Becoming a Primary School Teacher

Miss A

Allo guys,

Most of you will get bored after reading the next paragraph but any advice would be hugely appreciated

I've been interested in becoming a Primary School teacher for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, I only got 410 points in my Leaving Cert which was waaay below the minimum for any B.ed Degree here (470).

So, ( To those of you who HAVEN'T moved on to the next thread!!!) I found myself applying as a late applicant for a FETAC course in Special Needs Assisting. When that course year is over, I'll be applying to UCC for a level 8 Degree in Early Childhood Ed. With this, I then hope to apply for the H.Dip In St.Pats for primary teaching :eek: Whew!!

After just reading the many posts in this forum I've become quite disheartened about it all - nobody seems to be getting anywhere by applying for their H.Dip and are all relying on subbing vacancies or forking out for Hibernia...

Anyone got ANY advice on other routes to take into teaching??

The system that's currently in place is bonkers!

Trotter

Miss A wrote: »

Allo guys,

Most of you will get bored after reading the next paragraph but any advice would be hugely appreciated

I've been interested in becoming a Primary School teacher for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, I only got 410 points in my Leaving Cert which was waaay below the minimum for any B.ed Degree here (470).

So, ( To those of you who HAVEN'T moved on to the next thread!!!) I found myself applying as a late applicant for a FETAC course in Special Needs Assisting. When that course year is over, I'll be applying to UCC for a level 8 Degree in Early Childhood Ed. With this, I then hope to apply for the H.Dip In St.Pats for primary teaching :eek: Whew!!

After just reading the many posts in this forum I've become quite disheartened about it all - nobody seems to be getting anywhere by applying for their H.Dip and are all relying on subbing vacancies or forking out for Hibernia...

Anyone got ANY advice on other routes to take into teaching??

The system that's currently in place is bonkers!

Well first of all, Hibernia isnt a last resort. For me, it was the best option. It cost €7000 but I was able to earn three times that at least in subbing during the course, so my net gain (financial) was at least €14k. I wouldnt have earned any money in those 18 months had I done any other course.

There are plenty of people who have "got somewhere" by doing the H-Dip courses. This is where people go for information to find out how to go about getting into teaching. There are very few people who post here that have gone through the post grad route and come out the other side.

Thats because they arent driven to post here looking for information. There are hundreds of H-Dip success stories every year in Ireland.. Including those who have "forked out" for Hibernia. Just because Hibernia charge fees, (so do the other colleges!!, its just that some people can get a grant) doesnt mean you pay your money and collect your HDip. That is so far from reality.

You can do it, as I have managed to do it. Good luck with it and dont let bad information put you off. Hibernia is an excellent option, as are the other post grad courses availble.

Miss A

I wasn't implying that you just "pay your money and collect your HDip"

The thing I find distressing is that people, whilst completing these Hibernia courses with no previous classroom experience, are eligable to get good money for taking over a class of children when their teacher is absent.

Surely, in order to supervise a class alone, one would need some form of appropriate certification. I'm aware that the decision to hire an unqualified student (which in certain cases they are) to supervise a class lies in the hands of individual principals, but I feel this needs to be reviewed. If students of the Hibernia course need to support themselves throughout its completion, allowances should be provided by the government and/or local authorities.

Thanks for your help trotter, I think I'll follow my gut instinct and try the HDip route

Trotter

Miss A wrote: »

I wasn't implying that you just "pay your money and collect your HDip"

The thing I find distressing is that people, whilst completing these Hibernia courses with no previous classroom experience, are eligable to get good money for taking over a class of children when their teacher is absent.

Surely, in order to supervise a class alone, one would need some form of appropriate certification. I'm aware that the decision to hire an unqualified student (which in certain cases they are) to supervise a class lies in the hands of individual principals, but I feel this needs to be reviewed. If students of the Hibernia course need to support themselves throughout its completion, allowances should be provided by the government and/or local authorities.

Thanks for your help trotter, I think I'll follow my gut instinct and try the HDip route

What makes you think that its just Hibernia students that do this? All Hibernia students have a degree. I agree that doesnt mean that a person is trained to care for children, but for years people with zero qualifications have been teaching practically fulltime in Ireland. Most people with or without degrees who sub in schools and have no teaching qualification are doing so because the principal cant find a qualified substitute.

Thats a whole different, and off topic discussion I know, but I think after a couple of years in the education system, you'll see the practicalities of finding and using substitutes in a new light. The reason unqualified people get so much subbing is because many schools would grind to a halt during the fluey winter months without them. Also, the reality is that many people get jobs after qualifying based on proving their reliability in a school as an "unqualified" but degree holding substitute.

Miss A

The last point you made is very valid. It's definitely a bonus if a previously unqualified student (in that area) has managed to hold their own in a classroom situation.

I don't think it's just Hibernia students alone taking substitute teacher vacancies - i was quoting them as an example.

I have no interest in teaching for the money -more a vocation- but a friend of mine mentioned not so long ago that, when applying for a full time teaching job, the more qualifications you have 'under your belt', so to speak, the higher your initial salary will be. I always believed that a standard annual income of around 35K (depending on the current economical conditions) was presented to all teachers in their first year - and escalates per annum thereafter.

Is there any validity in her claim??

Trotter

Miss A wrote: »

Is there any validity in her claim??

Yes there is.

These links will answer this question for you.

Calculating your salary (from INTO.ie)

Basic Scale

Academic Allowances

Miss A

Thank you, they were helpful. I'll probably start at point 4 on the scale which is heartening! The income for substite teachers is impressive also.

ONE more tiny thing!

When they mention the word 'training', is it specifying training in education-or would degrees or diplomas in any subject suffice? For example, could someone with a level 8 degree in Midwifery, a level 7 degree in say, Accounting and a HDip in Ed., actually find themselves stepping in at the lvel 7 point on the scale?

I know those examples are a bit extreme but they were for illustrative purposes...:rolleyes:

Trotter

Miss A wrote: »

Thank you, they were helpful. I'll probably start at point 4 on the scale which is heartening! The income for substite teachers is impressive also.

ONE more tiny thing!

When they mention the word 'training', is it specifying training in education-or would degrees or diplomas in any subject suffice? For example, could someone with a level 8 degree in Midwifery, a level 7 degree in say, Accounting and a HDip in Ed., actually find themselves stepping in at the lvel 7 point on the scale?

I know those examples are a bit extreme but they were for illustrative purposes...:rolleyes:

I think also that the highest point a new entrant to teaching like yourself can start on is level 3.

In terms of the "4 year trained start on point 3 of the incremental scale".. that means that someone with a degree and HDip in primary education can have their original degree (in my case computers) recognised as 4 years of training, and they would then start off (as I have) on point 3.

I have heard of Gardaí for example who have gone into teaching and are looking to have their position on the garda payscale taken into account.. i.e. previous civil service experience honoured when they've changed to teaching. I havent heard of any success stories in that regard yet though.

Miss A

I think also that the highest point a new entrant to teaching like yourself can start on is level 3

I re-checked the links and they don't recognise ordinary FETAC certificates when allocating points on the scale, so you're right.
And I think the Gardai should have their experience honoured in some way, they really have a lot to offer the young children in today's society.

Thanks