Teaching Qualifications

[MrJamie18]

Hi there

What specific teaching qualification do I need to be a supply teacher? I've done my GCSE's, A Levels and I have a 2.1 degree. I don't have any teaching qualifications though, what is the relevant qualification called?

[acw]

I know that if you do a PGCE you get government funding... All the info you need is here

May I just be nosey and ask...why do you only want to do supply?  It's all the stresses of teaching but none of the rewards!  I don't mean to be so blunt, and I'm sure you've thought it through and know what you're letting yourself in for. 

PS - Not all public schools require you to have a PGCE.  But then that's not supply teaching. 

[Mistopheles]

PGCE is a year's course and is usually necessary to teach. Supply teaching is usually much better paid, but as acw says, it's much more stressful!

[Gef]

Sorry, but I hope I have misinterpreted some answers. In Scotland supply teachers get a daily rate which would give them the equivalent of a year's salary if they worked for 190 days. For many, short term supply teaching is the easy option as they look upon it as child minding and do no preparation, marking, parent's evenings etc. We are so short of supply teachers that people like this are employed. I must add that many supply teachers give it the full whack but I don't think that they are under any more stress than a full time teacher.

[acw]

Hey there.  I never suggested they were under any more stress than supply teachers, although I know many supply teachers who said it was worse.  My point is that you are never around long enough to see the rewards.  I think it could be very frustrating seeing a kid who you know you could help to blossom, but knowing you just won't be able to do anything about it.  I also think that supply teaching limits your opportunities to be inventive as you can't cover a whole topic with a class.  Unless of course you're covering 4 or more weeks with just one class. 

Anyway, I didn't mean to get too off topic.  You need a PGCE after your degree, or a BEd.  Good luck MrJamie! :-)

[Octavius]

Here is some more info:

http://www.teach.gov.uk/php/read.php?sectionid=238&articleid=2581