Q I work as a marketing executive with an information technology firm in Bombay but would like to apply for a trainee teacher post in England. Teaching has been my hobby for the past 10 years. I give tutorials at home. Teaching is becoming a global profession and a first-class training programme will open doors to jobs all over the world. Any advice?
A Teacher training in Britain is now highly regulated and produces well-qualified teachers. However, with knowledge of business and IT, wouldn’t your skills be of more use in India? Last year, both IT and business studies courses witnessed big rises in the number of graduates wanting to train as teachers.
Q I am 41. I left school with no qualifications but later did an access course to get into university. I now have a BA in sociology and an MA in research methodology, plus a Post Graduate Diploma in Further Education. I want to teach in a primary school but can’t find a place on a PGCE, The schools I’ve contacted aren’t interested in the Graduate Training Programme. Am I banging my head against a brick wall? Am I too old? I do have three children of my own under the age of 10.
A Lack of success at school needn’t be the end of the road, as you have proved. Although you want to become a primary teacher, your own experiences might be useful with older students. With the number of primary schoolchildren due to fall in the next decade or so, and more applicants than training places available, you are not alone in finding it a struggle to become a primary teacher. You’re not too old at 41, but if you really want to teach, you might find older children just as rewarding.
Q I am an NQT and recently qualified in Scotland. This term, I have been doing supply work near Glasgow. I have now accepted a post in England. Do I qualify for any of the government bonuses (golden hellos)?
A You may be mixing up various initiatives. Golden hellos are paid in two parts to those who train in England in certain shortage subjects, the first part during training and the second on starting work. Sadly, as you didn’t train in England, you wouldn’t be eligible. There are also payments to those who return to teaching after a break so, regrettably, you don’t qualify there either. However, schools may make recruitment and retention payments under certain circumstances. You should check with the school employing you whether they are prepared to pay you such an allowance.
Send in your questions to our Qamp;A experts. E-mail susan.young@newsint.co.uk
