SPECIALFEATURE
always good to arm yourself with as much information as possible and be prepared for whatever children throw at you. Teaching is a challenging but very
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hether you’ve just graduated or you are considering teaching in your not-too-distant future, it’s
rewarding profession, with many attractive aspects (and not just the long holidays). For one, the average salary for a teacher is £37,800. But it isn’t only about the financial perks; there’s a good amount of flexibility and clear progression. With passion and hard work, you can go from being a classroom teacher to a subject leader to head of year in a relatively short time span. And, with figures from the Department for Education (DfE) revealing that nine out of 10 newly qualified teachers (NQTs) are employed within six months of completing their training, this could be a reality sooner than you think. However, it’s also important to
remember the altruistic side to this profession. You will have opportunities every day to genuinely make a difference in children’s lives. Motivation can come from a range of sources, whether it’s the ‘light bulb moment’ when a student learns something new, or simply watching them flourish and realise their potential.
The plethora of routes into teacher
training can be overwhelming, but take a deep breath and weigh up your options and preferences. You’ll need to decide if you want your training to be university- based or, if you’re looking for a more hands-on approach, school-based. No matter which route you choose to go down, many parts of the journey will be the same: you will have a minimum of 24 weeks of practical placements in at least two schools, all of which will lead to you gaining qualified teacher status (QTS) after a probation year as an NQT. Many school-centred courses will also allow you to earn a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) while you train. Additionally, if you are considering
Teachers need boundless enthusiasm for working with young people and a real love of their subject. But they also need to be resilient, especially when they make mistakes
becoming a teacher, gaining some experience in a classroom will certainly help you (and may be required with some providers). You’ll be prepared before your training begins, and, of course, you’ll have a clearer idea if teaching is right for you, as well as it looking impressive on your application. And, with over 38,000 people having applied for initial teacher training (ITT) in the past year according to figures from UCAS, any on-the-job experience you can get will ensure you catch the admissions officer’s eye. Matt Inniss, recruitment lead at United
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Teaching, a network of over 50 schools offering teacher training on behalf of United Learning, commented: “People who want to get into teaching cannot beat volunteering. Write to schools and maybe take a week of your holiday to get some experience – you might find it’s something you really love.” After deciding how you want to learn, you will also need to consider which age group would suit you best, whether it’s early years, primary or secondary.
Early years If you want to give children the very
best start in life, then an early years teacher is the right position for you. You’ll be working with pupils anywhere
between birth and the age of five, providing an essential source of stability and knowledge in their development. Children who have made good progress by the age of five are five times more likely to achieve the highest reading level at Key Stage 1, according to the DfE. There are many routes into becoming an early years teacher, but, as with teaching for all age groups, a degree is still necessary, as is at least a C grade in English, mathematics and science at GSCE level. After passing your numeracy and literacy skills tests, you’ll complete your ITT and be awarded your early years teacher status (EYTS). Graduates have two main options: you can complete a year of full-time study, with a £7,000 grant to cover course fees, or you can apply to the special early years School Direct course, where you will train on the job and will usually have a position after reaching EYTS. You are also entitled to a bursary of up to £5,000 depending on your degree classification.
Primary
Primary school teachers will foster abilities and social skills in young children that will prepare them for later life. It is recommended that you become familiar with the primary curriculum, as you will be teaching across the whole spectrum of subjects. So while training is open to graduates from all fields, a degree in a curriculum area, such as English, maths or science, will put you in good stead. There are also the options to train as a maths or PE specialist. As a primary teacher, you will often
teach the same class different subjects, so you will get to know your students very well and your training will allow you to respond to individual needs. Creativity, patience and a sense of humour are therefore required. Graduates who leave university with first-class honours or a 2:1 are eligible for a bursary of £3,000. You can study at a university or higher education college for a PGCE or you can opt for school-based ITT. Once acquiring QTS, you’ll benefit from a competitive starting salary and a secure job.
Autumn 2016 |
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