at oxford. it was a good course, though the theory they taught us was pretty difficult to put into practice in the classroom.

Screw the theory and spend more time on the practical.

I started in 2000 at the Institute of Education as I didn't know what else to do at the time, I learnt that I didn't want to teach and left. My experience was that it was hard to maintain a social life and teach, imagine a class full of teenagers with a hangover - wrong.

That's stupid !

trained at Cambridge to do Classics. Much of the theory was impractical because my department wasn't very technologically advanced, so all the PowerPoint bull I did on training didn't apply.

Take Buni's advice and do the GTP, you go in at the sharp end.

Myself, two years of teaching taught me that disability and teaching do not mix, but that's probably not relevant. Just expect to have to work pretty damned hard.

My other advice would be 'don't try to be liked': kids are there to learn from you, not to like you.

and did a primary pgce last year. it's HARRRD work. i wouldn't really recommend goldsmiths, it' very disorganised. i'd agree with the above about doing the on the job training, i felt like the time i spent in college was pretty waste.

also, i pretty much have no desire to be a teacher anymore. i wish i'd have waited til i was older to do the training (i'm 23). but i'm working as a supply teacher for as long as i can hack it cos the moneys good and it means i can work a 4 day week and have time for my music stuff. but yeah, you didn't ask for that info but i am verbose.