Author: Anna Keenan

Anna’s gap year tutoring with Yipiyap helped her discover her passion for teaching. Having completed her undergraduate degree in Glasgow, she’s now studying for her PGDE.

A classmate’s passing comment hit me like a lightning bolt.

It was during a Spanish class on a random Tuesday in the run up to my A-Levels that she mentioned her plans to work with Yipiyap during her gap-year. At this point, I knew I wanted to take a gap year to have a break from education but had no idea what I wanted to do in this well-deserved time off.

It instantly made perfect sense to me: gain invaluable experience in a professional setting, retain my evenings and weekends, and meet likeminded peers. I applied almost immediately and was very pleased to be offered a place shortly thereafter.

Little did I know that this decision would ignite a passion for working in education and lead me to today, where I am now in the position of having two unconditional offers to study a PGDE and fulfil my dream of becoming a teacher.

Finding My Career Path

It had never occurred to me to go into teaching before this, but Yipiyap changed that entirely. Working in the English departments of two schools, I quickly found the challenge, variation, and joy of working with children exhilarating and knew I’d love to pursue it beyond my gap year.

The experience enabled me to fall back in love with literature, too, as I hadn’t taken it at A Level due to being burnt out and disenchanted with the subject by the end of my GCSEs – without this, I wouldn’t have studied English Literature at degree level, meaning I’d now be unqualified to apply to become an English teacher.

My entire gap year, despite the minor inconvenience of a pandemic (!), was a huge learning curve and, ultimately, extremely fun. Not only did I make new friends and develop invaluable professional skills, but I found a calling in teaching.

From Gap Year to University

So, what were my next steps?

As I went off to Glasgow to study English Literature and History of Art, I knew I wanted to teach in the long term, which prompted me to get into tutoring to build up my experience. I have now been tutoring English for four years, which has allowed me to build upon the skills I gained providing in-school tuition during my time with Yipiyap.

I have been able to hone and develop my teaching style and consolidate my belief that this is the correct career path for me.

And, as I started the application process to do a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education, I had a wealth of experience to draw on, all rooted in that fortuitous gap year.

Seizing the day and saying “yes”

None of this is to say that Yipiyap will only lead to a career in teaching. No – it offers so much more than that.

The best things I gained from my gap year with Yipiyap were confidence, self-discipline, and professionalism. These skills have been the building blocks for my success in many other opportunities that have come my way in the three years since I left Yipiyap. Whether this be throwing myself into a semester abroad in Amsterdam, gaining experience being an editor for an undergraduate journal at my university, or undertaking a variety of voluntary and paid part-time roles, I believe that having such an exciting role straight out of college has been fundamental in enabling me to just say ‘yes’ to what life has to offer.

Anyone fresh out of their A-levels, regardless of what they think of when they imagine their future, will benefit from developing the skills that Yipiyap helps cultivate. I just got lucky that my experience also ignited my desire to teach.

Teaching FAQs:

▶▲ What qualifications are needed to become a teacher?

Typically, teachers in the UK need Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Private schools and academies can employ teachers without QTS, but they usually still prefer it. QTS is earned through Initial Teacher Training (ITT). ITT can be undergraduate or postgraduate.

Many teachers will also have a PGCE or PGDE qualification. This is not strictly needed, but allows for deeper study into pedagogy.

▶▲ What's the difference between a PGCE and a PGDE?

You might have heard of a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), but not a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). Both are teaching qualifications, and both are at master's degree level. PGCE courses typically contain up to 60 credits worth of material, where as PGDEs will contain up to 120 - so a PGDE is a more in-depth course of study. Besides that, the main difference is that more providers are available to study for a PGCE than a PGDE.

▶▲ Can you become a teacher without a degree?

In February 2024, the Department for Education announced a new apprenticeship-based ITT course. This is a degree apprenticeship, and will award an undergraduate degree alongside Qualified Teacher Status. This pathway into teaching will allow you to earn money and get hands-on experience while training.

From Tutor to Teacher: How I Found My Calling