Eligible Teaching Subjects

Goosewad

Hi,

will be starting the PGDE in Trinity in September and I have some questions/concerns about the Teaching Council.

I studied Maths and Philosophy for my undergraduate so maths will be one of my methodologies and it seems CSPE is the best choice as my second. Due to various administrative/bureacratic problems it was not an option for me to study maths for the 4 years of my degree, so I studied it only for 3 years and each year I studied as much maths as I did philosophy.

Is 3 years of maths sufficient? I am concerned because the results of my degree was broken down as Maths 20% Philosophy 80% (aggregate of my final 2 years). Whilst maths didn't contribute much to my overall result I still did plenty of maths (half maths, half phil always). What will the TC make of the 20%? Also, I'm wondering if the maths courses I chose over the three years will be deemed good enough for me to be a teacher. I'm particularly interested to know if any Trinity TSM Maths students have been successful in registering with the TC.

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm worried that I'm heading into a course that will lead me nowhere...

peanuthead

AFAIK you are only recognised by the teaching council for subjects that you carried to DEGREE level. So if you have Maths on your transcript as being done in your final year exams then yes. If not, no.

Goosewad

I most definitely have a maths degree. That is not the issue at all, it's whether they'll recognise this degree.

Miss Lockhart

They say it must make up at least 30% of your degree and be studied across at least 3 years.

For many subjects they also give a list of topics that must have been covered. However, for maths they are very vague and merely say:

"Details of the degree course content to show that the breadth and depth of the syllabi undertaken are such as to ensure competence to teach Mathematics to the highest level in post-primary education"

Goosewad

Ya, it seems I should be ok given the 30% thing... was just wondering if they'd make an issue out it only counting for 20% of the overall degree result.

The most frustrating part about this is that the maths dept. have pretty much abolished the maths-philosophy combination as it once was. Now you can do more maths and it counts for more. And this all happens the year after I leave...

peanuthead

I know it sounds like a bit of a smart answer, but you should really call them for the most accurate info

Goosewad

Ha, no it doesn't at all.

I have emailed them many times. And they send me in cirlces. I was given the impression to get any concrete answers I would have to formally submit details to them... and at a cost. I'll definitely ring them soon, I've been putting it off.

Miss Lockhart

Goosewad wrote: »

Ha, no it doesn't at all.

I have emailed them many times. And they send me in cirlces. I was given the impression to get any concrete answers I would have to formally submit details to them... and at a cost. I'll definitely ring them soon, I've been putting it off.

They will not give you a definitive answer unless you submit all the paperwork for assessment. Surely €200 is money well spent instead of €6000+ on the dip if you are not eligible to teach anything?

If the 20% only applies to your final year mark, then I wouldn't be too concerned, so long as it is 30% overall in terms of ECTS credits - as that is how the TC measure things.

Postgrad10

I hope you get sorted out with the teaching council. I'm curious though would TCD not have looked at your transcripts and seen your predicament at the application process?