Should I/How do I go into teaching?

[Listerscat]

Hello all, I'm just wondering if there are any teachers or college tutors/lecturers who could offer any advice.

I am in a profession that I've been wanting to leave. I had always wanted to go into teaching or my current profession, so my change of heart isn't out of the blue.

I have a degree and a post grad relevant to the field that I am in now (not a subject taught until A level stage, and not a subject that I'd like to teach).

I work very long hours (sometimes 11 hours in the office on top of the commute and work that I take home) so although I appreciate that teachers work very hard I am used to long days and having to work after work iyswim.

My dh has a full time job but lectures at a FE college part time (so does 88 hour weeks not including marking, lesson plans etc) He did the PTTLs course. He thinks that this would be the best route for me and that I should try English departments.

My dm (I come from a family of teachers) thinks that I should look at state secondary schools instead and is sure that you can get paid to train. My research online and (v limited) understanding is that it would cost me £6000 and upwards to do ITT for a year to become a QT (is that correct?). I have already paid £10,000 for the 'training' in my current profession on top of my uni fees, so I really don't think that I can afford it. DM insists that I've got it wrong.

Can anyone shed any light or has anyone else left a career to become a teacher?

[noblegiraffe]

There are salaried training routes so you don't do a PGCE, you train in a school and get paid to do it, look up Schools Direct.

Which subject would you be training to teach in? There are large bursaries available for certain subjects )e.g. £25,000 for maths, so you'd be better off in those subjects to take an unsalaried route and get the bursary.

[Betty1000]

Hi
Please be prepared to work 12 hour days as you will have around 30 pupils and your Head will insist on Maths and English books being marked daily. You will have to do detailed planning (even though Teaching Unions have fought against this).
Teaching is very rewarding but only for those who want to give their life to it I'm afraid.

[Listerscat]

Thank you both for your responses. Noblegiraffe, I'll have a look at Schools Direct.

[NaomiCole]

My honest gut reaction - don't do it. I love teaching. I've wanted to do it since I was four. Every day with the kids is a gift. However, the new curriculum is so restrictive that all the joy is being sucked out. The children are being worked to the bone and I cannot in good conscience carry on being a tool of the government that treats all children like learning robots who need knowledge transferred into them. It's cruel. I do ten hours a day on site then do at least four hours at home every night and work all day and evening on at least one of my weekend days. I'm at breaking point to make it engaging and fun. I love my job but I'm not staying.

Sorry to be so negative. Might I suggest that you have a read around the TES website forums?

Good luck, whatever you choose to do.

[Listerscat]

Sorry for the delay, but that you Naomicole, that's food for thought...