Ways into primary teaching

Zephyr91

OK so I'm doing the Leaving Cert in June, have education in Pats down as choice number 1 and have Arts&Humanities in Pats down as choice number two. If I don't get the points for my first choice (tip wood I do) what are my options? I heard that I can do one year of Arts in Pats and then switch into education. Is this true? Something else I heard is that I could complete the Arts course and then do an 18 month course in Education.

Also, would a b.ed allow me to teach in countries such as America or England?

Thanks.

dambarude

Zephyr91 wrote: »

I heard that I can do one year of Arts in Pats and then switch into education. Is this true?

While I'm not privy to the internal dynamics of Pats, I'd doubt it that they'd allow you do this. If the BA course is anything like the one in Mary I, there'll be a fair few in it who had the B.Ed ahead of it on their CAO. It'd be totally undermining the point of points in the LC to allow you transfer in second year. I'm only speculating though, perhaps someone who trained in Pats could clarify.

Zephyr91 wrote: »

Something else I heard is that I could complete the Arts course and then do an 18 month course in Education.

This is true. Numbers have been slashed in these courses this year, however, so the competition is tough.

Zephyr91

Thanks for your reply. I agree with you in that it wouldn't make much sense if you could transfer but I hope it's possibly because I've been treating it as my safety net, haha. An actual teacher told me that about a year ago but maybe I picked him up wrong. Sure we'll have to wait and see.

spurious

I'm curious as to why if primary teaching is what you really want to do, you are limiting yourself to just one college.
Nothing at all wrong with Pat's but would you not stand a better chance of getting primary teaching if you also included the other Teacher Training colleges in your choices before going to the back up Arts/Humanities option?

Zephyr91

spurious wrote: »

I'm curious as to why if primary teaching is what you really want to do, you are limiting yourself to just one college.
Nothing at all wrong with Pat's but would you not stand a better chance of getting primary teaching if you also included the other Teacher Training colleges in your choices before going to the back up Arts/Humanities option?

The reason I only put Pats down was because all of the teaching colleges (well actually I only know of one other - Marino - what are the others?) are roughly all around the same points. I figured if I don't get one I won't get any of them. But I guess that's a pretty stupid thing to think. The next "change of mind" time on the CAO I'll add in other colleges. So there's Marino College...anywhere else even outside of Dublin?

spurious

The others would be Froebel in Dublin and Mary Immaculate in Limerick.
http://www.froebel.ie/
http://www.mic.ul.ie/

Plus there's the C of I college in Dublin.
http://www.cice.ie/

Zephyr91

Thank you. I'll read up on 'em and add them on as soon as I can. Are you a teacher yourself? If so, which college did you go to?

TheColl

You could also look into the option of going to the UK, there are plenty of Irish primary school teachers who studied in Belfast, Bangor, London.... there are no shortage of Education courses in the UK.

With regard to the 18 month course, that's a Post Grad and again there are a few places to do it (including online) but as a previous poster has pointed out, numbers have been slashed in recent years due to over supply of teachers (or under supply of jobs!) at present.

I would definitely put the other colleges down on the CAO form, you never know, the points could change slightly.

Best of luck in any case, it's a fulfilling and rewarding career and if you're sure it's what you want to do then there is always a way to make it happen.

spurious

Zephyr91 wrote: »

Thank you. I'll read up on 'em and add them on as soon as I can. Are you a teacher yourself? If so, which college did you go to?

Yes, I'm a teacher, second level.
I originally went to Mater Dei Institute. It was in another life.

dory

Zephyr91 wrote: »

I figured if I don't get one I won't get any of them. But I guess that's a pretty stupid thing to think.

Yup!! You could end up getting exactly the points needed for one of them, and still miss out on a place due to random selection. You don't know they're going to be identical points so I'd say put down all of them.

The postgrads may not still be around in 3 years time. I've helped quite a few people prepare for them and it's not easy at all to get into. You'd need a very good grade in your degree and extracurricular things, and being fluent in Irish would help too. But I know many people who had all three and still didn't get it.
Probably not what you want to hear - but repeating the Leaving would be easier I think.

Or else do a degree, then go to England, but be prepared for a tough Irish exam when you get back.

Zephyr91

Thanks TheColl. I'll put it down and you're absolutely right. If I don't get my first choice I'm keeping my head high as there are plenty of ways into it.

@ dory - other people have suggested England also. But how would I go about doing that?

TheColl

Zephyr91 wrote: »

Thanks TheColl. I'll put it down and you're absolutely right. If I don't get my first choice I'm keeping my head high as there are plenty of ways into it.

@ dory - other people have suggested England also. But how would I go about doing that?

http://search.ucas.com/cgi-bin/hsrun/search/search/StateId/DhqcEo8TzWyDlBN3b2UQbs77V5Nts-VQHN/HAHTpage/search.HsKeywordSuggestion.whereNext?query=1571&word=EDUCATION+PRIMARY&single=N

Have a look at the courses in that link (the BEd ones are what you're looking for), and have a general look at the UCAS website to find out how to apply.

Zephyr91

TheColl wrote: »

http://search.ucas.com/cgi-bin/hsrun/search/search/StateId/DhqcEo8TzWyDlBN3b2UQbs77V5Nts-VQHN/HAHTpage/search.HsKeywordSuggestion.whereNext?query=1571&word=EDUCATION+PRIMARY&single=N

Have a look at the courses in that link (the BEd ones are what you're looking for), and have a general look at the UCAS website to find out how to apply.

Ah you're amazing - thanks!

TheColl

Zephyr91 wrote: »

Ah you're amazing - thanks!

No probs, keep the thread updated as the year goes on, hope it all works out. Best of luck with the exams!

Zephyr91

I will indeed, thanks.