Transfer your lockdown home-schooling skills by joining a teacher training scheme

IF you are home-schooling during the lockdown, perhaps you could teach in a school for real.

Each year the country needs around 35,000 trainee teachers.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

8

Training schemes are reporting a surge in applications from parents who have been educating kids at home during the coronavirus crisis.

It can be a rewarding career, shaping the lives of hundreds of young people.

Though the hours can be long, you will get a good amount of holidays, jobs are generally secure and there is plenty of opportunity for progression.

Currently, newly qualified teachers begin on a minimum starting salary of £24,000 to £30,000 depending on location.

Also, trainees could receive a £26,000 tax-free bursary for support during their course.

There are two main routes into the profession — through Get Into Teaching or via TeachFirst, which recruits teachers in schools that serve disadvantaged communities.

Get Into Teaching

THIS is the Department for Education’s national campaign to recruit both primary and secondary school teachers.

If you are a uni graduate, you will undertake Initial Teacher Training and gain Qualified Teacher Status.

8

If you do not have a degree, you can consider an undergraduate route to teacher qualification.

There are different training courses across the country.

Roger Pope, of Get Into Teaching, said: “Teaching welcomes people from all walks of life.”

Visit getintoteaching.education.gov.uk or call 0800 389 2500.

TeachFirst

THE scheme recruits up to 1,750 trainee teachers annually for early years, primary and secondary schools.

The greatest need is for trainees to teach science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects and languages.

8

You must be a graduate but can apply at any time, making it a top option for career switchers.

Trainees get paid from day one in the classroom while they work towards becoming a fully qualified teacher.

Apply now for the 2021 intake at teachfirst.org.uk/training-programme.

‘Best job in the world’

SABRINA Sacco, 38, is head of modern foreign languages and a performing arts teacher at Alcester Academy.

The mum-of-three, who lives in Alcester, Warks, says: “Teaching is the best job in the world. The honesty of students and their enthusiasm is amazing.

8

“It’s like no other job.

“It’s a privileged position to be in.

“It’s a vocation and a way of life.

“It’s not a 9-5, but if you love it and want to enrich lives, this is the profession for you.”

Katie Roberts is headteacher at Da Vinci Academy in Derby.

The 53-year-old had wanted to train as a teacher aged 18 but built a career in HR.

She retrained in her forties with TeachFirst, as a science teacher.

8

Katie, from Derby, says: “I have no regrets about making the decision to change careers.

“There’s no place I’d rather be.

“A good teacher has a lot of energy, they need empathy, resilience and determination.

“Strategic thinking is always a bonus.

“And of course, one of the most important qualities is a good sense of humour.”

Isolate new role

MILLIONS of people are considering changing their career, after staying at home as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.

In a study two in five people claimed the pandemic has been a “wake-up call” – leading them to reassess if they are in the right job when life returns to normal.

8

One in ten are already attempting to retrain for a different job, but 54 per cent fear they are too established in their current career to do something new.

Byron Nicolaides, CEO of examination institute PeopleCert, which commissioned the report during the current lockdown, said: “If staff are unfulfilled they may start to think about pursuing a career elsewhere when life returns to normal.”

Scooter scope

YOU could soon find yourself hot-footing it into a new career under government plans to allow electric scooters on public roads from next month.

The decision has given a boost to the booming e-scooter industry – and top firm Pure Electric needs dozens of new staff on its books.

8

Roles range from store managers and sales advisers to mechanics, graduate jobs and even country managers across Europe.

MD Peter Kimberley said: “We are looking for like-minded and talented individuals who share our same passion, to enhance our customers’ experiences and have a hugely positive impact on our transport network.”

Those interested can apply at careers.pureelectric.com.

Happy returns at work

EXPERTS warns workers could face “re-entry anxiety” as they return to work after lockdown.

Here stress expert Dominique Antiglio, from BeSophro Clinics, reveals how to cope.

8

1. Acknowledge it’s normal to feel anxious about going back to work, but dig down so you are clear about the specific reasons driving the anxiety. Then, you can start to rewire how you feel about it.
2. Transition back to working in the office with intention. So if you are concerned about picking up seamlessly where you left off – don’t. You cannot as circumstances have changed in every way. Instead, approach this fear as the chance to do something new.
3. Remember you’re not alone in feeling this way. Your boss, colleagues and company will have been affected, so it’s a good time to share your thoughts, insights, learning, wants and needs.
4. Cultivate change. Firms are actively welcoming feedback, so be confident about making your needs clear.
5. Have an anchor. As creatures of habit, we crave routine, so something as simple as making a cup of tea at a set time can help.
6. Don’t let your mind run away with thoughts. No one knows how this will unfold, but we never do in everyday life anyway. Make the effort to stay in the present mentally.

• Check out 1,000s of jobs on our dedicated SunJobs site. Click here