Secondary switch

15th October 2004, 1:00am

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Secondary switch

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/secondary-switch
Your job and career questions answered

I completed a PGCE (primary) in the summer. In the current jobs climate in primary schools, I have been unable to secure a teaching post. I am working for one term as a design and technology technician in a secondary school.

How can I retrain as a secondary teacher? As I have qualified teacher status, I am not eligible for another initial teacher training programme.

Could I teach this subject in secondary schools as an unqualified teacher to gain experience and build knowledge before starting my induction year?

Your question is likely to crop more and more while there is an over-supply of primary teachers. You are in a Catch-22. If you work as a teacher, your induction year starts. As you have QTS, you cannot be “unqualified”. Taking a job in a secondary school could place your career “at risk”. With an increased emphasis on staff development in schools, there needs to be a way forward that helps you and any school seeking a DT teacher. Do you have the appropriate knowledge to teach this subject? If so, what you need is help with the subject pedagogy and an understanding of how teaching in secondary schools differs from that in the primary sector.

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