Hello!
I have been accepted onto a Psychology Conversion course, which I have deferred as I am going abroad to teach for a year.
I want to afterwards apply for a Doctorate in Educational Psychology but I want to ensure I have a good range of experience. I am looking for advice on what I could do to enhance my experience. As I'm aware I've only got a year to do so when I get back, before I apply.
I have a PGCE. I have taught for nearly four years in primary.
I have worked for a year and two terms as a teaching assistant in primary.
I have worked as a teaching assistant in a secondary and college special school for nearly a term.
So that is nearly 6 years experience total in teaching/teaching assistant combined education.
When I teach abroad, it will be teaching english as a foreign language to 11-16 year olds. I will also work one day a week that year in a special school. I'm not sure if this experience will 'count' as it is in a foreign education system.
In terms of voluntary experience I have voluntary experience in a number of schools prior to getting on my PGCE. Probably 9 weeks total. Not sure if this is relevant as I did this between the ages of 19-21.
I have volunteered at a children's TV event for a few days.
I volunteered for a couple of summer at the children's summer reading challenge at the library.
As a student I supported other students when I was a student librarian.
I also volunteered at the secondary and college special school for about 6 weeks before being offered paid employment there.
Before I leave to teach abroad, I have a few sessions lined up to volunteer at a social club with teenagers who are Young Carers. I may also be able to volunteer 2 to 3 times at a children's contact centre. I am planning to do online mentoring to teenagers over the course of the time that I am away.
When I come back, I am thinking of working one day a week as supply. I'd like to do some supply work in an alternate provision as part of this. I'd also like to volunteer in a nursery for some mornings. i was thinking to either get some paid or voluntary work supporting a young adult with learning difficulties.
Will it matter that the majority of my experience is from before I did my conversion degree? As I won't have applied the theory I've learnt to the bulk of my experience?
I know that I have plenty of good teaching experience. But it is mostly in primary. I'm worried that my time outside of that won't be seen as enough.
I'd be very grateful if anyone could advice me on what other voluntary or paid opportunities I could seek out to give myself a really strong chance of getting on the course.
Is there anything else I can do to enhance my application aside from volunteering and work?
Would love to hear from people at any time, even if the post is 'old' as I won't be applying until two years from now.