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semphoon
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: Where Nowon is
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 Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:09 am Post subject: BRITS - Becoming a qualified teacher in the UK |
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Hello,
I am looking to move back to the UK and become a "real" teacher. I have been told by a Canadian friend that he can use his year teaching at a public school here in Korea to gain a qualification to teach in Canada.
I would like to know how I can become a qualified secondary teacher in the UK. Is it possible to use my experience in South Korea to gain the qualification? What would I have to do? Anyone done this before? Any idea about who to contact?
Many thanks for your time and effort. |
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ABC KID
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:32 am Post subject: |
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You cannot use your Korean teaching experience to immediately become a qualified teacher in England. However, it would probably help you get a place on a teaching course. Note that teaching in the UK and teaching English in Korea are very different. Both are very enjoyable most of the time though.
Usually the fastest you can qualify is through a one year course. The main options are the PGCE and the GTP courses...
The PGCE will give you more time at university, gaining a solid educational theortical grounding.
The GTP will give you more time in school and is salaried. However, entry via this route is very competitive.
There is detailed information at the following website:
http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit.aspx
Prospects for promotion are good in secondary schools if you prove yourself. There are also pay bonuses known as 'golden handshakes' if you qualify as a teacher in shortage subjects. Some prospective teachers are daunted by the prospect of behavioural issues though, especially in secondary schools, and with good reason.
One word of warning though. It is unlikely that any prospective course provider will take you seriously at interview despite your Korean experience, unless you actually spend at least two weeks but preferably more in English schools to gain some experience beforehand. This will probably have to be done on a voluntary basis.
I'm teaching in Korea these days because my wife is Korean. However, I am a qualified teacher in the UK too so I should be in a position to answer most of your questions...
I hope the above all helps and please feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.
ABC KID |
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ghost
Joined: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Many congenial places
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:10 am Post subject: re |
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PGCE is the way to go. And knowing who you are and your qualities, it should be easy for you to get in.
The fact that you have taught in Korea for over a year and speak the language to a reasonable level will also be viewed favourably.
I did the B.Ed. in Canada, which was a 1 year (actually only 8 months) teacher training course at the University of Windsor in Canada, and that gave me Ontario teaching credentials. Of course you need a B.A. in any subject to get admitted, and as you have the B.A./M.A. from Herriott Watt, that will also be an advantage.
You may not enjoy teaching in the UK (few do), but with the PGCE you will then be able to teach in International schools worldwide, and those are the sweet jobs, with good benefits.
Ghost in Korea (www.gifle.go.kr) |
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ABC KID
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: re |
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| ghost wrote: |
| PGCE is the way to go. |
I would be inclined to agree unless you have a family to support during your training period. |
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mick
Joined: 04 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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Hi ABC KID,
I'm from the UK, currently teaching here in Korea and when I'm done am considering doing the PGCE for primary teaching in Australia. Do you know if an Australian teaching certificate is recognised in the UK.
Cheers |
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ABC KID
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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| mick wrote: |
Hi ABC KID,
I'm from the UK, currently teaching here in Korea and when I'm done am considering doing the PGCE for primary teaching in Australia. Do you know if an Australian teaching certificate is recognised in the UK.
Cheers |
I'm 99% certain it is, although you might have to go through some bureaucracy to get it officially recognized before you start working in UK. Further study would not be required. You would also need to register with the GTC (General Teaching Council) before you could work in England - That cost about thirty-five pounds in 2006. Scotland's system is slightly different.
However, please note that you would be entering a very competitive market if you tried to get a job in primary teaching in England. There are more opportunities in secondary schools. |
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semphoon
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: Where Nowon is
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the advice guys. ABC, how do you find teaching in Korea as compared to teaching in the UK? Pay, students, stress, hours, lifestyle etc?
Many thanks for your time. |
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Dome Vans
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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However, please note that you would be entering a very competitive market if you tried to get a job in primary teaching in England. There are more opportunities in secondary schools. |
Secondary is a big nono in England at the mo, judging again by the government throwing 9000 quid at teachers to train. Again non binding, so teachers can walk away with the money after completing the teaching. Another badly thought out policy. Bad to core is the British education system and it's going to get a lot worse.
I have a few friends in England who are primary teachers.
To get your foot in the door with primary education is to try and cover someones maternity leave. I stinks to think that there's so few primary teaching jobs that this is one of the only ways to get a good gig. Wouldn't touch secondary teaching with a barge pole.
With regards to gaining a foreign PGCE qualification. I'm off to Sweden in a couple of years to do their PGCE, it's a one and a half year course unlike the British equivalent. I think that as long as it is with a creditable university then it should be more or less a globally recognised qualification. |
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mick
Joined: 04 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the advice ABC KID.
Dome Vans,
Are the prospects for finding a job as a primary school teacher really that bad in the UK? |
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ABC KID
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:21 pm Post subject: Primary School Prospects |
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| mick wrote: |
Thanks for the advice ABC KID.
Dome Vans,
Are the prospects for finding a job as a primary school teacher really that bad in the UK? |
The prospects can be pretty bleak. There are often well over 100 applications for a job, especially at well-regarded schools. However, you can improve your chances with a good application. Then you need to shine at interview. You need to prepare well. You will probably be asked to demonstrate some teaching. Also if you don't get the job, you can get feedback and learn for next time. You have to be persistant.
Dome Vans mentioned covering maternity leave for getting your foot in the door. That is a good idea and a popular method. You can also build a good reputation for yourself by doing well at schools you do supply work at, although many people hate supply work...
It is possible to get a job though, especially if you are prepared to go anywhere in the UK. Some people are more fussy than they can afford to be.
If you are male you may gain a small advantage as there is a shortage of male teachers. If you are male and very sporty and/or musical that will proably help you. Playing the piano can be a major advantage...
Finally Semphoon... I will answer your questions next time I log in, later today. I've got to dash, sorry! |
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Dome Vans
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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| mick wrote: |
Thanks for the advice ABC KID.
Dome Vans,
Are the prospects for finding a job as a primary school teacher really that bad in the UK? |
Maybe I'm a bit of doom sayer when it comes to anything that happens in England. But I went home for christmas and met up with a friend of mine who'd worked at a primary in Birmingham for a couple of years, she's a really really good teacher. She decided to move back up north, Manchester way, and she got an excellent reference from her school. But had loads of trouble trying to find a good job in an area that she wanted to be. Her advice was to find openings with teachers who were going on maternity leave, get your foot in the door so to speak.
The problem I think comes from people who want to be teachers, but not have to put up with the "crepe" from disaffected youth in a secondary school. So the logical step is to work in primary. Hence it being a lot harder to get a primary job. Secondary jobs no problemo. Maths, science are really not that hard to get. My older brother did his placement at a school in Burnage (where oasis come from) he got great grades, but he said he'd be surprised if half the school turned up, kids stoned and drunk, even kids lying under the wheels of the bus at hometime to stop the buses from leaving. Nice. He never taught after he finished his PGCE.
You only need to look at the governments wobbly policies. Last year they said that languages were optional, even though Britain came second from bottom in an EU table of the % of citizens who could speak a second language. Now they've said they are compulsory. So in the space of two years they'd changed their mind on something as important as this. There's no real consistency in their education policies, disparities in league tables, the better schools getting a lot better the worse inner city schools are just getting worse. It's beyond repair in my opinion. It's dislocation of a large part of society.
There's a lot better places to teach. Korea is a lot of fun to teach, but not really long term. So I'm gonna save up so I can support myself for the year and half PGCE in Sweden. Which will then be a recognised qualification.
Apologies for the negativity of the post, but that's kind of how I see it. |
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patongpanda
Joined: 06 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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I believe that your first post teaching primary is most likely to be in the most troubled inner-city areas.
Most likely teaching immigrants/refugees/etc who have a lot of issues and English is not their first language.
Still not as awful as being at a secondary school but not a bed of roses either. |
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ABC KID
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:38 pm Post subject: Primary schools and secondary schools |
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| patongpanda wrote: |
I believe that your first post teaching primary is most likely to be in the most troubled inner-city areas.
Most likely teaching immigrants/refugees/etc who have a lot of issues and English is not their first language.
Still not as awful as being at a secondary school but not a bed of roses either. |
In addition to those issues you raised, you could also add an ever increasing number of kids with ADHD. Yes, inner-city schools are tough but some teachers like the challenge. All schools, regardless of location, bring highs and lows although it is perfectly understandable that some people would prefer a nice rural school. To be totally honest, I probably would myself if I ever went back.
People are not forced to start off in inner-city schools. Every year, some lucky new teachers find themselves a job at some of the nicer schools around. As I hinted at in an earlier post, building relationships is important (maternity cover, supply work etc). When schools are looking for a new teacher, they often like known quantities and may choose someone they know over someone that looks a bit better on paper. In a few cases, schools know or are almost certain who they are going to choice before the interview day, but they cannot just appoint internally immediately - They are obliged to advertize.
Regarding secondary schools, yes they are tough and I couldn't imagine myself every working at one either (I'm primary qualified). Again, they are not all bad though. I visited one in a bad area for a day and I was surprised at how civil everything was, although admittedly I only spent the time with Year 7.
One possibility regarding secondary school jobs, is to try and get a job at an independent school. Pay is a bit higher, vacations are a little bit longer and behavior is usually better. I would imagine they are competitive jobs though.
Also with English secondary schools, as I wrote previously, promotion prospects are good. If you are doing well you could easily be an assistant head or even head of your department in the first few years. Compare that to primary schools, where you could end up as your school's R.E. co-ordinator (with no extra salary) or something during your first two or three years.
Personally, I wouldn't work at a secondary school but I hope the above points give a bit of balance to the big picture. Not all secondary school teachers are unhappy. Not all primary school teachers are happy... |
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ABC KID
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject: Korea and UK Teaching Comparison |
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| semphoon wrote: |
Thanks for all the advice guys. ABC, how do you find teaching in Korea as compared to teaching in the UK? Pay, students, stress, hours, lifestyle etc?
Many thanks for your time. |
To be totally honest, I find teaching in Korea far more comfortable (I'm teaching in a public school). For starters, preparation is simpler. Although I may take as long to prepare a good lesson sometimes, it still comes easier. I don't have to do any late night brushing up on my knowledge of Hindu gods, history of local towns, bacteria or other such things.
Regarding the actual teaching of classes, I find it slightly easier in Korea although not overwhelmingly so. The teaching skills needed for successful lessons are largely interchangeable between Korea and England. There are motivated students and problematic students and other challenges to deal with in both countries.
In terms of hours, it's a non-starter. Korea is far, far better. In Korea, my day is nearing an end when the students go home. In England, the day sometimes felt like it was only just beginning when the students went home. There was always so much more to do. New teachers can end up working/needing to work into the next morning if they are dedicated.
Thinking of pay, I could be better off in England (Gross Pay) but tax is a killer in England isn't it? I'd say I'm better off financially in Korea but it depends how much experience you've got. After several years teaching in England, your salary reaches quite respectable levels so that is something to think about (Short term pain vs Long term gain)
Finally, if I consider lifestyle and stress, I know what my wife would say. She thinks I'm a different person (healthier and happier) since we came back to Korea a while back. I've certainly got much more free time to spend with her, which is obviously great for us.
Teaching can be great in both England and Korea. I give the big thumbs up to Korea personally but every person will have a different perspective. A good school or a bad school in either country can make all the difference...
I hope this all helps you Semphoon,
ABC KID |
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WoBW
Joined: 07 Dec 2007
Location: HBC
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:08 am Post subject: |
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Wow! Great job providing that information ABC KID! This is what this forum should be about.
I've thought on and off about going through the PGCE in England for the past couple of years. I'm a physics graduate and actually worked as a scientist/project manager for a few years, so I was obviously thinking about teaching secondary school science. I know the government and schools are desparate for properly qualified science teachers and there's that golden handshake you mentioned.
My plan was to qualify in the UK, do a couple of years there for experience and then try to get a job at an international school in Thailand. Plenty there that follow the British curriculum and do IGCSEs.
Trouble is, I just don't know if I could face 2-3 years teaching in an English secondary school.
Don't you have to do a whole year teaching AFTER you complete the PGCE to be fully qualified? |
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