Iain.Faulkner Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 Morning all, Just a bit of a wondering really. Has anyone on here made the move from Technical Support to Teacher?
SneakyBeaky Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I went the other way. Teacher to technical support (after retirement).
tudorcrisp Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I am hopefully taking the plunge in September. I have a place but waiting for the classification of my degree. Need a 2:1 realistically with all the financial bursaries that it comes with.
Iain.Faulkner Posted June 15, 2012 Author Posted June 15, 2012 I'm potentially looking at doing the same....unfortunatley I've only got a 2:2 so no bursaries for me :-( Found a course I like the look of though, just weighing up whether to take the plunge.....ned to get the application in soon though.
gibbo_ap Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 why on earth would you! after seeing the politics, the masses of reports, parents evenings, and childish behaviour? i'll take my smaller pay slip and enjoy my evenings
jdoyle Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I did college technician to college lecturer a good few years back. Money was poor back then but it was a great experience. Doing a PTLLS course from Sept with a view to doing some part-time college lecturing again.
TechSupp Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I went from tech support in engineering via 3yr BA Hons teaching degree to quailfy as a teacher, thought nah! got a job as a school IT technician, then after a year ended up teaching part time (just ICT in primary), now I teach 3.5 days a week with tech support built in to the job and thats 8 years now after qualifying in the first place.
tudorcrisp Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I think that if you can demonstrate a reasonable amount of 'Industry experience' then you may be able to qualify for some funding.
AMLinington Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I went the other way. I did a PGCE then ended up in IT. Although my path was a little convoluted. I have a Science degree (Geology) so I couldn't register to do a PGCE in IT so I did a PGCE in secondary science, but my REAL passion was to teach IT and in my second placement I found exactly the department I wanted to join. Long story short, they were campagining for an NQT and told me that nothing would happen until the next academic year, so I should go out and get a first line role and get some industry quals under my belt (CompTIA, MCP, that sort of thing) then when they get the funding for an NQT, apply on the strength of the PGCE and industry experience. So I went out, got a first line job, then the network manager at the school in question left and the whole scheme went down the pan so I got 'stuck' in first line support for a while (TBH I hated teaching science so had no inclination to return to it), when I tired of first line support and hated being a phone monkey I left for a better job, still in the technical field and I can't say I've looked back with any wistfulness at all. Teaching is brutal. Experienced teachers make it look easy but the reality is like an iceberg - the bit you see is a tiny fraction, the worst part is behind the scenes.
EvLPhenom Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I have been thinking about this recently too, although with no degree under my belt i need to do that first. Will be looking at doing some sort of part time degree when i have finished building images and have a bit of spare time available.
tudorcrisp Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 If you wanted to teach in ICT when you did your PGCE you should have been able to do a SKE (Subject Knowledge Enhancement) course which would give you the basic knowledge to teach ICT. I am having to do a 2 week SKE before September to check that I have the relevant background knowledge before I start. I think teaching is a good career depending on the type of person you are, if your an easy going person who is confident then you should be fine.
Iain.Faulkner Posted June 15, 2012 Author Posted June 15, 2012 Teaching is brutal. Experienced teachers make it look easy but the reality is like an iceberg - the bit you see is a tiny fraction, the worst part is behind the scenes. I think you're spot on, however as my wife is a recently qualified teacher I think I've seen enough of the evening work and the masses of admin she has to do, plus parents evenings etc and it hasn't put me off.... Some more research required yet though I think.
tudorcrisp Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I have been thinking about this recently too, although with no degree under my belt i need to do that first. Will be looking at doing some sort of part time degree when i have finished building images and have a bit of spare time available. Before I started my current job I had a HND in computing. For the past 18 months I have been completing a 'top up' course part time to turn that into a degree in Applied Computing. A lot of work and effort, particularly when we had a new born baby in January... but it will be totally worth it when I get to spend my summers with my family.
garethEds Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 Morning all, Just a bit of a wondering really. Has anyone on here made the move from Technical Support to Teacher? I know a gentleman who has just completed his training. He started as a techie, then started on the job training whilst staying as a techie then because a teacher with 50% techie and has now got ICT Coordinator role with 100% teaching. It can be done and if you have a supportive school you'll be kay. Gareth
tudorcrisp Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I think you're spot on, however as my wife is a recently qualified teacher I think I've seen enough of the evening work and the masses of admin she has to do, plus parents evenings etc and it hasn't put me off.... Some more research required yet though I think. I am in your position. My girlfriend is a teacher and I have seen the other side as well so I am going into this with my eyes completely open.
garethEds Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I think you're spot on, however as my wife is a recently qualified teacher I think I've seen enough of the evening work and the masses of admin she has to do, plus parents evenings etc and it hasn't put me off.... Some more research required yet though I think. Good luck. I know your wife is a teacher (as you say) - but please don't be put off my negative teachers. It is a great job - yes it comes with it's stresses and complaints but the pay is okay, the holidays are okay and if you get a good school you are set. I've been in my school for 13 years and whilst the advice is to move around and gain experience I am finally happy here (after a stressful time with a previous member of staff). I could stay here for a long time. Go for it and good luck to you. As you are a techie now you will be in an excellent position to work and understand any techies who will support you in your department. Gareth 1
garethEds Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I am in your position. My girlfriend is a teacher and I have seen the other side as well so I am going into this with my eyes completely open. Good luck to you as well. See my post to Iain below - same applies. It's a wonderful job. Okay you get bad days, but so does everyone else. Gareth 1
clareq Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 One of my Techies got poached by the ICT Department and did his GTP here. You would never know he had been a techie now...
rad Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I dont have a degree. If I did I might consider it but unless there is a way in without, I dont see myself going that way.
Kitkatninja Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I dont have a degree. If I did I might consider it but unless there is a way in without, I dont see myself going that way. What about the FE way to gain the QTLS status, via the DTTLS (see here for an example) and IfL?
garethEds Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 I dont have a degree. If I did I might consider it but unless there is a way in without, I dont see myself going that way. I do not know of a way into teaching without a relevant degree. There is a female member of staff here who wants to be an ICT teacher but even though I know she has the skills there is no entry path in to teaching as she doesn't have the qualifications. Right now she is doing an OU Open Degree and has chosen some ICT modules. I'm not sure when she will finish that or if I will need a teacher at that time. I do need an extra specialist at the moment but the school isn't letting me. I have a good student teacher (PGCE) at the moment but he has just had a job in another school. Gutted. Gareth
witch Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 One of my friends started her training with adult ed, did all the quals she could (city and guilds etc) and ended up with Qualified Teacher status - I didnt think this was equivalent to PGCE, SCITT or GTP but she started doing supply for my school and now teaches at a local school part-time
steveking Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 Morning all, Just a bit of a wondering really. Has anyone on here made the move from Technical Support to Teacher? I've been a teacher for 7 years, before that I was a network manager. There aren't that many ICT teachers who have IT backgrounds, and if you can code there's a chance you'll be in demand with the rise of computing as a subject. I now teach both the boring ICT GCSE but also Computing GCSE and A level (which is much more fun). The pay's better as a teacher, but the workload isn't. And the daily Gove dribble and constant meddling really annoys at times.
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