Is Teaching Right for You?
To make an informed decision about whether teaching is right for you it is helpful to spend a few days shadowing/observing a maths teacher. This will give you a chance to see not only the range of age and abilities that they teach over the course of the day, but also the form tutor duties and other responsibilities and activities in which they participate. This observation should be undertaken in at least one state secondary school (not the one that you attended).
Many universities offer placement opportunities to allow you to get this experience, but if yours doesn’t you can register on the ‘Get into Teaching’ website for help. Alternatively you can source your own placement, either through friends or family who are in teaching, or your via old maths teacher. You can also call schools and ask to speak to the professional mentor / the person in charge of teacher training. Be ready to send an up to date CV.
Make sure to clarify that you are looking to observe rather than asking for ‘work experience’ as that usually implies employment. The latter requires a DBS form, which you cannot get for yourself, and which takes a while to arrive. If you already have a DBS then mention this. If you are able to spare some time, link in with an appropriate school and assist, support, or become a learning mentor; all of these will assist you in deciding if teaching is right for you.
When you are in school, rather than looking at the the content of the lessons, focus on:
- The management of learning and behaviour
- Questioning, rewards and sanctions
- The phases of the lesson, and the monitoring and assessment activities
- How different ages and abilities need different learning strategies
Contrast what you see with your own school experiences and make notes of what you observed and have learned.
Teaching Courses
Teacher training is either university-based, or via a School Direct (SD) scheme. The latter is where a school or consortium of schools, offers training directly, often with the hope you will be employed there. Two thirds of any PGCE course will be based in school (two schools are needed); and for most SD schemes you will still need to spend time linked to an Higher Education Institution, especially if you are also to get 60 Master’s credits, leading to a PGCE, as well as Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Be mindful that courses that offer QTS alone do not normally qualify you to teach outside England.
If you have been employed for 3 years in a field with transferable skills then you might be eligible for a School Direct Salaried course. This allows you to be employed by as well as trained in a school. There is also the Teach First route which is also employment based. As these two routes are employment based, they do not allow you to be considered for a Mathematics Teacher Training Scholarship (see below).
You should make time to ensure you are making an informed decision about where you apply, especially in the first round; contact some providers, visit their Open events if you can, and meet the tutors who are likely to be interviewing you; at least check their websites and ensure you meet their requirements before applying. Don’t choose providers on reputation alone, or on location alone, as some partner schools can be quite a distance from the University or main school if in a consortium.
The best things about teaching include
- Every day is different
- You will make a difference to pupils’ lives every day
- You are in a very collaborative, supportive, profession
- The opportunities for further study are largely funded
- You have excellent career paths to gain leadership roles and with them good rewards
Don’t underestimate the challenges and difficulties; but those are, for some, also among the best things.
Mathematics Teacher Training Scholarships
As well as financial support, as a Maths Scholar you’ll get access to superb professional resources, two years’ free membership of professional bodies and invitations to exclusive CPD events. You’ll also join a community of like-minded and passionate mathematics enthusiasts, giving you the chance to be inspired, get support and share new ideas.
Teaching maths in secondary schools is exciting and dynamic. We welcome applications from people who can become passionate, knowledgeable and talented teachers to inspire and enthuse future generations. The full eligibility criteria can be found on the Mathematics Teacher Training Scholarships website.
You will need to nominate one referee in your application to the Maths Scholarships, and who that is depends on your circumstances. If you’re at university, we’d recommend that the referee should be your personal tutor. If you are changing career, how about your Line Manager? If not, then someone who can tell us something about your personal characteristics such as your enthusiasm for a career in teaching, communication skills and ability to inspire others.
If you are unsuccessful gaining a Scholarship this does not mean that you are unsuitable for teaching and you should not be discouraged from applying for Initial Teacher Training. You may still be eligible for the government’s normal bursary, details of which can be gound on the Getting into Teaching website.
Featured Image credit: Pesce Huang on Unsplash
Classroom Image: NeONBRAND on Unsplash
