary degree, even though I had an academic scholarship for an 85% score. I also have an MA from uni which is in the same league as Goldsmiths and Royal Holloway, just abroad. Still not enough to be seen as a GCSE and A-Level English specialist.
I decided to try one more time and applied to a different school, of course in special measures, where I was given an LP role (EAL!) hoping I could follow the teaching and learning path and fulfil my ambition this way. I teach mainstream but the school is tough, fights every day, such low levels of literacy that we have year 11s who only write in capital letters, EAL arrivals who cannot write in their first language. I had an Italian student who didn't know what the Vatican was.
Now this LP role will be taken away and given to someone else as the school just jammed literacy and EAL into one and gave the thing to the literacy person. I was hoping the role could be a spring board to middle leadership, but not for me. I am where I was 10 years ago, in a *****y school, with no career progression. Sadly, we tell our students to believe in equality and hard work, just to treat anything different with suspicion.
I know teaching is hard but it seems that it's impossible to get into a really good school such as GDST with what people see as an ordinary degree from a foreign country when you speak English as a foreign language. Your starting point and your journey, your perspective, doesn't seem to matter. I am not sure if I am really to gibe up the dream to teach English lit in a good school, even though I might consider it.
If I was to follow this dream my options are: to redo my Ba English Degree and do an Open University - Maybe Ba English or Ba English with Classics, English with Philosophy, etc to broaden my horizons. Get 1:1, get onto a master's at Cambridge or Oxford, and shut people up (yes OU is good enough to Oxbridge, I asked and they were a bit surprised I thought it wasn't).
Option 2- suck it up and do a 1:1 at King's College or UCL again Maybe Ba English with Classics, etc I did a course at UCL and the quality of teaching was shocking - 136 slides per lecture, no teaching skills etc. KC still values research more than teaching but it seems as a good uni and education seems to be all about appearances and elitism.
Option 3 - Change the subject and move away from English- I have met many foreign teachers. Ou has Ba Philosophy, Ethics, and Religion - I wonder if my background would be more accepted with this subject. Again would oU be good enough for a nice private school? King's has the same course (the same teachers teach at OU but who will know this?)
Option 4 - Say '**** you' to teaching and do a degree in Physics or Psychology, go into engineering, or Educational Psychology.
Now, would you look down upon an OU degree in my situation? would you assume it's easy and I am not a high calibre candidate? How about KC?
Please be honest, I find that people chose politeness over honesty yet discriminate all the same.
What would you do?
Kindest Regards,
LD
I wouldn't 'look down' on a OU degree, but I think KCL is maybe a bit more 'prestigious' or well-known. That being said, KCL seems to have mixed reviews in the UK, but a stronger international rep. This is likely to do with the fact that international rankings are (1 BS, bc how can you compare universities across the world that have completely different teaching styles etc etc), but are also heavily skewed to represent research. As KCL is part of the UoL group, naturally it is part of a broader brand and its overall research will help its performance internationally.
Essentially, what I'm saying is that KCL is clearly a good university, but there are better ones in the UK. I don't think going to Kings alone will drastically impact your employability prospects.
Essentially, what I'm saying is that KCL is clearly a good university, but there are better ones in the UK. I don't think going to Kings alone will drastically impact your employability prospects.
Original post by hello5789
I wouldn't 'look down' on a OU degree, but I think KCL is maybe a bit more 'prestigious' or well-known. That being said, KCL seems to have mixed reviews in the UK, but a stronger international rep. This is likely to do with the fact that international rankings are (1 BS, bc how can you compare universities across the world that have completely different teaching styles etc etc), but are also heavily skewed to represent research. As KCL is part of the UoL group, naturally it is part of a broader brand and its overall research will help its performance internationally.
Essentially, what I'm saying is that KCL is clearly a good university, but there are better ones in the UK. I don't think going to Kings alone will drastically impact your employability prospects.
Essentially, what I'm saying is that KCL is clearly a good university, but there are better ones in the UK. I don't think going to Kings alone will drastically impact your employability prospects.
Thank you so much for taking your time to reply! I've realised that my post could be reduced to 2/3 paragraphs haha!
Out of interest which one would you suggest? I am based in Dover, and now have a family. UOL international does do it yourself degrees which may look good on paper but which I am dubious about (Goldsmiths for English and ROHUL for History). Again, this is not because I think they aren't good but because I am trying to better my employability prospects. I wouldn't mind preparing for Oxbridge but I hate the idea of being forced to live in Oxford or in Cambridge. Anyways... I'm sure I'll figure something out
Original post by Evaaeri
Hello everyone,
This is my first post, so please be gentle with me. I need a fresh pair of eyes and some professional career-related advice. xxx Long post alert so, this is a great time to 1- grab a coffee, 2-escape
I'm an overseas qualified teacher of English (non-native but with a GTCE recognised QTS in English). I'm into the 11th year of my teaching career in the UK, and I feel that my non-native speaker background is hindering my teaching career. I feel that I have been fighting an uphill career battle, and I am so tired. This is where your professional advice would be greatly appreciated.
As soon as my teaching qualification was recognised by the GTCE, I started applying for teaching jobs. It took me 9 months to secure my first job as a *teaching assistant*- A bitter pill to swallow but I worked hard and made the best out of it. It took me 2 more years of applying to her a teaching job - as a teacher of Spanish and English. I was thrilled.
Unfortunately, when I started, I was not given any Spanish classes, and the only English class I was timetabled to teach was Option Support, Literacy, Interventions for EAL students. This would become a trend in my career. I'd be employed as a qualified teacher of English, just to be put in EAL interventions, Option Support, bottom sets, Prince's Trust, ELC, IGCSE EAL, resits, non-credit-bearing classes such as extra English.
As most good schools asked for results, I couldn't give then anything, ie making it impossible to secure a role in grammar or private school so I was trapped in special measures or OFSTED 'good' but not really good. As I was here on my own I couldn't afford an MA and I couldn't access Student Finance as I already had a degree.
This is my first post, so please be gentle with me. I need a fresh pair of eyes and some professional career-related advice. xxx Long post alert so, this is a great time to 1- grab a coffee, 2-escape
I'm an overseas qualified teacher of English (non-native but with a GTCE recognised QTS in English). I'm into the 11th year of my teaching career in the UK, and I feel that my non-native speaker background is hindering my teaching career. I feel that I have been fighting an uphill career battle, and I am so tired. This is where your professional advice would be greatly appreciated.
As soon as my teaching qualification was recognised by the GTCE, I started applying for teaching jobs. It took me 9 months to secure my first job as a *teaching assistant*- A bitter pill to swallow but I worked hard and made the best out of it. It took me 2 more years of applying to her a teaching job - as a teacher of Spanish and English. I was thrilled.
Unfortunately, when I started, I was not given any Spanish classes, and the only English class I was timetabled to teach was Option Support, Literacy, Interventions for EAL students. This would become a trend in my career. I'd be employed as a qualified teacher of English, just to be put in EAL interventions, Option Support, bottom sets, Prince's Trust, ELC, IGCSE EAL, resits, non-credit-bearing classes such as extra English.
As most good schools asked for results, I couldn't give then anything, ie making it impossible to secure a role in grammar or private school so I was trapped in special measures or OFSTED 'good' but not really good. As I was here on my own I couldn't afford an MA and I couldn't access Student Finance as I already had a degree.
Are you getting interviews for teaching posts? If not then I guess it's the ordinary degree that could be holding you back. What feedback are you getting on interview observations?
Why do you want to teach in a 'nice Privsate school' - I can't think of anywhere worse tbh and Grammars aren't necessarily 'easy' ...
An OU degree is as acceptable as any other -
What other subjects could you teach? Language teachers are a shortage so maybe that is the way to go ...
Original post by Evaaeri
Thank you so much for taking your time to reply! I've realised that my post could be reduced to 2/3 paragraphs haha!
Out of interest which one would you suggest? I am based in Dover, and now have a family. UOL international does do it yourself degrees which may look good on paper but which I am dubious about (Goldsmiths for English and ROHUL for History). Again, this is not because I think they aren't good but because I am trying to better my employability prospects. I wouldn't mind preparing for Oxbridge but I hate the idea of being forced to live in Oxford or in Cambridge. Anyways... I'm sure I'll figure something out
Out of interest which one would you suggest? I am based in Dover, and now have a family. UOL international does do it yourself degrees which may look good on paper but which I am dubious about (Goldsmiths for English and ROHUL for History). Again, this is not because I think they aren't good but because I am trying to better my employability prospects. I wouldn't mind preparing for Oxbridge but I hate the idea of being forced to live in Oxford or in Cambridge. Anyways... I'm sure I'll figure something out
Generally speaking the best London unis are UCL, Imperial & LSE. Obviously Imperial and LSE are very subject specific so UCL is likely the best option for you.
KCL is by no means a bad university, but generally the others are 'better'.
Original post by Evaaeri
Thank you so much for taking your time to reply! I've realised that my post could be reduced to 2/3 paragraphs haha!
Out of interest which one would you suggest? I am based in Dover, and now have a family. UOL international does do it yourself degrees which may look good on paper but which I am dubious about (Goldsmiths for English and ROHUL for History). Again, this is not because I think they aren't good but because I am trying to better my employability prospects. I wouldn't mind preparing for Oxbridge but I hate the idea of being forced to live in Oxford or in Cambridge. Anyways... I'm sure I'll figure something out
Out of interest which one would you suggest? I am based in Dover, and now have a family. UOL international does do it yourself degrees which may look good on paper but which I am dubious about (Goldsmiths for English and ROHUL for History). Again, this is not because I think they aren't good but because I am trying to better my employability prospects. I wouldn't mind preparing for Oxbridge but I hate the idea of being forced to live in Oxford or in Cambridge. Anyways... I'm sure I'll figure something out
Why don't you also have a look at other Russell Group universities? RG grads tend to be looked at favourably because of the prestige these universities carry. Oxbridge will help your employability prospects but only if you can handle the workload and tough environment really because there is no point going to Oxbridge and getting a rubbish grade.
Original post by Muttley79
Are you getting interviews for teaching posts? If not then I guess it's the ordinary degree that could be holding you back. What feedback are you getting on interview observations?
Why do you want to teach in a 'nice Privsate school' - I can't think of anywhere worse tbh and Grammars aren't necessarily 'easy' ...
An OU degree is as acceptable as any other -
What other subjects could you teach? Language teachers are a shortage so maybe that is the way to go ...
Why do you want to teach in a 'nice Privsate school' - I can't think of anywhere worse tbh and Grammars aren't necessarily 'easy' ...
An OU degree is as acceptable as any other -
What other subjects could you teach? Language teachers are a shortage so maybe that is the way to go ...
I am getting interviews in state schools but not in private schools. My observations are consistently good, even with very challenging classes. I am good with behaviour.
Why private? Maybe wrongly, I don't believe I should be babysitting children- I don't want to be searching for knives, breaking fights, looking for students under the table, calling on call a lot, etc I don't want to spend my life being a military leader who commands the class, intimidates other teachers, walks around ticking boxes. I don't want to be deskilled and demoralised.
I would like to be intellectually stimulated as much as the students. I had a job interview in a GDST school for an EAL teacher and decided not to take it as this is not my subject. I have no interest in it. But the atmosphere was great- girls actually talked quietly and read in the garden, and didn't roll on the floor or punch each other. I don't want to spend my whole life breaking fights, teaching ABC, constantly dealing with Leaders who come up with stupid ideas such as 'each starter should last 7 minutes across all the departments.' I am not scared of hard work. I don't mind planning, and with yellow box marking etc workload is also doable. I want to share my knowledge - I went to a selective school where we read Dante's Inferno and Umberto Eco, where I learnt to play two instruments, where I ended up with 9 As in A-Levels. I'd love to be able to teach, truly teach and learn to be even a better practitioner at the same time. But I believe in free will and in the fact that everyone takes a different path in life. Some of those awful students might be read to learn in a few years. This shouldn't be at the cost of mental health of their teachers.
(edited 3 years ago)
Original post by Evaaeri
I am getting interviews in state schools but not in private schools. My observations are consistently good, even with very challenging classes. I am good with behaviour.
Why private? Maybe wrongly, I don't believe I should be babysitting children- I don't want to be searching for knives, breaking fights, looking for students under the table, calling on call a lot, etc I don't want to spend my life being a military leader who commands the class, intimidates other teachers, walks around ticking boxes. I don't want to be deskilled and demoralised.
I would like to be intellectually stimulated as much as the students. I had a job interview in a GDST school for an EAL teacher and decided not to take it as this is not my subject. I have no interest in it. But the atmosphere was great- girls actually talked quietly and read in the garden, and didn't roll on the floor or punch each other. I don't want to spend my whole life breaking fights, teaching ABC, constantly dealing with Leaders who come up with stupid ideas such as 'each starter should last 7 minutes across all the departments.' I am not scared of hard work. I don't mind planning, and with yellow box marking etc workload is also doable. I want to share my knowledge - I went to a selective school where we read Dante's Inferno and Umberto Eco, where I learn to play two instrument where I ended up with 9 As in A-Levels. I'd love to be able to teach, truly teach and learn to be even a better practitioner at the same time. But I believe in free will and in the fact that everyone takes a different path in life. Some of those awful students might be read to learn in a few years. This shouldn't be at the cost of mental health of their teachers.
Why private? Maybe wrongly, I don't believe I should be babysitting children- I don't want to be searching for knives, breaking fights, looking for students under the table, calling on call a lot, etc I don't want to spend my life being a military leader who commands the class, intimidates other teachers, walks around ticking boxes. I don't want to be deskilled and demoralised.
I would like to be intellectually stimulated as much as the students. I had a job interview in a GDST school for an EAL teacher and decided not to take it as this is not my subject. I have no interest in it. But the atmosphere was great- girls actually talked quietly and read in the garden, and didn't roll on the floor or punch each other. I don't want to spend my whole life breaking fights, teaching ABC, constantly dealing with Leaders who come up with stupid ideas such as 'each starter should last 7 minutes across all the departments.' I am not scared of hard work. I don't mind planning, and with yellow box marking etc workload is also doable. I want to share my knowledge - I went to a selective school where we read Dante's Inferno and Umberto Eco, where I learn to play two instrument where I ended up with 9 As in A-Levels. I'd love to be able to teach, truly teach and learn to be even a better practitioner at the same time. But I believe in free will and in the fact that everyone takes a different path in life. Some of those awful students might be read to learn in a few years. This shouldn't be at the cost of mental health of their teachers.
So what feedback are you getting at interview - I'm a teacher and I've taught in a Private school, a comp and a selective school and supported teachers [on short secondments] from all sorts of schools - I've never been in a school that is as you describe ... even ones in Special Measures.
I interview and recruit ... what other subjects could you teach? You've mentioned Spanish ...
Original post by Muttley79
So what feedback are you getting at interview - I'm a teacher and I've taught in a Private school, a comp and a selective school and supported teachers [on short secondments] from all sorts of schools - I've never been in a school that is as you describe ... even ones in Special Measures.
I interview and recruit ... what other subjects could you teach? You've mentioned Spanish ...
I interview and recruit ... what other subjects could you teach? You've mentioned Spanish ...
I usually get the job when I interview. It's getting the interviews in those good schools which is a problem....
I speak Spanish but by QTS is in English. Would you suggest a languages degree. OU has Ba Spanish with Classics. I wander if I could extend my subject repertoire? Or will I not be considered without RG degree? How about OU Ba ( Hons) 1:1 and then masters from a good uni such as Oxbridge? .
Unfortunately, I have been in some shocking schools- in my current school, they grouped all statements students so that others could learn and to save on TAs. This is where the new arrivals are added. We do knife spots 3-4 times a year. In this class there was a fight in 3 out o of 4 English lessons. I swear to God I had to call on call thinking that one of my students was bunking just to find him hiding under the table for 21 minutes! I mean, common haha. a bit of this is great fun but not every single lesson. And because I can be tough I get those hard classes under control. Do I want to do it my whole life? Nope :P
(edited 3 years ago)
Original post by Evaaeri
I usually get the job when I interview. It's getting the interviews in those good schools which is a problem....
I speak Spanish but by QTS is in English. Would you suggest a languages degree. OU has Ba Spanish with Classics. I wander if I could extend my subject repertoire? Or will I not be considered without RG degree? How about OU Ba ( Hons) 1:1 and then masters from a good uni such as Oxbridge? .
Unfortunately, I have been in some shocking schools- in my current school, they grouped all statements students so that others could learn and to save on TAs. This is where the new arrivals are added. We do knife spots 3-4 times a year. In this class there was a fight in 3 out o of 4 English lessons. I swear to God I had to call on call thinking that one of my students was bunking just to find him hiding under the table for 21 minutes! I mean, common haha. a bit of this is great fun but not every single lesson. And because I can be tough I get those hard classes under control. Do I want to do it my whole life? Nope :P
I speak Spanish but by QTS is in English. Would you suggest a languages degree. OU has Ba Spanish with Classics. I wander if I could extend my subject repertoire? Or will I not be considered without RG degree? How about OU Ba ( Hons) 1:1 and then masters from a good uni such as Oxbridge? .
Unfortunately, I have been in some shocking schools- in my current school, they grouped all statements students so that others could learn and to save on TAs. This is where the new arrivals are added. We do knife spots 3-4 times a year. In this class there was a fight in 3 out o of 4 English lessons. I swear to God I had to call on call thinking that one of my students was bunking just to find him hiding under the table for 21 minutes! I mean, common haha. a bit of this is great fun but not every single lesson. And because I can be tough I get those hard classes under control. Do I want to do it my whole life? Nope :P
QTS qualifies you to teach not to teach a specific subject. Are you able to move/travel to a place with better schools - I loved the comp I worked in - in an EAZ but with a full range up to Oxbridge. It was only a work move for my husband that brought us to where we are now.
You don't need an RG degree or an MA to work in a good school. We look for someone who can convey knowledge - one of the worst candidates we interviewd had a PhD from a top uni but could not get anything across to students. One of the best teachers in my department has a third another has a BEng but they teach outstanding lessons ...and we get amazing results.
Original post by Muttley79
QTS qualifies you to teach not to teach a specific subject. Are you able to move/travel to a place with better schools - I loved the comp I worked in - in an EAZ but with a full range up to Oxbridge. It was only a work move for my husband that brought us to where we are now.
You don't need an RG degree or an MA to work in a good school. We look for someone who can convey knowledge - one of the worst candidates we interviewd had a PhD from a top uni but could not get anything across to students. One of the best teachers in my department has a third another has a BEng but they teach outstanding lessons ...and we get amazing results.
You don't need an RG degree or an MA to work in a good school. We look for someone who can convey knowledge - one of the worst candidates we interviewd had a PhD from a top uni but could not get anything across to students. One of the best teachers in my department has a third another has a BEng but they teach outstanding lessons ...and we get amazing results.
We bought a house in River/ Dover and I teach part time in SE London (Greenwich). I know there are amaizing schools in Bromley, Canterbury, Folkestone etc and I would like to be seen as a strong candidate when I am ready to return full time (our daughter is 10 months old and I would like to stay with her for some time, we might have one more so I don't want to teach full time just yet). That's why I was considering OU degree- working part time, childcare commitment etc but hopefully also an opportunity to upskill myself. I was thinking of English but maybe Spanish with French would be a good combo, or with German or with Latin? Spanish with Latin or French with Latin would probably interest me the most but I am willing to even do a degree in Physics or Psychology as Physics is a shortage subject. I am hoping that if I get a 1st, it will add some value to my 1st degree as employers will see me as hard working, determined, intellectually curious etc. Maybe I will get a teacher of Spanish and Classics, or English and Spanish or whatever job one day.
Original post by Evaaeri
We bought a house in River/ Dover and I teach part time in SE London (Greenwich). I know there are amaizing schools in Bromley, Canterbury, Folkestone etc and I would like to be seen as a strong candidate when I am ready to return full time (our daughter is 10 months old and I would like to stay with her for some time, we might have one more so I don't want to teach full time just yet). That's why I was considering OU degree- working part time, childcare commitment etc but hopefully also an opportunity to upskill myself. I was thinking of English but maybe Spanish with French would be a good combo, or with German or with Latin? Spanish with Latin or French with Latin would probably interest me the most but I am willing to even do a degree in Physics or Psychology as Physics is a shortage subject. I am hoping that if I get a 1st, it will add some value to my 1st degree as employers will see me as hard working, determined, intellectually curious etc. Maybe I will get a teacher of Spanish and Classics, or English and Spanish or whatever job one day.
I think you have the option of Grammars in Kent? I think an OU degree might be a good option - choose something you'll enjoy. For English teachers we always have a lot of candidates ...
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Routes into teaching offered at CCCU.
- Masters funding
- Can I do my teacher training in America?
- PGCE physics secondary loan
- Second Degree Funding
- Teaching
- Why do teachers need degrees?
- Masters degree after ACA?
- Apprenticeships after graduation?
- English PGCE "related degree?"
- Do PSC now or wait
- how to become an early years teacher
- Easiest Route to becoming a teacher in the USA?
- Optom graduate, no pre reg, how do I get back into optom
- Second degree funding eligibility
- Becoming a teacher with a degree from the OU?
- is going from a private to a state school a big change?
- Childcare
- Nursing hours- transferring Univeristy
- Wanting to become an photography/ art teacher
Latest
Trending
Last reply 1 day ago
University of Cambridge PGCE Applicants 2024-2025Last reply 5 days ago
Teacher Training 2024 Applicants ThreadLast reply 1 week ago
Teaching jobs with visa sponsorship as a non-UK citizenLast reply 2 weeks ago
Does it matter where you do your pgce?Last reply 2 weeks ago
What does a new teachers (ECT) timetable and commitment actually look like?Last reply 3 weeks ago
Primary Education Glasgow & Strathclyde 2024 (UNDERGRADUATE)Last reply 1 month ago
Is it possible to be a part-time primary school teacher?Trending
Last reply 1 day ago
University of Cambridge PGCE Applicants 2024-2025Last reply 5 days ago
Teacher Training 2024 Applicants ThreadLast reply 1 week ago
Teaching jobs with visa sponsorship as a non-UK citizenLast reply 2 weeks ago
Does it matter where you do your pgce?Last reply 2 weeks ago
What does a new teachers (ECT) timetable and commitment actually look like?Last reply 3 weeks ago
Primary Education Glasgow & Strathclyde 2024 (UNDERGRADUATE)Last reply 1 month ago
Is it possible to be a part-time primary school teacher?
