Do I need A-levels in both English and Maths if I want to be a teacher?

Question

I am taking maths, but not english. I want to teach geography

Answer 1

No, you do not need either if you intend to apply with the aim of teaching Geography.
However you do need GCSE Maths & English at grade C or above (in most cases).
I assume you intend to study Geography at A-level.
Your school/college will have this book available:
Title: Degree Course Offers - An annual guide to entry to university using the new UCAS tariff.
Author: Brian Heap
ISBN: 1 84455005 2
Price: £26.99
Publisher: Trotman
'Degree course Offers' will give you a clear idea of the A-levels various universities require for their courses.
You should also have a good look at the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) site:
http://www.ucas.ac.uk/

Answer 2

Hi

To teach Geography you don't need either A-Level English or Maths.

You do need GCSEs in both English and Maths at Grade C or above though.

There are several routes into teaching. These include ........

1) BEd degree (3 or 4 year full time degree which combines your specialist subject with teaching skills)

2) PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) - completed after achieving a degree. 1 or 2 years depending on how much of your specialist subject you did in your degree. If you do a Geography degree you should only have to do 1 year.

3) Graduate training route - 1 year course taken after your degree. Mainly based in school with some pay - there are some restrictions on these - they're harder to get and also you need to be over a certain age.

Good luck!

K x

Answer 3

You don't need A-Levels in either of those subjects if you want to teach Geography. You will need GCSE in English and Maths, though, and you'd be unlikely to get a place on a PGCE course if you don't have a degree in Geography (although it's not impossible, so long as you have a degree).

Answer 4

No. If you want to teach either of those subjects then you will need either one of them, but if you are teaching something different, you don't.

You do need GCSE or equivalent in BOTH, though, and probably A Level or equivalent in whatever subject you want to teach. This is as well as any other qualifications. Not sure what universities want these days as admission criteria, but I'd say at least 5 GCSEs at A* - C or equivalents AND at least 2 A levels at decent grades in relevant subjects or equivalents (more likely 3).

If you are a mature student (experience in industry) then requirements would be different, but you still need those 2 GCSEs.

Answer 5

Veronica is talking rubbish - you definitely do not need English OR maths at A-level to join a PGCE course. You need maths, English and science GCSEs at A-C grades, and most PGCE courses would look for a Geography A-level.
Best of luck!

Answer 6

It depends on the subject and level that you want to teach. E.g. I wanted to teach Psychology to people over 16, so I did a PGCE (post-compulsory) which is a generic course. This means that I can teach any subject to anyone over 14, as long as they are in a college and studying courses at least one level below the courses that I have studied (different courses have different levels-GCSEs are level 2, A-levels are level 3, degrees are level 4-Google the term 'National Qualifications Framework' for more details). I have a degree, so theorectically, I can teach any student doing any course in any subject up to degree standard (e.g. GCSEs and A Levels) However, my degree is in Psychology and I have A Levels in German, Communication studies and Psychology, so personally I wouldn't teach GCSE/A-Level English for example, because I've only studied English at GCSE Level (Level 2) and it isn't related to my degree and A Level subjects. To complicate things further, English and Maths are 'key skills' subjects, and you will be tested on them if you apply for a PGCE course (my year was the last to escape this test), so obviously GCSE C grades in this would be ideal, and A levels an advantage.

Primary and secondary PGCEs are NOT generic. This means that you are required to learn about teaching several subjects and then you specialise in (i.e. become qualified to teach) ONE subject or even 2! So if you got a degree in Geography (level 4 course) and decided to do A Levels in English literature and Maths as well as Geography (Level 3 courses), you would get a PGCE Geography and then be able to teach Geography as your specialist subject up to degree level (i.e. teach GCSE and A Level Geography) and teach GCSE English and Maths (level 2 course) as your secondary subjects (if the school/college allows it). However, you may want to check this out further, as I haven't studied a primary or secondary PGCE!

In summary, you DON'T need A level English and Maths to teach Geography. However, Maths and English are key skills subjects, so you either need to have good GCSE grades (C and above) or perform well on the numeracy or literacy tests given after you've applied to do a PGCE.

For further information, go to to the teacher training agency website on: http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit.aspx and click on the teacher training process menu. Alternatively, go to the Graduate teaching registry which will give you further information about teacher courses for people who have a degree: http://www.gttr.ac.uk/

NB. These agencies are geared towards Primary and Secondary teaching courses but can also offer advice on teaching in colleges (if you decided to do that, but I get the feeling that you're more interested in primary and secondary teaching), so click on the ask for advisor options (the advisors are extremely helpful) for further information.

Good luck!

Answer 7

For Geography, Maths could be useful, but not necessarily a requirement. English again could be useful, but I'm not sure whether it will really be needed. Perhaps you should seek advice from a university you may be attending later?

Good luck though!

Answer 8

No as long as you have got GCSEs in English and maths you are ok, i want to be a teacher but i havent got A-Levels in those subjects and i have spoken to universities and they said i dont

Answer 9

i would say NO... you don't to be an A-level teacher make sure that you have the interest in what subject you will teach... In terms of English...english is considered as our international language every one must know english even japanese or chinese tried to speak english because it serve as our second language in english language different countries become united and they understand what other must say but it doesn't mean that you must be that intelligent in english!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

English would help, but you'll learn that at teacher training college anyway..and also I presume you have passed GCSE English? To be honest, I think you will be ok :)