I'm 42, living in Essex, with a BSc, MSc and PhD but are finding it hard 
to get work in the area of my PhD (a branch of engineering). I don't 
wish to move a large distance, which would seem the only way really. 
University lectureships are hard to get.

I'm thinking of teaching ICT and/or Design and Technology in secondary 
schools.

I have been looking at getting qualified teacher status via the graduate 
teacher program. Any suggestions on the best way to go about this? Do 
you think I would be attractive to schools? Is my age and the fact I 
have a PhD a good or a bad thing?

I've written to one local school today offering to do some work as an 
assistant, initially unpaid, but I don't wish to be exploited, so don't 
intend being unpaid for long. I'm unemployed at the minute and have a 
mortgage.


I've got reasonable train links to some pretty "poor/rough" parts of 
London, but live in a pretty middle class area of Essex. Would it be 
better to train in a "rough" part of London? I'm thinking it might be, 
since if you can teach there, you can probably teach anywhere.


-- 
Dave K     MCSE.

MCSE = Minefield Consultant and Solitaire Expert.

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