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Will I be able to get a job as a maths teacher without having A-level maths?

Greetings.
So I'm thinking of going into teaching. Secondary school pupils.
I didn't study A-level maths.
My degree is not in maths.

So if I get QTS status, will I actually be able to find a real job as a maths teacher?

Thanks in advance.

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You may have to do a SKE (subject knowledge enhancement). Honestly, I'd recommend just trying to get an A-Level in Maths. Depending on your degree, it may not actually be that difficult.

Reply 2

Only to be paid the minimum wage at the end - it just doesn't seem to be worth it.
All that time, effort, cost of courses, fees, and student loan at a very high interest rate.

And then having to work 50 to 60 hours a week.
And most leave the teaching profession after 3 years.

Reply 3

Original post by Spagall2
Only to be paid the minimum wage at the end - it just doesn't seem to be worth it.
All that time, effort, cost of courses, fees, and student loan at a very high interest rate.
And then having to work 50 to 60 hours a week.
And most leave the teaching profession after 3 years.

Looking at this reply my advice is do not become a teacher. Your focus seems to be an easy life for lots of money, you will not get that balance as a teacher. However:

You only get paid minimum wage if you make it minimum wage by working those 50-60 hours a week. I did just shy of 40 hours last week, including a cooking club that I volunteered to stay back for and a couple of later nights (leaving at 4pm - I know, such a late finish) to work on my Y11 marking). I get in at 7:30 most mornings because I get a lift from my husband, so I can set up and be organised when the school is quiet. I go home, usually between 3:30 and 3:45. I'm a food teacher, so usually, I'm late because I'm closing my room down after a cooking lesson to give my technician a hand.

"student loan at a very high interest rate." - only if you actually think of it as a loan. To me, it's a slight increase in my tax. Please show me where I can get a £100,000 loan (that's how much my student loan balance currently is), where I can repay over 30 years at £25 per month (at the moment), and at the end of that 30 years, the rest is just wiped out...

Maths is an in-demand role; it has a bursary attached to it, and you have more power to negotiate a higher starting salary. However, if you have no previous qualifications in maths then I'd expect them to be telling you to come back when you have them - unless you can prove your knowledge to be at A level or above. This is futile, though, if you're not going into the career because you want to work with children and to make a difference to them. If it's money-focused, like the above reply sounds, then yes...you will be leaving within 3 years.

Reply 4

Original post by ChammyFTT
Looking at this reply my advice is do not become a teacher. Your focus seems to be an easy life for lots of money, you will not get that balance as a teacher. However:
You only get paid minimum wage if you make it minimum wage by working those 50-60 hours a week. I did just shy of 40 hours last week, including a cooking club that I volunteered to stay back for and a couple of later nights (leaving at 4pm - I know, such a late finish) to work on my Y11 marking). I get in at 7:30 most mornings because I get a lift from my husband, so I can set up and be organised when the school is quiet. I go home, usually between 3:30 and 3:45. I'm a food teacher, so usually, I'm late because I'm closing my room down after a cooking lesson to give my technician a hand.
"student loan at a very high interest rate." - only if you actually think of it as a loan. To me, it's a slight increase in my tax. Please show me where I can get a £100,000 loan (that's how much my student loan balance currently is), where I can repay over 30 years at £25 per month (at the moment), and at the end of that 30 years, the rest is just wiped out...
Maths is an in-demand role; it has a bursary attached to it, and you have more power to negotiate a higher starting salary. However, if you have no previous qualifications in maths then I'd expect them to be telling you to come back when you have them - unless you can prove your knowledge to be at A level or above. This is futile, though, if you're not going into the career because you want to work with children and to make a difference to them. If it's money-focused, like the above reply sounds, then yes...you will be leaving within 3 years.

I appreciate your contribution. What interest rate are you paying on that loan?

Reply 5

Original post by Spagall2
I appreciate your contribution. What interest rate are you paying on that loan?

My student loan interest for my degree and PGCE is 7.8%. My current repayment as an ECT1 is £25 per month (salary of £30000)

Reply 6

Original post by ChammyFTT
My student loan interest for my degree and PGCE is 7.8%. My current repayment as an ECT1 is £25 per month (salary of £30000)

At £25/month, you're only paying off a small fraction of the interest on that loan.
That unpaid interest is then added to the original loan.
So after 30 years, with compound interest, the interest alone will have ballooned to £324,000.
Plus the original loan of £100,000, which hasn't even been touched.
So that means you will have a total debt of nearly £500,000.

Reply 7

Original post by spagall2
At £25/month, you're only paying off a small fraction of the interest on that loan.
That unpaid interest is then added to the original loan.
So after 30 years, with compound interest, the interest alone will have ballooned to £324,000.
Plus the original loan of £100,000, which hasn't even been touched.
So that means you will have a total debt of nearly £500,000.

But after 30 years, it is wiped clean, so I'll never repay anywhere near the amount I borrowed - which is why it's not really a loan.

I'll also pay more as my salary rises but again, not much more.
(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 8

Original post by ChammyFTT
But after 30 years, it is wiped clean, so I'll never repay anywhere near the amount I borrowed - which is why it's not really a loan.
I'll also pay more as my salary rises but again, not much more.

Ok.
Where in your SL (Student Loan) terms and conditions does it state that the debt will be written off after 30 years?

Reply 9

The reality is that student loans are basically a graduate tax and that the bulk of them will never be repaid. However, it is basically a government stimulus payment for Universities and the local economy (principally landlords in urban areas) financed by the tax payer. The problem is, however, if you did away with them then basically only those with wealthy parents would be able to go to University. Choose your poison. It's 7 billion a year paid by the government which ends up in the coffers of Universities (the places that do some the cutting edge research in the UK) and property owners who have to pay tax on their income anyway.

To be honest, the UK should go back to having no tuition fees I think.

Reply 10

Original post by Spagall2
Ok.
Where in your SL (Student Loan) terms and conditions does it state that the debt will be written off after 30 years?

Government website;
8. When your student loan gets written off or cancelled
Print Repaying your student loan: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Reply 11

Original post by Spagall2
Ok.
Where in your SL (Student Loan) terms and conditions does it state that the debt will be written off after 30 years?

Right here - different terms for different plans. I'm plan 2. Plan 5 is after 40 years.
Screenshot 2024-05-05 111700.png

Reply 12

Original post by Spagall2
At £25/month, you're only paying off a small fraction of the interest on that loan.
That unpaid interest is then added to the original loan.
So after 30 years, with compound interest, the interest alone will have ballooned to £324,000.
Plus the original loan of £100,000, which hasn't even been touched.
So that means you will have a total debt of nearly £500,000.

Is it maths or personal finance you struggle with most?

Reply 13

Does the interest start accruing on the student loan debt on the day it is paid out?

Reply 14

Original post by Spagall2
Greetings.
So I'm thinking of going into teaching. Secondary school pupils.
I didn't study A-level maths.
My degree is not in maths.
So if I get QTS status, will I actually be able to find a real job as a maths teacher?
Thanks in advance.

In theory yes, but the best teachers those with secure subject knowledge in their subject.

Reply 15

Original post by Spagall2
Greetings.
So I'm thinking of going into teaching. Secondary school pupils.
I didn't study A-level maths.
My degree is not in maths.
So if I get QTS status, will I actually be able to find a real job as a maths teacher?
Thanks in advance.
I doubt it. You need to demonstrate that you have a level of understanding of your subject beyond that of the students and in maths it is particularly important to understand student mis conceptions which you are unlikely to be able to do without a deep understanding of mathematics

Reply 16

So confused as to why you would wanna be a maths teacher if you don’t have any relating qualifications?? Your degree is unrelated you say so it can’t be like physics or engineering etc which would make sense. Sorry I’m just genuinely puzzled as to why it’s maths that you are after teaching lol

Reply 17

Original post by Nat4695
So confused as to why you would wanna be a maths teacher if you don’t have any relating qualifications?? Your degree is unrelated you say so it can’t be like physics or engineering etc which would make sense. Sorry I’m just genuinely puzzled as to why it’s maths that you are after teaching lol

The bursary?

Reply 18

Original post by ChammyFTT
The bursary?
bursary? arent they asking if they can become a maths teacher without an a level or relevant degree?

Reply 19

Original post by Nat4695
bursary? arent they asking if they can become a maths teacher without an a level or relevant degree?

Yes but there could be the assumption that they are looking at maths because it comes with the £28k bursary just to train. You asked why they’d want to be a maths teacher without any qualifications, this could be why ☺️

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