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Many churches have provided routes into teaching in school by encouraging those members who have a talent for working with children and young people. The first steps towards a commitment to teach in school have often been taken through experience of work in Sunday schools, children's or youth groups or uniformed organizations based in churches.
The question that often arises is "how can we help these Christians find the most appropriate route for them into teaching?" Teaching is largely a graduate profession and, therefore, most entrants will need to obtain a degree as part of their preparation for their vocation. This is important for two reasons: firstly it would be very odd if a teacher were to be encouraging a class to work hard at their education when the teacher was not committed to his or her own learning; secondly, teaching is not just a Christian vocation, it is also a profession. It is neither acceptable nor appropriate for those who are entering the profession as a result of a clear sense of vocation from God to be any less professional about their work than those who approach teaching as a career.
One of the obvious routes into the profession is through the courses offered by the Church Colleges of Higher Education. These colleges offer a range of degree courses and several different routes into teaching, through degree courses that carry qualified teacher status, or through Postgraduate Certificates in Education, for those who already hold a first degree. Most of them also offer specialist courses in the work of Church schools and a wide range of opportunities to study aspects of theology. For those with the ability to teach but without the formal qualifications to begin studying for a degree, there are special access arrangements. Some of the courses in theology can also provide a basis for building up credits. Dioceses may use some of these courses to supplement their programmes of adult Christian learning. The Church colleges are a good choice for many Christians coming into teaching because they offer a Christian context for study, with the chapel at the heart of college life, and also have an understanding of Christian vocation.
In choosing a college, it may be helpful to ask about the existence of:
Another route into teaching can be through school-based training. There are a number of such schemes involving Church schools and at least two that are sponsored by dioceses (London and Hereford).
Advice on routes into teaching can be obtained from the Teacher Training Agency.
There is also some information on Initial training in the Teachers section of this web site.
The vocation to teach
Nurturing teachers
How do Christians who are teachers become Christian
teachers?
Helping Christian teachers grow in their faith and their
profession
The headteacher - a special case?
Support staff
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