Is there a demand for secondary music teachers?

In September i'm start a PGCE in secondary music in London. I was just wondering how difficult it is to get a job in London after the PGCE. I'm really worried that I won't be able get a job after what seems like years of studying.

xx

 

I am in the same situation as you starting a PGCE course in September, but as I have seen on this website and what I understand there are suppose to be many music teacher positions. But I hope that is still the case once I qualify.

 

Believe me (i have been doing this job for 13 years now) as long as music is in the NC there will be jobs for Music teachers in London and on the outskirts.......me thinks why???mmmmmmmmm......

Seriously - good luck with the PGCE - I did mine at Goldsmiths' (New Cross feels like a lifetime ago)and really enjoyed it - did my TP at Jamie Oliver's favourite school for new food;-) Had a great time as had fantastic mentors

 

I'm doing my PGCE at Goldsmiths. Really glad to hear there are plenty of jobs, feel much better now.

Thank you

xx

 

It certainly doesn't feel to me like there are many jobs going, I have seen maybe 50 full-time music jobs in London this year, when I consider that there are almost 20 students in my PGCE course alone I have to wonder how many of us are going to be left without jobs.

 

I wouldn't worry, quite a lot of trainees get offered jobs by their placement schools so the jobs aren't advertised. I did my PGCE at Roehampton, and several of us didn't want jobs in London, but all of those who did got a job easily.

 

Well I'd like to be optimistic, but I'm at the end of my PGCE and have sent out about 30 job applications now (all secondary music classroom teachig jobs) and haven't received any invitations for interview...

 

Well as a head of music at a ofsted 'outstanding' and high performing school results wise (ofted 0% gcse) I was dissapointed with the applicants for a music post advertised last year.

Lots of applications but very poor in terms of candidates qualifications (A level grades and type of degrees) and quality of application.

My view is that if you have good A levels grades, a decent degree (i.e. not just some music tech one from a post polytechnic) and good instrumental skills there are plenty of posts out there.

 

That should have read 90% GCSE.

 

i agree with the last post. If you're good enough there are loads of jobs out there. To the person not invited to any interviews have you given your letter to someone else to look at or rung the schools for feedback?

 

Paul, just out of curiosity, how do you evaluate applicants based on their applications? I don't have a music degree which I think is my main problem... but I do have a first class degree from a top 3 university, all As in maths/science subjects at A level, classical grades, distinctions in performance diplomas. Does that lack of a music degree immediately disqualify me in the eyes of a reviewing HoD?

 

when shortlisting i know that's one of the first things my school looks at, and as a HoD if you only had performance diplomas I'd be concerned about teaching the upper school, especially ks5. Do you have any theory qualifications?

 

I have ABRSM Grade 6 which I did when I was about 14... I've moved a long way beyond that now though. I am looking into doing a Grade 8 in theory.

 

Hi,

I am also doing my course at Goldsmiths. It is great to here from people that have been on that course, and the success of finding jobs.
Thanks

 

"when shortlisting i know that's one of the first things my school looks at, and as a HoD if you only had performance diplomas I'd be concerned about teaching the upper school, especially ks5. Do you have any theory qualifications?"

sorry to disagree, what nonsense ( In the nicest possible way)

How can anybody who has advanced diploma not have the skills to teach A-level.
I attended Goldsmiths like other posters here, but I am a graduate of two of the top colleges in this country, Manchester and London. Music teaching needs more high level performers, not people who are just teachers. (i sit back and wait for the storm)
It's that age old argument, do you need Grade 8 to teach music. I say of course you do.


Teachers who have a university based music degree are often less qualified. Music is about performing as well as hard theory. Yes, of course a-level teaching demands many skills and a lot of knowledge, but to say a applicant with a performing diploma lacks theoretical may not always be true.

 

I have just finished my secondary music PGCE in London and have got a job in a school for September - I applied for 5 jobs, got two interviews and was offered both of the jobs that I was shortlisted for. Most people on the course I was on have got jobs for September.

As regards qualifications I think that having a music degree is important as it teaches you the analytical skills to be able to teach topics that you are not already familiar with. As a woodwind player if I had just done a performance diploma I would not necessarily have done the analysis and music history that is needed to be able to teach A Level.

I think you need more than a grade 8 in music to teach it.

 

Paul - elitism alive and well then?

 

it's not elitism, it's realism. You get 20+ applications, the people looking at them are probably non specialists, they're going to go for people with music degrees if they want to appoint "music specialists" (not necessarily my opinion). Having said that there have been people i've worked with with non music degrees who've not been up to the job. Just my opinion!

 

and holidaysrule, i agree with you. However in the real world that's not how it works unfortunately

 

But don't be discouraged if your qualifications aren't quite what's expected. I balls-ed up my A-levels and I've done alright. But you've got to be realistic, like niawyn &co have said - your qualifications as well as your capabilities will be scrutinised, more so at the start of your career. So you might need to prove yourself for a few years and take jobs you'd prefer to pass up.