Career change to teaching?

[Thebesthingsinlifearefree]

I am considering changing my career from law to teaching as law is something I cannot do part-time (having found out last year when I returned to work for 7 months) and although I know teaching is not a part-time career by any means I want to be able to do something that will fit in more round my 2 dcs aged 3 and 6. Has anyone else gone into teaching later in life? I'll be 39 in April and just wondered how other people have coped with the training etc and cost? I think I would ideally like to teach Year 3-6 but will probably see a career adviser for some guidance!

[MorningHasBroken]

DH did this at the age of 32; he moved from a career in sales as we were struggling with childcare in the holidays, and he was getting sick of being away from home for overnights on the road etc. He had always wanted to go into teaching, so it was more that it was the right time for him to finally follow his dream, rather than just taking it up because it was convenient.

The training can be hard, and the first few years has been pretty tough (financially as well as in workload) but as he moves up the ladder and gets used to the work it gets easier. Depending on what kind of school you work at, what age of kids you teach etc, the work levels can differ. Some teachers work all day and night, others get by doing the bare minimum so it won't necessarily be that much less work. In terms of hours, he leaves the house at 7.30am, and gets in anywhere between 4.30 and 7pm, depending on marking, meetings, after-schools clubs etc and will often then continue to work in the evenings, so I'm not sure how much it really 'fits in' around the kids. We had to continue using a childminder before and after-school until I went part-time.

I would advise you spend some time in schools, shadowing teachers of different age groups so you can see the workload for real, and work out how you'd fit it around your kids in reality,

[fizzymilk]

I echo MorningHasBroken. Although I'm not a teacher, I once did work experience many moons ago. All I can say it put me off teaching. Don't get me wrong nothing wrong with teaching as a career - it's something I can never do. I find managing workload in an office easier then dealing with a class of kids! I only shadowed and helped out the teacher but that was enough to make up my mind. My point is do try and ask for shadowing, voluntary work experience to see how you feel before you commit yourself.

Are you just planning to move to teaching just to fit around your children? Have you looked at other jobs aside from teaching that you like?

Also from speaking to other teacher friends, teaching is more then a full time job. One friend said she spent 24/7 working, even when she came home from work, there was either marking, planning for next class etc to do.

Also, i was reading a thread on mumsnet the other day but someone else mentioned that they couldn't carry on doing law job part time and someone else mentioned legal proof reading and the hours were better etc. Is this an avenue for you to explore?

[slipperandpjsmum]

Have you considered social work?

[Xanadudoo]

Most teaching roles in schools don't fit in with family life brilliantly. You wont be able to do the school run and you may often have to stay late for parents evenings and staff meetings. You will also have to spend time in the evenings and at weekends marking ad preparing lessons. It is an all-consuming job, if you do it properly - the PGCE year alone is pretty hardcore!

I am not trying to put you off at all if it is your 'calling', but I think it is a real (very common) misconception that teaching is 'family friendly'. Ditto for social work!

Have you thought about adult education/FE? You are much more likely to be able to pick up part-time or sessional work, and it is still (mostly) term-time only if that is what you want?

[specialgun]

I'm a teacher and would love to change to a career in law! I'm a few years older than you though so it's probably too late for me. I think you can do a PGCE part-time over two years so that would suit you, although I imagine it would still be quite hard work.

I work three days a week but this week I have spent the other two days (while DC are at school anyway) working at home - planning, marking and doing assessments. This is typical. I aim for a day working at home and a day doing housework with the idea that I will have my weekends free, but it never works out like that.

On my working days I start at 8.00 and finish at 4.30 one day and 5.30 the other two days because of clubs and staff meetings.

Things are much easier now the DC are school age. When they were little it was so hard trying to work at home and have them around. Now it is quite good in the holidays because we get to spend some time together and they don't have to go off to childminders. I work 2 or 3 days each holiday.

Hope this helps

[specialgun]

Forgot to say that the job market is not good right now. Part-time jobs seem particularly scarce.