Job Discussion Forums

London10 · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 35

What jobs are available in public sector, where are they advertised and what is the pay like compared to EFL schools? (please and thank you).

D.O.S. · Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 12:04 pm Post subject:

I have over two decades experience in the City.

What are your qualifications?

London10 · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 35

qualifications are BA and trinity TESOL certificate

Golightly · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 6:05 pm Post subject:

try your local FE college. minimum requirements are generally BA, CELTA or equivalent, preferably a Diploma too. You are also supposed to have The Certificate in Education for Further Education, but sessionals often don't have this. Look in the Guardian Education section on Tuesdays. Pay's far better than private EFL schools: typically, �18-�29 per hour, depending on location, level taught and experience. Full-time contracts are in the general payscale of �19,000 - �27,000.

London10 · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 35

I don't mean to sound horribly ignorent but what is an FE or further education college. Is it a University or anywhere that offers a degree?

Golightly · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 2:18 pm Post subject:

a further education college basically provides vocational education, e.g. hairdressing, plumbing, or the equivalent of a-levels and above, e.g. diplomas, HNDs. a sixth form academy is an example of a type of fe institution.

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

I suspect that you aren't British or have led a very sheltered life:-)

Further Education in this context is at the post-compulsory level i.e. after 16 years of age. FE colleges offer a wide range of subjects, both academic and vocational and qualifications including A levels, City & Guilds, NVQs etc.
They also offer adult evening classes and Basic Skills training which is where ESOL/EFL comes in.

London10 · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 35

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

[quote="London10"]

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I thought you Brits called 'private schools' public schools.

London10 · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 35

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

Dear London10,

To work in the public sector you need some knowledge of the system, a thick skin and a sense of humour. So far you have shown none of those; I may have been teasing you a little, but you were rather leading with your chin.

Just because you had a private education does not absolve you from having knowledge beyond that environment, or even doing your own research once you've been given a few leads here.

London10 · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 35

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

Public sector jobs are best advertised in the Guardian or in the TES, read some of the threads in this forum and you will pick up these and other hyperlinks on EFL here.
FE for your self would probably be your best bet as you have a TESOL certificate. Because the work in FE will be ESOL oriented, and not EFL, you will also be encouraged to gain a level 4 qualification, as you do not have QTS, in your first year of employment and also gain the subject specification certification in ESOL as part of your CPD so it will be no holiday like EFL is.
I have worked in HE for several of the London Unis, and EFL in the Uni sector is well paid, sometimes into �35 plus per hour but you will need demonstrable experience, without this you can only expect to compete with the backpackers on Oxford Street, read some of the threads in this forum and you will see the prices that some of these EFL "schools" here offer, sometimes as much as �6 an hour

The TES will give you independent prep and secondary school job opportunities for live-in, on site, residential/boarding school type positions... not that well paid, but better than state school secondaries where you will definitely need QTS, but the occasional one comes along that does not require you to do housemaster responsibilities as part and parcel of the job. As a privately educated individual I am sure it would be of immense pleasure/benefit to these types of establishments to employ one of their own (although there is still the need to have QTS and because of the student age you will need a CRB perhaps even an advanced one) who is already familiar with the system, as they are generally single sex and seeking same, with a strong influence on the sporty side of the teacher who is to contribute to the supportive 'team' environment. In other words, going to all...ALL.. the school home sports events and supporting from the sideline, and coaching after school sports classes or your favourite sport, or hobby,...soon to be least favourite sport, or hobby... for your tutor group, be forewarned... long hours and weekends included.
Why not contact your old school and see what they say? They may be able to put you in contact with a school , y'know use the old school tie bit.
There are several leading EFL schools that have year round residential schools. They will normally require you to have a TEFL Cert. Again the situation is similar to Prep schools. Other than this religious schools, although state-funded or under "charitable" swindle status may be interested in your skills agin it all boils down to experience and qualifications. Send the Letter of Application and your references "en blanc" along with your CV to a few of these schools that interest you and you will soon understand their needs by the responses you receive.
Once you get an interview you can convince them of your abilities, other than teaching, that could impact upon their decision to offer you a position.