Job Discussion Forums

connieko · Joined: 21 Jan 2013 Posts: 5

Hey there! i was wondering, can EFL teachers work in state schools in England? (for example, to teach English as an Additional Language to non-native students?) If so, do you need to have a PGCE for that?

artemisia · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world

I think schools can officially apply for a limited number of teachers without a school teaching qualification if there's a real need that they can't otherwise cover. This will almost certainly not be the case for ESL/EAL in schools in the UK. A lot of state school teachers have English language quals, especially those who teach English as a core subject. Jobs don't seem to be that frequent for EAL alone. It's not impossible, but it's not easy to find this kind of work as a fully qualified state teacher - not in secondary anyway. Primary schools might have more options for those with experience of (very) young learners.

The PGCE is one example of a recognised state school teaching qualification. If you have another from a different country, you can generally apply to have it recognised in the UK.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

All presuming the OP has the legal right already to work in the UK, of course.

Kofola · Joined: 20 Feb 2009 Posts: 159 Location: Slovakia

In a regular state school, the only way you could actually teach EAL/ESL would be to have QTS. It would be possible to work as a teaching assistant in this area without QTS, but the pay reflects the fact that TAs are unqualified. I know one outer London borough pays around 9 GBP an hour, so you'd prob get less outside London. It depends on the LEA.

There are of course the new 'free schools'. This aspect doesn't seem to have been publicised much, but they don't come under the same legislation as regular state schools and can actually employ anyone to teach regardless of whether they have any qualifications or not. It's up to the school who they hire and what hiring criteria they set. So that might be one option.

artemisia · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world

A bit off-topic, but:

�Something is rotten is the state of [England].�
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/9433002/Academies-given-power-to-hire-unqualified-teachers.html

connieko · Joined: 21 Jan 2013 Posts: 5

Thank you guys for the information! Then I guess, a PGCE is the only choice, as there are no BA in TESOL with QTS.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

PGCE or QTS required in England and Scotland.

Kofola · Joined: 20 Feb 2009 Posts: 159 Location: Slovakia

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Thanks for clarifying that. My concern was to highlight the difference bwteen the two jurisdictions. Scotland and England have separate sytems.

sixthchild · Joined: 18 Apr 2012 Posts: 298 Location: East of Eden

I was struck by the article relating to the recruitment of unqualified teachers at many schools in the U.K. I agree that a level of professionalism is necessary but the reality is that a PGCE is not necessary to teach, especially if you were given a chance to learn the basic tools of the trade while working overseas and you have a little/ some /considerable experience. So it seems a logical step forward to transfer those skills elsewhere if the opportunity arises. The big question in my mind is, is it worth it, does the job pay enough for me to want to jump ship?