20 June 2016

Transition to teaching information event for oil and gas workers

Oil and gas workers looking for a change of career are being invited to an information event next week (Thursday, June 23) where they’ll be able to find out how to become secondary school teachers.

The event will promote a new scheme through which workers made redundant or at risk of redundancy can achieve a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PDGE), particularly in teaching science, technology and maths subjects.

It starts at 4pm and will take place in the MacRobert Lecture Theatre (MR051) at the University of Aberdeen.

A further information session open to others interested in teaching will be held at 7pm on the same date. This session will focus on general routes into teaching and is open to all members of the public.

The scheme involves taking up a Transition into Education post at either council with participants undertaking the PGDE (Secondary) at the university and gaining classroom experience.

All entrants must already have a degree in a relevant subject (such as science or technology) and have suitable qualifications in English and Maths.

Professor Do Coyle, Head of the School of Education at the University of Aberdeen said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for experienced and qualified people to inspire learners in our schools and another good example of what can be achieved in partnership with our local authorities.”

Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Education, Learning and Leisure Committee, Cllr Alison Evison, said: “This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in retraining as a teacher to find out more about what this scheme involves and ask questions.

“Through initiatives like the DLITE programme we’ve seen that the transition to teaching from other sectors can be a smooth and successful one. It’s a win-win situation opening up a fulfilling career in teaching which people might not otherwise have considered while helping councils plug staffing gaps in our schools.”

Aberdeen City Council's Convener of Education and Children’s Services Committee, Councillor Angela Taylor, said: "We are all too aware of the challenges local authorities are facing in recruiting teachers, which is why we are working in partnership with the University of Aberdeen, to offer the opportunity to become a teacher through the DLITE programme.

"We are particularly keen for anyone who has been made redundant from the oil industry or is facing the possibility of losing their job, particularly those with experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, to attend the information event to find out more about becoming a teacher through the DLITE programme.

"Others who may be looking to change careers are also welcome to attend as those responsible for delivering the programme will be on-hand to explain more about the course and the guaranteed teaching jobs available to those who successfully complete the course."

Applications are now open for the Transition to Teaching scheme, with the PGDE programme starting in August