Exciting, fascinating, fulfilling' - do they really mean teaching?

Unless you've been locked in the university library for the past two years, you'll be aware that the government is desperate to tempt graduates into teaching. "You never forget a good teacher" ran the original ad. "Those that can, teach" is the current slogan designed to overcome the prejudices that many of us have about the second oldest profession.

Twenty years of low or no pay increases, union leaders complaining on the news and some much publicised attacks in classrooms have done little to make the profession attractive to graduates.

However, talk to the younger generation of qualified teachers about their jobs and they use the sort of language rarely found when people talk about their work. "Rewarding", "exciting", "fascinating", "fulfilling" - they all crop up on a regular basis, and this is before you've mentioned the summer holidays. So, is the government right? Is it time to reappraise teaching?

At the heart of the recent campaign to attract graduates is the idea that teaching should be viewed in the same way as any other profession. It now portrays it as offering skills that would be transferable into other fields of employment. The government is almost saying: try teaching and if it doesn't work out, you won't have wasted your time and there will be employers keen to snap you up with the skills you've learnt.

So how does it work?

Most graduates wanting to teach will go down the Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) route. This usually lasts one academic year and is operated by a university or similar establishment. Most courses start in the autumn, although some start later in the year. Ideally, your degree - or equivalent - should reflect the subject in which you're planning to specialise.

If it doesn't quite fit, all is not lost. Your chosen provider may feel your degree contains sufficient subject-based knowledge, and take you on. If not, you could take a short bridging course over the summer. Generally, if your degree was in physics and you want to teach chemistry you will be fine - assuming you have chemistry A-level.

Some providers run two-year full-time courses, to allow time for additional study of your subject - but they are rare. These courses are usually in secondary subjects such as science, mathematics, design and technology, information communications and technology (ICT) and modern foreign languages.

Qualifications

While each college running the PGCE sets its own entry standards, every student undertaking the course has to have a degree and grade C or above in GCSE maths and English. Those born after August 30, 1979 wanting to teach in primary schools also need a C or above in a single/combined science subject. Colleges will take relevant experience into account and might accept a lesser degree if the candidate has spent a year working part-time in an educational environment.

When can I start?

The good news is that there are still plenty of places available at colleges around the country starting this autumn, although you are unlikely to find a place to teach primary school children at this stage.

Applications can be made right up to early September, although most colleges demand that you spend at least two weeks observing in a school before you start the course. The first place to look for available courses is the Graduate Teacher Training Registry which updates its website at www.gttr.ac.uk each day. Alternatively ring 01242-544-788.

Once you find a place, talk to its provider to establish that you qualify and then apply for the funding. If you want to do history or PE, you'll probably have to wait until next year. However, 30 out of 50 colleges offering French still had places last week.

Certainly the time is right, financially. Trainee teachers in England on an approved course will receive a ?6,000 bursary, roughly ?150 a week while you're training.

An additional ?4,000 is available for eligible postgraduates teaching maths, science, English, modern languages, design and technology or ICT in England as a "golden hello". You can claim this if, within 12 months of completing induction, you are working in a relevant post in the state sector.

Further training awards in England may be made - based on financial need - to trainees on PGCEs. Maximum payments in any one year are ?5,000 (?7,500 for those aged 24 or over). Again, you must be studying certain subjects.

There is extra help in Wales and an incentive payment worth ?1,200 is available to some Welsh speakers. Scottish students who started their degree before 1998 will get a grant to do a PGCE. Those who start after that date have to take out a student loan but both get their fees paid.

Further details are available at www.canteach.gov.uk/ or from the Teaching Information Line (0845-6000-991 or, for Welsh speakers, 0845-6000-992). The DfEE produces a booklet, Financial Help for Higher Education Students. Ring the Student Support Helpline (0800-731-9133) or www.dfee.gov.uk/studentsupport/. Scottish students should call 0131-556-8400.

milesbrignall@blueyonder.co.uk


'I find it interesting and rewarding'

The best thing about teaching, according to Navdeep Brar, is "it's always interesting - and I say that as someone who has an incredibly low boredom threshold".

She opted for a PGCE after working on placement in an office during her business studies degree. She now teaches IT and business studies to 14 to 18-year-olds at Charters School in Ascot.

"After my degree I was living at home for a while and found myself getting involved in my sister's school life. I would help her with her homework and it sort of grew from there."

Navdeep is now at her fourth school since completing her PGCE in 1997 and says the job is better than she had expected. "When you see yourself having a real effect on pupils it is very fulfilling. If by the end of a lesson, they have learnt something new and it's obvious they are enjoying the subject, it's incredibly rewarding."

While Navdeep admits that discipline is a big concern for newly qualified teachers, she says there is a lot of support to help them cope with the problem.

Navdeep estimates that the salaries of her fellow business studies students have probably overtaken hers recently, despite a promotion.

"Money has never been a big issue for me - the job satisfaction is far more important. Besides, I break up for the long summer holidays tomorrow."