I am struggling to get onto a PGCE because of a poor classification of my degree. If I was to get a teaching assistant role what are the chances of progessing in the near future so I would go onto full time pay scale for a teacher?
Anonymous
30/3/2011
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Hi
Getting a job as a TA and then the school sponsoring you to do a GTP route is a way of getting QTS if you are finding getting on to a PGCE difficult. The only problem however is that the current government has indicated that they will not fund teacher training to anyone who has less than a 2:2 degree so if the reaosn you are being rejected from PGCE programmes is due to a poor degree classification then you may find soon that no mayter what TA post you have the school cannot take you through the GTP route. You pnly option then would be to gain a higher degree so that your current degree is, in effect, trumped.
Sorry to be the bearer of potentrially bad news.
James
Your question implies that you are not actually qualified as a teacher; as such, you cannot be an NQT until you have completed an appropriate PGCE or the GTP... Suspect that there aren't too many places left now on teacher training courses for this September to qualify for Summer 2012, as most of these are interviewed for by the previous Christmas/January. Any teacher training course looks favourably on someone who has come from TAing as they have, hopefully, a good understanding of the teaching profession; all courses expect some prior experience in schools, even if just a week of observing/helping out. However, if getting on the teachers pay scale is what you really aspire to, maybe teaching is not really for you... most teachers are in it to make a difference to children...
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