Lecture 16 - Teaching and Educational psychology

Question 1

What is the role of a teacher?

Answer 1

• help others learn
• inspire, motivate and encourage learning on many levels
• can work in early years settings (nursery/preschool/reception), primary schools (5-11 years), secondary schools (11-16 years), or further educational establishments such as colleges which cover qualifications lower than degree level

Question 2

Primary school teacher?

Answer 2

• training = Primary school centred initial teacher training (SCITT) to gain PGCE and qualified teacher status (QTS)
• contracted hours = Monday-Friday 8:40 till 3:20, but usually work longer
• have to spend time in the holidays assessing, doing admin, progress tracking etc.

Question 3

Secondary school teacher?

Answer 3

• need a PGCE =
  -> consists of weekly lectures, lessons, observations and training
  -> 3 day teaching timetable and 2 days with lectures and planning afternoons
• can teach KS3, GCSE and A-Level

Question 4

Work experience?

Answer 4

• should consider trying to get experience in a variety of schools and working with different age groups to understand if you do want to be a teacher
• TeachFirst offer a ‘taster session’ scheme

Question 5

Teacher training?

Answer 5

• most popular = post-graduate certificate in Education (PGCE), which is an internationally-recognised qualification and results in Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
• a PGCE is 9 months full-time and involves both getting teaching experience on placement and academic study
• alternative routes to gain QTS include the TeachFirst and School direct programmes

Question 6

Role of a special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO)?

Answer 6

• a teacher in a leadership position who manages a school’s special educational needs provision
• first step of the route to becoming a SENCO is qualifying and working as a teacher
• this will then be followed by appropriate post-graduate qualification; National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination

Question 7

Responsibilities of SENCO?

Answer 7

• be aware of different learning difficulties and disabilities which are classified as SEN
• develop and oversee the implementation of the school’s SEN strategy and policy
• build rapports with the pupils
• provide termly updates on pupil progress
• develop learning resources to help with pupils’ development
• support teachers to develop and implement effective teaching and behaviour management approaches in the classroom
• make referrals

Question 8

Salary?

Answer 8

• Qualified teachers in England and Wales earn between £30,000 and £41,333
• Experienced teachers can then move on to the upper pay scale which ranges from £43,266 to £46,525
• All teachers with responsibility for SEN pupils receive an additional allowance of between £2,539 and £5,009

Question 9

Working hours?

Answer 9

• most schools = work 39 weeks of the year
• 8:30 - 3:30/4pm

Question 10

Skills needed for SENCO?

Answer 10

• a willingness and ability to develop specialist knowledge
• influencing and negotiation skills
• leadership skills
• interpersonal skills and teamworking
• written communication skills
• organisation and time-management skills
• empathy and emotional intelligence
• analytical and problem-solving skills

Question 11

Role of an educational psychologist?

Answer 11

• seek to understand and intervene in human behaviour within the context of education
• role can involve both research and practice

Question 12

Responsibilities of an educational psychologist?

Answer 12

• assess children’s learning and emotional needs
• design, develop and support therapeutic and behaviour management programmes
• conduct active research
• formulate interventions
• develop and apply effective interventions to promote psychological wellbeing

Question 13

Salary for an educational psychologist?

Answer 13

Once fully qualified, salaries begin at around £38,865 and rise incrementally up to £52,440

Question 14

Working hours of an educational psychologist?

Answer 14

• 37 hours a week
• Monday - Friday

Question 15

Skills needed to be an educational psychologist?

Answer 15

• communication and interpersonal skills
• sensitivity
• an open-minded and sensitive approach
• analytical skills
• the ability to work under pressure
• time management skills
• a flexible and adaptable approach to work
• an understanding of confidentiality

Question 16

Training to be an educational psychologist?

Answer 16

• To practice as an Educational Psychologist in the UK you need to have a British Psychological Society accredited Doctorate in Educational Psychology
• This qualification is very competitive and therefore relevant experience is required in addition to an accredited undergraduate degree