Colleges for primary school teaching??

StephMaria

Hey all.
I'm hoping to get the points to get into one of the primary school teaching colleges.However i'm totally undecided on which one of the four colleges to put down first..and i'm wondering is there one of them i should put ahead of the others? Or does it matter?
I'd appreciate yere help
Thanks
Steph

dambarude

Location should probably be the deciding factor. You'll get a different answer on which college you should go to from everybody you ask.

If you want to know anything about Mary I, ask in our sticky, here.

BrenosBolts91

StephMaria wrote: »

Hey all.
I'm hoping to get the points to get into one of the primary school teaching colleges.However i'm totally undecided on which one of the four colleges to put down first..and i'm wondering is there one of them i should put ahead of the others? Or does it matter?
I'd appreciate yere help
Thanks
Steph

Well, I'm in St.Pats so I'm gonna say St.Pats! Now thats the bias out of the way...

Marino is good in that you study for 4 years which gives you the B.Ed international, which allows you to teach abroad in places like Australia. Worth considering. I've a lot of mates doing the course there so I know a good bit about it. Seems much stricter than Pats. And TP is tougher.

I've a friend in Froebal too I can ask for you.

Haven't a clue about Mary I. :P

Bugz24

I will say coming from a second level teacher that I'd think very carefully about choosing education as a career, especially at the minute.

There are no jobs in either sector and it is becoming more and more difficult to get the jobs. It is not what you know it is who you know a lot of the time.

If you are interested maybe do an Arts course and hope to do PGDE when finished but they are more and more difficult to enter each year.

Or go to England, plenty of jobs over there once qualified and there is great financial rewards for studying over there. Seems their courses are quite intense but leaves you very aware of what is expected and what is needed to succeed.

I hope I haven't put a downer on it for you just being realistic considering how many of us are unemployed at the minute struggling even for a bit of subbing... retired teachers seem to be soaking that up.. cut - throat industry at the min...

PictureFrame

Bugz24 wrote: »

I will say coming from a second level teacher that I'd think very carefully about choosing education as a career, especially at the minute.

There are no jobs in either sector and it is becoming more and more difficult to get the jobs. It is not what you know it is who you know a lot of the time.

If you are interested maybe do an Arts course and hope to do PGDE when finished but they are more and more difficult to enter each year.

Or go to England, plenty of jobs over there once qualified and there is great financial rewards for studying over there. Seems their courses are quite intense but leaves you very aware of what is expected and what is needed to succeed.

I hope I haven't put a downer on it for you just being realistic considering how many of us are unemployed at the minute struggling even for a bit of subbing... retired teachers seem to be soaking that up.. cut - throat industry at the min...

Do you know if there's any indication that this problem is going to improve in the next 5-6 years or so?. I would love to teach Geography & French/ English in a secondary school but everybody is saying there's no jobs at all.. I find it hard to imagine myself doing much else when I leave school except teaching, however the negativity of everyone I ask is slowly depleating my hopes of teaching as a future career...

BrenosBolts91

PictureFrame wrote: »

Do you know if there's any indication that this problem is going to improve in the next 5-6 years or so?. I would love to teach Geography & French/ English in a secondary school but everybody is saying there's no jobs at all.. I find it hard to imagine myself doing much else when I leave school except teaching, however the negativity of everyone I ask is slowly depleating my hopes of teaching as a future career...

There's jobs out there. You just have to go and look. There's talk of maintaining the average class size, which combined with the baby boom of recent years should create a demand for more teachers. You seem pretty keen on teaching so run with it!

Keeb

BrenosBolts91 is right about the differences between marino and pats. Here are some more;

I wanted to do primary school teaching too and was unsure which college to go to. I went to the open days of each college (a must!) and made my decision straight away. I thought Pats was a very old college and just did not like it. In Pats you must choose one core subject to focus on, say English. Depending on the subject you choose, you receive either a full qualification in that subject or a half qualification where you would have to do a masters in the subject to be fully qualified in it. I did not like this fact because there was no one subject that I would have liked to specialise in. Also the pats degree is not recognised abroad. However, I believe they are bringing in another year so that it is recognised abroad.
I went to froebal and it was just far too small of a college for me. It is literally just one building, no campus or fields. Although froebal will be moving out to maynooth soon so it will have a lovely campus!
When I went out to Marino, I fell in love straight away! Griffith avenue is gorgeous and so are the grounds in which Marino are on. There's a graveyard and squirrels always running around and the building is just beautiful. You are qualified after 3 years in Marino, the 4th year is optional. This 4th year is evening lectures and allows you to teach abroad as 4years are required in a degree for teaching abroad. I also liked the fact that marino offered extra maths classes because I am woefull at maths. Marino is reknowed for its strong influence on Irish however, I do not think it is any different to the other colleges. Marino used to be an Irish only speaking college but now everything is done through English.
Teaching practice: in pats for 1st year you are paired with another 1st year and you both teach lessons throughout the day for 3 weeks. In marino you are thrown in the deep end and have to teach full days for 3 weeks by yourself from the beginning. It is very tough but at the end of the day, you get more experience teaching that way.
All the teaching colleges are relatively small which I loved. You are guaranteed to make friends as it's just like secondary school; being in the same classes as everyone else with classes of 3 classes of 40 (in marino anyway). There are only 20 guys out of 100 but that's grand! Marino has a really nice atmosphere too.
You must go to the gaeltacht in all courses which is a laugh. One thing though which I completly underestimated though is how tough teaching is. When I was going into it, I had chosen it because it is what I wanted to do but was also expecting an easy job.....half days, holidays etc. IT IS NOT EASY!!! I cannot stress this enough, it is a very demanding job and takes up A LOT of your time, but if it's what you want to do, go for it
You may have guessed that I go to Marino. I got enough points to get into Pats but I didn't even put it on my CAO cause I wanted Marino. Hope that's helpful, I can tell you loads more about the colleges too if you want to know more!

AislingMarie

Keeb wrote: »

BrenosBolts91 is right about the differences between marino and pats. Here are some more;

I wanted to do primary school teaching too and was unsure which college to go to. I went to the open days of each college (a must!) and made my decision straight away. I thought Pats was a very old college and just did not like it. In Pats you must choose one core subject to focus on, say English. Depending on the subject you choose, you receive either a full qualification in that subject or a half qualification where you would have to do a masters in the subject to be fully qualified in it. I did not like this fact because there was no one subject that I would have liked to specialise in. Also the pats degree is not recognised abroad. However, I believe they are bringing in another year so that it is recognised abroad.
I went to froebal and it was just far too small of a college for me. It is literally just one building, no campus or fields. Although froebal will be moving out to maynooth soon so it will have a lovely campus!
When I went out to Marino, I fell in love straight away! Griffith avenue is gorgeous and so are the grounds in which Marino are on. There's a graveyard and squirrels always running around and the building is just beautiful. You are qualified after 3 years in Marino, the 4th year is optional. This 4th year is evening lectures and allows you to teach abroad as 4years are required in a degree for teaching abroad. I also liked the fact that marino offered extra maths classes because I am woefull at maths. Marino is reknowed for its strong influence on Irish however, I do not think it is any different to the other colleges. Marino used to be an Irish only speaking college but now everything is done through English.
Teaching practice: in pats for 1st year you are paired with another 1st year and you both teach lessons throughout the day for 3 weeks. In marino you are thrown in the deep end and have to teach full days for 3 weeks by yourself from the beginning. It is very tough but at the end of the day, you get more experience teaching that way.
All the teaching colleges are relatively small which I loved. You are guaranteed to make friends as it's just like secondary school; being in the same classes as everyone else with classes of 3 classes of 40 (in marino anyway). There are only 20 guys out of 100 but that's grand! Marino has a really nice atmosphere too.
You must go to the gaeltacht in all courses which is a laugh. One thing though which I completly underestimated though is how tough teaching is. When I was going into it, I had chosen it because it is what I wanted to do but was also expecting an easy job.....half days, holidays etc. IT IS NOT EASY!!! I cannot stress this enough, it is a very demanding job and takes up A LOT of your time, but if it's what you want to do, go for it
You may have guessed that I go to Marino. I got enough points to get into Pats but I didn't even put it on my CAO cause I wanted Marino. Hope that's helpful, I can tell you loads more about the colleges too if you want to know more!

This is really interesting!
My brother is in Pat's and loves it.I'd like to do primary teaching also and have Pat's down first then Marino but now I'm considering Marino as my first choice.
I like the idea of a B.Ed international it sounds really appealling and the fact that Pat's isn't offering it yet.
Also Marino is less points.
I've worked extremely hard and I know teaching is right for me, I'm creative, hard working and love working with children.
I feel I've put so much work in I deserve 600 points but unforch I won't get close.
I just pray to God I get one of the teaching colleges because it's all I want to do.

milfordcubicle

If you do go to marino, living on campus is also a must.. the atmosphere is brilliant and always something going on to pass the evenings.. although its probably the same in pats but that campus is very strict too

TheFullDuck

milfordcubicle wrote: »

If you do go to marino, living on campus is also a must.. the atmosphere is brilliant and always something going on to pass the evenings.. although its probably the same in pats but that campus is very strict too

Will there still be accom for Marino in august?

milfordcubicle

I would say so yeah.. if ya get accepted and all they send ya out info bout living on campus.. well they did last year anyways!

TheFullDuck

milfordcubicle wrote: »

I would say so yeah.. if ya get accepted and all they send ya out info bout living on campus.. well they did last year anyways!

I see, is it a good college?

byhookorbycrook

It's not true to say there are jobs out there. So many jobs have been supressed this year that very few newly qualified can hope to even get some subbing. The pupil teacher ratio is not fixed either, talks it will go up in the next budget, so if that happens, lots more teachers out of jobs, who will have to get a job before a newly qualified teacher will get a sniff.

All new teachers will be starting on 10% less than current teachers-who have also been cut 10%,so you're down 20% in pay already.

ALL of that said, I love teaching will may you laugh, cry, no two days are the same, your heart will break for some children and you will get the chance to change someone's life. if it's what you REALLY want, then go for it.

PS MARY I is where you need to go:D

milfordcubicle

Yeah its a very good college.. the course is great, the people are sound, the gaeltacht is fantastic on inis meain.. teaching practice is fairly intense but it gives ya good experience of being in the classroom.. I would defiantly recommend it anyway.. but thats probably bias..

randylonghorn

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

PS MARY I is where you need to go:D

Shill!! :cool:

harbourhill

Keeb wrote: »

BrenosBolts91 is right about the differences between marino and pats. Here are some more;

I wanted to do primary school teaching too and was unsure which college to go to. I went to the open days of each college (a must!) and made my decision straight away. I thought Pats was a very old college and just did not like it. In Pats you must choose one core subject to focus on, say English. Depending on the subject you choose, you receive either a full qualification in that subject or a half qualification where you would have to do a masters in the subject to be fully qualified in it. I did not like this fact because there was no one subject that I would have liked to specialise in. Also the pats degree is not recognised abroad. However, I believe they are bringing in another year so that it is recognised abroad.
I went to froebal and it was just far too small of a college for me. It is literally just one building, no campus or fields. Although froebal will be moving out to maynooth soon so it will have a lovely campus!
When I went out to Marino, I fell in love straight away! Griffith avenue is gorgeous and so are the grounds in which Marino are on. There's a graveyard and squirrels always running around and the building is just beautiful. You are qualified after 3 years in Marino, the 4th year is optional. This 4th year is evening lectures and allows you to teach abroad as 4years are required in a degree for teaching abroad. I also liked the fact that marino offered extra maths classes because I am woefull at maths. Marino is reknowed for its strong influence on Irish however, I do not think it is any different to the other colleges. Marino used to be an Irish only speaking college but now everything is done through English.
Teaching practice: in pats for 1st year you are paired with another 1st year and you both teach lessons throughout the day for 3 weeks. In marino you are thrown in the deep end and have to teach full days for 3 weeks by yourself from the beginning. It is very tough but at the end of the day, you get more experience teaching that way.
All the teaching colleges are relatively small which I loved. You are guaranteed to make friends as it's just like secondary school; being in the same classes as everyone else with classes of 3 classes of 40 (in marino anyway). There are only 20 guys out of 100 but that's grand! Marino has a really nice atmosphere too.
You must go to the gaeltacht in all courses which is a laugh. One thing though which I completly underestimated though is how tough teaching is. When I was going into it, I had chosen it because it is what I wanted to do but was also expecting an easy job.....half days, holidays etc. IT IS NOT EASY!!! I cannot stress this enough, it is a very demanding job and takes up A LOT of your time, but if it's what you want to do, go for it
You may have guessed that I go to Marino. I got enough points to get into Pats but I didn't even put it on my CAO cause I wanted Marino. Hope that's helpful, I can tell you loads more about the colleges too if you want to know more!

Hi can you tell me anything about student accommodation in Marino hoping to go there next month scared of the thought as I am from the country, is it easy to make friends

Keeb

harbourhill wrote: »

Hi can you tell me anything about student accommodation in Marino hoping to go there next month scared of the thought as I am from the country, is it easy to make friends

Hi harbourhill.
The accomodation in Marino is lovely. I probably sound so biased but in pats it's tiny, old, one kitchen for loads of people, smelly....... Marino on the other hand are really nice there's usually 3/4 rooms in an appartment all with separate doors so you don't have to worry about privacy and a kitchen between the people in your appartment. When you go in the door of your appartment it'll just be a corridor with doors (the doors to the bedrooms) then the kitchen/ common room at the room is at the end. There's a couch and tv there too and a table lovely views too haha marino campus is lovely. And it's open for other people to stay there, not just marino students so you'll often find people from DIT there etc.
On the friends front, you have absolutly nothing about, honestly. In marino if you meet someone on the first day you'll defo see them again the next day cause the classes are so small (40ish to a class I think). You get to know your class really well and I think it's really nice. It's just like secondary school really. There's 3 class groups to a year and you get to know them well too. You have scheduled lunch and break times too so everyone goes to the canteen together or to their appartments so you'll get to know people that way too. If you were in UCD doing arts or something you might meet someone the first day and see them again next month haha. And there's just so many people in those courses it's hard to make friends especially when everyone's on different breaks and there's loads of places to go. Marino is just all good, not a bad word to say about it. Don't worry

Dearbhaile

Does Pats not have a better reputation that Marino?Is there a GAA team in Marino?I'm still confused between which one to put down first!

paddykell

If anyone's interested in my tuppenceworth (which they're probably not, but I'm going to give it anyway) my sister trained as a teacher last year, and she went to Froebel in Dublin (which is soon due to move to NUIM). Throughout her time there she loved it. They emphasise more unique teaching methods, such as teaching through play. They're not big on the traditional method of teaching of giving children 25 text books and reading them all day. From what she's told me about it, it's a really good college that prepares you really well for working with kids! They take a very modern approach.

dambarude

paddykell wrote: »

They emphasise more unique teaching methods, such as teaching through play. They're not big on the traditional method of teaching of giving children 25 text books and reading them all day.

Just so the OP knows - none of the colleges are big on the 'traditional method', and I can presume that all of them encourage learning through play as well.