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Can’t wait to escape the classroom? Well, here’s a suggestion – how about a career that’ll put you right back there?!
day – yes, your teacher! GETTING STARTED Teaching – in either primary or secondary schools – is a graduate career. The main entry route is to complete a degree (in the subject you intend to teach, if you’re planning to work in secondary schools) followed by a specialist teaching qualification called a Professional Graduate Diploma of Education (PGDE). Alternatively, you can take a combined degree which involves studying a particular subject, studying education and gaining school experience. If you’re interested in teaching music, PE or a technological subject, there’s the option of a four year Bachelor of Education (BEd). All teaching courses give you the principles of education and how to develop and plan a class. You’ll also spend up to half of the course on work placements in various school settings – this is often said to be the most valuable part of the course. If you’re studying to become a secondary school teacher, you’ll also spend time in the relevant uni department – trainee English teachers, for example, will (oddly enough) work within the English department. Those studying to become a primary school teacher will cover a broader range of subjects including language, mathematical skills, expressive arts, religious and moral education, and environmental studies. ON PROBATION All new teachers must carry out a probationary year before they can fully register with the General Teaching Council for Scotland, and you will also need to have an enhanced check with Disclosure Scotland to confirm you have no criminal convictions. The Scottish Government currently guarantees a placement for all trainees probationary year. A REWARDING ROLE What can you get out of teaching? A good salary is one thing, but for many it’s the chance to see students develop and grow. It’s not an easy job, of course – you’ve got to be dedicated, organised, hard-working, have an interest in sharing your knowledge, and not mind working beyond regular hours (think of the parents’ evenings, paperwork and Saturday morning football games). But if you want a career with good development prospects, great financial rewards and at least 30 fantastic reasons to go into work every day, why not go back to school – and teach! DON’T FANCY UNIVERSITY? Teaching assistants (aka classroom assistants) help with the preparation of lessons and the running of the classroom, often supporting kids with particular educational needs or working with teachers to help supervise children on outings and sports events. The precise qualifications you’ll need are decided by individual schools and local education authorities, though it’s possible to complete teaching assistant qualifications (usually SVQ level 2) on the job. Full time salaries for teaching assistants can vary from £11,000 to £16,000 or more, depending on location and duties. TEACHING COURSES The following universities offer PGDEs and BEd qualifications for aspiring teachers. • University of Strathclyde, Faculty of Education 0141 950 3033, www.strath.ac.uk/education/ • University of Aberdeen, Centre for Learning & Teaching, 01224 273 030, www.abdn.ac.uk/clt • University of Dundee, School of Education, Social Work and Community Education 01382 381 400, www.dundee.ac.uk/eswce • The Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh, 0131 651 6138, www.education.ed.ac.uk • University of Glasgow, Faculty of Education 0141 330 2463, www.gla.ac.uk/faculties/education • University of the West of Scotland, School of Education 01292 886 206, www.paisley.ac.uk/schoolsdepts/education • The Stirling Institute of Education, University of Stirling 01786 466 140, www.ioe.stir.ac.uk THE BEST FEELING Laura Devin, from Kilmaurs in Ayrshire, is in her fourth and final year of studying Environmental Geography with Professional Education at the University of Stirling. “It allowed me to graduate as a teacher a year earlier than others, because it’s a combined degree,” she told us. “I don’t have to do a post grad in teaching after my subject degree. It also allows me to teach geography and modern studies as a second subject.” Laura was on a 10 week teaching placement in Stewarton Academy when we spoke to her. “The teaching placements have been invaluable,” she explained. “The real learning comes from being in schools and doing it for yourself. Having a lesson go well is the best feeling you can have as a student teacher. Likewise having a rubbish lesson can feel like the end of the world, but the beauty of being on placement is that you have experienced teachers there who can tell you where things went wrong and offer advice to help fix it and get you back on track.” From her earliest school years, Laura wanted to be a teacher. “Before I started my course I took part in a number of voluntary schemes in school and out,” she explained. “I went to a local primary school for one afternoon every week helping in class. I was also involved in a paired reading programme where I was paired up with a first year who was highlighted as having reading difficulties and I would read with him for half an hour every week.” So, what do you need to be a teacher? “I would recommend you have three things: a passion for teaching, the ability to plan – it is essential! – and a sense of humour,” she told us. “If you have these things you’ll get far in teaching.” MORE INFO General Teaching Council for Scotland 0131 314 6000 www.gtcs.org.uk Learning and Teaching Scotland 08700 100 297 www.ltscotland.org.uk Teaching in Scotland 0131 244 7930 www.teachinginscotland.com |
| Last Updated on Thursday, 17 December 2009 12:58 |
