Apple for the teacher

Think about the time you spent at school. I bet if you had a really good teacher you can remember them. Maybe they made lessons strangely enjoyable, encouraged you or maybe they were the only person that could drag you into line!

There is no doubt that teachers make a real impression and that's just one reason why you might be inspired to be a teacher. There's also the fact that you get responsibility early in your career, internationally recognised training, a good starting salary with good prospects (bet you didn't know that a head teacher at a secondary school can earn about £70,000!) and that no day is like any other - because your pupils are always on hand to destroy that perfectly created lesson plan. And whatever anyone else says you get plenty of holiday!

Starting out
When you start as a teacher you won't just get thrown in at the deep end! You will have an "induction" year complete with a tutor to help you and time off to complete the activities scheduled under the programme for your induction year.

Day to day
Whether you are working in primary or secondary education there will be time spent in preparation outside the hours that pupils come to school. You will be marking in class work and homework ready for the next day and preparing lesson plans over days, weeks and terms. During the day you'll be taking lessons and study periods, attending meetings about the life of your school and attending training provided by the government and others such as Museums. You might also be encouraged to use your love of underwater basket weaving to start an after school club!

Moving on
But what if I work in teaching for a few years and decide it's not for me? What else can I do? It's a common worry but it's groundless, in fact there are loads of careers that are also educational in which you don't have to be a teacher. You could be an education officer for a museum or a television channel; you could write educational text books or software, join a government consultation body, local authority or become an education journalist. The possibilities are pretty wide.

I'm convinced - where do I sign?
To be a teacher you have to have a degree. You can either get this first and take a postgraduate certificate of education (a PGCE) afterwards, or you can get your degree and your teaching qualification at the same time. You can take postgraduate qualifications at a college, by distance learning or flexible study or even get a paid teaching job with training. Check out this link for further details - http://www.canteach.gov.uk/teaching/routes/postgrad.htm.

There are undergraduate teaching degrees all over the country at most universities so just choose the subject you are interested in and apply. Check out this url for more information - http://www.canteach.gov.uk/teaching/routes/undergrad.htm

If you don't have the qualifications to get a degree you still may be able to become a teacher through Access courses. Check out this site for further information - http://www.canteach.gov.uk/teaching/routes/access_info/index.htm.

All about the money
For postgraduate study, if you are eligible (which you can find out from the Teaching Information Line - 0845 6000 991), you can get a bursary of £6,000, or a golden hello of £4000 if you are teaching mathematics, science, English, modern languages, design and technology or ICT in England. The course is paid for by the local authority.

As an undergraduate you will be eligible for the usual local authority grants.

Any last words?
Boy! Did I see you running towards that career?

by Katie Streten