Graduate Prospects - February 6, 2008 - (Page 12)

12 PROSPECTS GRADUATE Issue 60 · 6 February 2008 · Fortnightly www.prospects.ac.uk POSTGRAD BLOGGER ‘I had been working on it in a leisurely way, prodding it with a fork, so to speak.’ GRAHAM FOSTER UP AGAINST DEADLINES For example, says Lorraine, ‘Schemes such as TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) are becoming particularly sought after as the job market has become fiercer. These schemes show us that prospective students are really dedicated and prepared to go the extra mile to gain experience.’ At interview, adds Danielle, ‘experience gives you something positive to talk about, instead of just what you think teaching is going to be like.’ Of course, work experience is not the sole factor that will come under consideration. You will also need to have paid some attention to your studies. Some primary courses will only accept candidates with a 2:1. The situation becomes more complicated when considering secondary education - the very degree that you have taken can affect your future plans. TOP CLASS Lorraine explains that students EXTRA SCHOOL WORK WE ALL HAVE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE, BUT WOULD-BE TEACHERS NEED MORE. LET’S IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT THAT YOU ENJOYED YOUR SCHOOL YEARS SO MUCH THAT YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT GOING BACK TO MAKE A CAREER OF TEACHING. IT MAY SOUND LIKE A NIGHTMARE FOR SOME BUT MANY STUDENTS WANT TO GO INTO TEACHING, SO GETTING ON TO COURSES CAN BE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE. EXPERIENCE IS ESSENTIAL.. Lucy Cartland, 22, knew early on that she wanted to teach and, after her A-levels, completed a degree in Primary Education, leading to qualified teacher status, at Leeds Metropolitan University. Before applying for the course she completed a one-week work placement in a local junior and infant school, and also helped out with after school activities. Having wanted to teach since she was young, Lucy had also assisted in a reception class as a year eleven work experience placement. Spending short periods helping and observing in schools like Lucy is the bare minimum for applications to teaching courses. ‘Universities want experience with children,’ says Lucy. ‘You need to display that you can be confident and caring, and balance friendliness with authority.’ A YEAR OUT The decision to teach may come opportunity to gain experience - as well as proving to yourself that you want to spend your working life in schools. Danielle Hall, 24, completed a BA Drama in the Community degree at Bishop Grosseteste University College before applying for a postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE) course at Birmingham City University. Between the two she spent a year as a learning assistant at a school in Lincoln. ‘I would recommend this to anyone as you get the chance to see so many different teaching styles and behaviour techniques,’ Danielle says. In the final year of her degree, she also completed a work placement in a women’s prison where she taught British history through drama and she believes that this placement sparked her desire to teach. seeking to teach in secondary schools often need to take a degree which covers up to 50% of national curriculum content of the subject they wish to teach. Students offering languages, science and maths are the most sought after. More information and links to other relevant sites can be found at the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (www.gttr.ac.uk). In England the TDA has schemes for tasting teaching (www.tda.gov.uk). later in your studies. Taking a year out after completing your degree provides an ideal In the light of recent government initiatives to recruit teachers, it is clear that quality is more important than quantity. And rightly so, given the vital position held by teachers. Applicants need to show, before they start a INTERVIEWED Having sent in your teaching course, that they have the passion, application, the next step is the interview. This determination and ability to go the distance. is the make or break part of the application process, explains Lorraine Thomas, training Students and graduates wishing to take one of the many routes into a teaching career must manager at Holyhead Training School in be prepared to put in the hours, both inside Handsworth. It is the stage where your and outside of university. Some would say previous experience can make you stand out from the crowd. Those who have pursued more that this is only fair, given that they’ll be the monsters handing out homework to the next exotic and unusual work placements may generation. MATT ATKINS stand a better chance. INFORMATION AND ADVICE www.prospects.ac.uk/findcourses www.prospects.ac.uk/links/fundstudy LATEST POSTGRAD COURSE OPPORTUNITIES www.prospects.ac.uk/links/latestcourses SEARCH THE POSTGRAD DATABASE POSTGRAD FUNDING FACTS SEND YOUR VIEWS, SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS editorial@prospects.ac.uk http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Graduate_jobs/p!edcaefX http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Feature_Articles/Feature_articles_2008/PhD_blog__6/p!eLdafcb http://www.gttr.ac.uk http://www.tda.gov.uk http://www.prospects.ac.uk/findcourses http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/fundstudy http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/latestcourses

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Editorial: The Power of Dreams Jaguar Land Rover Editorial: Return to the UK KPMG B&W Group Ltd Royal Mail Makro RWS Translations Ltd Two Rivers Housing Black & Decker South Lanarkshire Council Entrypark Graduate Prospects Eng Design Ltd Environment Agency NTC Economics Ltd Editorial: Extra School Work Training and Development Agency Liverpool Hope University University of Manchester University of Southampton

Graduate Prospects - February 6, 2008

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