Teaching Qualification in UK

**Portia**

Hi All,

I am looking to get into Secondary school teaching. I have an Hons. degree in French and Irish from TCD. Does anyone know what my options are. What is the competitiveness like to get onto a H.Dip course in Ireland? Would England be a better bet?

Thanks in advance for any help or info.

Alessandra

You have brilliant subjects for secondary teaching in Ireland. I know principals even in this climate find it hard to get Irish and French teachers so the combination is brilliant. Are you not considering doing the HDip in Ireland? You need to look up the individual universities in the UK for their prospectus.
Your uni should have a careers office and they can also tell you how you go about applying.

**Portia**

Alessandra wrote: »

You have brilliant subjects for secondary teaching in Ireland. I know principals even in this climate find it hard to get Irish and French teachers so the combination is brilliant. Are you not considering doing the HDip in Ireland? You need to look up the individual universities in the UK for their prospectus.
Your uni should have a careers office and they can also tell you how you go about applying.

Thank you so much for your quick response. Maybe if I give you more details about my situation you might be able to advise me which route would be best to take;

• I graduated with a 2:2 degree in 2007 but have been working in Finance ever since. I have always wanted to teach but only now feel I have the confidence. Although my degree is a couple of years old I would still consider myself as having maintained a high standard as I have been giving grinds since leaving col andhave also got a TEFL qualification
• I have a mortgage so ideally would like to do a part time course. But am open to all options as I may be able to get financial assistance from my parents. The reason that the UK option seemed appealing is that my boyf's friend did it there and got GBP6.5k. Although the downside to doing it in UK would be the fact that they couldn't (I'm presuming) facilitate the Irish.
• Another thing I am slightly worried anbout is providing a reference from a current employer. Would be hesitant to do this before I was offered a place on a course as I would be jeopardising my current position should I not be accepted (chances of promiotion etc.) I was quite quiet in collecge and not a big participator in lectures etc. and so never got to know my lecturers really. A worry is that I may have to ask them for a ref and they'll barely remember me!!

Thanks for taking the time to read this waffle!!!
If you could provide any further info or even point me in the right direction (links etc.) I would be most grateful.

**Portia**

Anyone??:(

kboc

Thank you so much for your quick response. Maybe if I give you more details about my situation you might be able to advise me which route would be best to take;

[*]I graduated with a 2:2 degree in 2007 but have been working in Finance ever since. I have always wanted to teach but only now feel I have the confidence. Although my degree is a couple of years old I would still consider myself as having maintained a high standard as I have been giving grinds since leaving col andhave also got a TEFL qualification

Not a problem in England and Wales. These paper qual's are good enough. They will love you experiences in the working world. Really stress these in any application (www.gttr.ac.uk). in my PGCE there was a software engineer in his 50's.

[*]I have a mortgage so ideally would like to do a part time course. But am open to all options as I may be able to get financial assistance from my parents. The reason that the UK option seemed appealing is that my boyf's friend did it there and got GBP6.5k. Although the downside to doing it in UK would be the fact that they couldn't (I'm presuming) facilitate the Irish.

Not a problem, you'll get the money avail, approx 6-7k

[*]Another thing I am slightly worried anbout is providing a reference from a current employer. Would be hesitant to do this before I was offered a place on a course as I would be jeopardising my current position should I not be accepted (chances of promiotion etc.) I was quite quiet in collecge and not a big participator in lectures etc. and so never got to know my lecturers really. A worry is that I may have to ask them for a ref and they'll barely remember me!!

You'll probably need 2 references, 1 academic and 1 professional. The academic is fairly standard whether they remember you or not. Put down somebody in your work you can trust.

Thanks for taking the time to read this waffle!!!
If you could provide any further info or even point me in the right direction (links etc.) I would be most grateful.