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The majority of students taking the BEd Primary degree course
wish to pursue a career in teaching. The four-year course offered
by the College is an ideal preparation for this and our graduates
are highly regarded by employers. The course has been developed
in consultation with the General Teaching Council Northern Ireland
(GTCNI) and fully meets the requirements of the GTCNI and the
Department of Education. Graduates have Qualified Teacher Status
(necessary to obtain permanent employment as a teacher) and are
eligible to register with the GTCNI. Indeed the College works
closely with the GTCNI to facilitate registration and to enable
provisional registration even before completion of the course.
In the final year School Experience, students are encouraged
to work with increasing independence and to teach for extended
periods of time. They are encouraged, where possible, to attend
staff meetings and INSET training. All of this equips them for
progression to becoming autonomous beginning teachers. Guest speakers
visit the College and give talks to students on teaching as a
career, and Careers Fairs and Teacher Recruitment Fairs are organised
on a regular basis. A central element of the Year 4 course is
the provision for students of advice on job application and interview
technique. Feedback from schools indicates the great satisfaction
that schools have with our ITE students after they take up employment.
Most graduates enter employment as teachers in primary schools
within Northern Ireland. However a significant percentage of graduating
students decide to apply for and are appointed to teaching posts
outside Northern Ireland e.g BEd students graduating in July 2012
have been successful in securing permanent teaching posts in Manchester,
Kent, Medway, Brent, Inner and Outer London, Birmingham and Reading.
Others decided to move further away and secured posts in Madrid,
Dhubai, Qatar, and Germany.
Some graduates decide not to go into teaching but to pursue other
careers related to education, such as sports development. Studying
for a BEd degree at St Mary’s will assist you in developing
the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued
by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions.
Other graduates decide to pursue their academic studies further
and take Masters or Doctorate courses in education or their subject
specialism. The study of an academic subject and research training
within the BEd degree facilitate such choices.
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