TA chat forum

daisycat

Is anyone else starting the STA course in Sept/Oct 08? or have they done it.

I am enrolling and just concerned about the Mentor involvment and how much this takes up. I have two people who could cover this but, both are extremely busy with a lot of pressure in the coming new school year and I don't want to approach them if this is going to add more.

Any information gratefully received.

Tomjay · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:50 pm Post subject:

Not done this daisycat. What level is it? Above Foundation Degree, between HLTA and FD? Sounds interesting though.

daisycat · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 11:57 am Post subject:

Its the first part of doing the Foundation Degree, once you have this you can go straight into it or move onto another course. The best bit is that by the end of the course October - April you have enough evidence to apply for HLTA, and as we know its the evidence thats the biggest headache.

susie · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject:

I didn't know this course was still running! When my partner did it a few years ago she had minimal involvement from her mentor but that was because they couldn't be bothered.
Who are you doing it with? Smile

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Tomjay · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject:

Thanks daisycat for that, I wasnt even familiar with it. Good Luck

lollypop · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:20 pm Post subject:

I did my STAC about 3 years ago and they told us that that was the last year it was running.

If it is still running it is a fantastic course. Lots of hard work.....very time consuming but you will get such a lot from it. Mentors are on hand for advice etc and to check your work with you.

Good luck with it

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IF AT FIRST YOU DONT SUCCEED, DESTROY ALL EVIDENCE THAT YOU TRIED!!!

daisycat · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the encouragement. Thank goodness the mentors don't have to be over involved.

The course seems very interesting although lots of time spent on English and Maths. I'm going to attend the pre course course on English and Maths just to get myself up to speed. Well, its free and the course is costing a bit!

Jack-of-all-Trades · prefect Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 9836 Location: england

Hi catching up still.
I did this course.Mentor just asked how essays were going and read when I finished made af ew minor suggestions.The one she thought was the best eg Had no suggestions for improvement was the one I had the lowest mark for Confused

We asked for remark as she noticed it hadn't been moderated but no one replied and we were a bit caught up with new HT and serious vandalisim till too late.Do check if you are not happy.I enjoyed the course.

daisycat · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:26 pm Post subject:

Going to enrol next week, been warned that it can take ages and to make sure I have my make-up on for my photo!

Didn't make it to the pre courses, pressure of work. Never mind I'm sure I will manage, somehow.

Everyone at work being really interested and supportive of the course, some already asking for any resources or ideas I may come across. Really looking forward to it. Very Happy

Newcastle · New kid Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 3

Hi,

They have changed the name of the NVQ course to Specialist Teaching Assistant.

The STAC course finished a few years back and they replaced it with NVQ. They keep changing the names, just to confuse us lol!
Take care

daisycat · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject:

That's interesting. Course going well and I am finding its making me more aware in the classroom as to how I come across to the pupils. Still enjoying it, but the hard bit is to come - the essays.

Jack-of-all-Trades · prefect Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 9836 Location: england

Newcastle .......I afraid this is incorrect information.

Some areas are still running the STAC and it is considered a Level 4 qualification.You can usually step onto the 2nd year of some degrees as long as you get a decent pass.
NVQ's at Level 2 and 3 are available and I believe in some ares you can do an NVQ Level 4 but not in my area.So I did STAC and HLTA (which is a status not a qualification.)

Yes the essays are quite hard work my biggest problem was that I wrote too much.We did a Numeracy, Literacy and SEN one.

daisycat · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject:

There I was banging away at the laptop without checking the wordcount. Took me an hour to edit to get it down to the right amount - + 10%.

helenwhitegate · New kid Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 24 Location: Midlands

I am also confused as in my area the HLTA is a qualification and as i understand it - and don't quote me i have been known to get things wrong - those ta's with it are all put on level 3 pay grade! I think what you are all referring to and what i know as the HLTA are one in the same.???????????

ggeni · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject:

I am confused as well. A friend of mine did STAC through the OU a few years ago, when I enquired last year I was told that course was no longer taught and I would need to do E111 (supporting learning in Primary schools) which I did. However when we compared E111 was quite different to the STAC, no mentors for a start and alot more written work in the form of essays. I was also told that STAc was level 3 while E111 was level 4. Not sure how true that is.