KUGB Instructors course

[muttley]

I am thinking of changing my career over the next few years, want to go into teaching (looking at PE teaching), in the UK to be a teacher you need to have a relevant degree qualification and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education.

I am looking at doing the sports degree via The Open University (distance learning while still working), the issue is that to complete the degree, I need a coaching qualification issued by a recognised national governing body, the question is, does the KUGB qualify for this and would the instructors course suffice?

Many thanks.

[sensei8]

Those are great questions. Seeing that it's a University, their requirements have no ambiguity whatsoever. What does the University deem and therefore, consider "recognized" to be under their charter? "Recognized" is a tricky word here based on the Universities definition and understanding. How we define "recognized" might differ with said University. Having said that, the University might not even recognize the JKA and SKIF. Both known, but nothings a guarantee.

The JKA's instructor course might not even cut the mustard, say to speak, with said University. Therefore, the KUGB might not even get it a consideration with said University. Imho, Universities can be quite, well, finicky about these sort of things, like, requirements and all.

I said all of this to say, I've no idea if the University will or will not accept and/or recognize the KUGB and/or the instructor course.

So, write them a letter of enquire and/or call them and ask them straight out. Nothing ventured; nothing gained.

Good luck!!

[muttley]

Thanks for the reply, I will speak to someone at the university prior to deciding what I am going to do, other options to get into teaching is to completely change track and do a degree in computing and IT...I know what I would rather be doing!

[wagnerk]

It's great that you want to become a teacher, we need more good people in that field (I work in education myself - IT Services in primary/secondary and a Lecturer at the OU). Anyway there is more than one way to become a teacher:

1. Complete a BEd (depending on the University you can/may pick your subject)- this degree program cover the requirements to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

2. The route you stated, do a degree program then do the PGCE to gain QTS (this is for the k12 sector, for those outside the UK)

3. Complete the Diploma to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS) to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status. This is the further education (post 16 year old education, for those outside the UK) version of the QTS but since 2012 holders of QTLS are recognised qualified teachers in schools http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/careers/traininganddevelopment/qts/a00205922/qlts-guidance

4. Then you have various other routes.

As for whether or not a KUGB coaching qualification is suitable, I can't say for sure, there is no recognised NGB for karate according to Sport England: http://www.sportengland.org/our-work/national-work/national-governing-bodies/sports-that-we-recognise/ so the best bet is to contact the OU.

[muttley]

It's great that you want to become a teacher, we need more good people in that field (I work in education myself - IT Services in primary/secondary and a Lecturer at the OU). Anyway there is more than one way to become a teacher:

1. Complete a BEd (depending on the University you can/may pick your subject)- this degree program cover the requirements to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

2. The route you stated, do a degree program then do the PGCE to gain QTS (this is for the k12 sector, for those outside the UK)

3. Complete the Diploma to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS) to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status. This is the further education (post 16 year old education, for those outside the UK) version of the QTS but since 2012 holders of QTLS are recognised qualified teachers in schools http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/careers/traininganddevelopment/qts/a00205922/qlts-guidance

4. Then you have various other routes.

As for whether or not a KUGB coaching qualification is suitable, I can't say for sure, there is no recognised NGB for karate according to Sport England: http://www.sportengland.org/our-work/national-work/national-governing-bodies/sports-that-we-recognise/ so the best bet is to contact the OU.

Thanks for the advice, I quite like the sound of option 1 there, I am looking at doing everything through the OU (not the cheapest, but certainly the best known provider of distance learning in the UK).

The main issue I think I am going to have is time, combining study with my full time job (although I get quite a few rest days ordinarily), it's a big decision and a long term investment in my future so lots to think about.

[wagnerk]

To my knowledge the OU doesn't deliver the BEd degree (but I could be mistaken as I'm part of the MCT faculty). And just to let you know that the OU won't be taking anymore people on their/our PGCE course - March 2014 is the last intake.

[muttley]

Too late for that option then, might start off with a PTTLS course as a taster and to get me back into learning (cheaper too), although once I get a degree, there are these training programmes for teachers where they do the PGCE while working as a teacher.

[wagnerk]

If you're going to do the PTLLS you might as well continue thru to the DTLLS (as you get credit towards the DTLLS). Or there's the School Direct Training Programme or the School-centred initial teacher training (SCITT)

[muttley]

Thank you for that, looks like I need to get cracking with a degree in that case and look to leave my current "career" behind me...I wonder if there are any transferrable skills I could use.

[sensei8]

Thank you for that, looks like I need to get cracking with a degree in that case and look to leave my current "career" behind me...I wonder if there are any transferrable skills I could use.

You've gotten some great feedback from wagnerk, and seeing that he's from your area, I'd listen to him over me. I'm not too familiar with the laws and the like outside of the USA.