Teaching or Nursing?

[TitsalinaBumSquash]

I'm at a point where I am able to study and start building a career.

I am starting from the bottom and am currently taking my English, Maths and Biology GCSE for the first time. (I already have functional skills in both maths and English at level 2)

I was set on getting my GCSE's then doing an access to nursing and then going to uni and getting a nursing degree in adult nursing.

However, since being in education I have remembered how much I love English and I enjoy my lessons so much I've been driving back to ab idea I had many years ago about being an adult English teacher but I've no idea what that would entail (qualifications wise) and if there's a lot of call for it.
Nursing was attractive because there's a lot of work available (I live next to a hospital)

I have a lot of experience nursing within my own family and I'm currently a care assistant so it seemed like a natural pathway for me but I can't help thinking that it would be a waist of my love of English if I didn't give the teaching idea a thorough looking at.

I know neither career are great in terms of stress, conditions and treatment by the government etc but that's not what I'm asking about.

Thanks in advance if anyone has an option or advice on this.

[LeGrandBleu]

The amount of hours a teacher has to work from home is staggering. So much preparation, reporting, paperwork. With nursing, when you leave your job to go home, you truly leave your job. In teaching it follows you at night, on weekend and on holiday.

You can cherish your love of English by joining literature clubs, do MOOCs on coursera, attending events and so on.

[Landlubber2019]

@LeGrandBleu As someone who works with a team of nurses, imo nurses absolutely don't leave work in the workplace and frequently work evenings / weekends at home to keep on top.

[LeGrandBleu]

Sorry didn't;t mean to be dismissive. However I am sure, we are not talking about the 10 hours per weekend teachers have to do.

[GalOopNorth]

Adult teacher might be better than in school?
Both teaching and nursing are very, very difficult jobs at the moment.

[LolaSmiles]

Teaching English in the Further Education sector has different requirements from teaching English in schools.

You're unlikely to just get adult students who are motivated, mature students. Most people I know who teach in post-compulsory education also teach a lot of functional skills and GCSE results, often to students who are 16-19 and really don't want to be resitting maths/English. If you're lucky then the college might also have an A Level provision, but depending on how the college is structured you might find that the A Level teachers are in a different department to the adult education and resit department. Some people I know really enjoy it, others do it alongside tutoring or supply, others have moved to FE because they've become jaded with some of the issues in secondary education.

Some colleges will have a salaried position with a range of classes, others have moved to recruiting on an hourly paid basis with hours varying depending on numbers.

[Metallicalover]

@LeGrandBleu your correct in saying you can't bring your nursing work home to some extent as you can't have patients at home. However a lot of nurses work late as there is many enough time in the day to do paperwork etc and this is unpaid?
Teachers also get more annual leave. Quote from my friend.... well you know the only time I get the full time to relax is the summer break. Bearing in mind that most people's annual leave is 4 weeks!!

Op they're 2 very different professions so you can't really compare. Both stressful in different way it's hard to give advice of which one you go for xx

[Spam88]

From a practical perspective, PGCE English is one of the most competitive teaching qualifications and, as there's no shortage of English teachers, there not much of any funding available. My information on this could be out of date though so definitely fact check me!

You'd need a relevant degree and then a PGCE, or alternatively there are some undergraduate routes, more info here: teacher training options

[TitsalinaBumSquash]

@Spam88 - I'm the least competitive person going so that goes a long way to helping me make my mind up.

Thanks for everyone's replies.

[PastaAndPizzaPlease]

Despite all Boris’ promises about promoting and funding FE, a lot of colleges are really underfunded and full time adult teaching contracts are hard to come by.
What strikes me in your post is that you clearly have a love for your subject, but in teaching your primary driver needs to be the teaching. That you want to teach. Unfortunately many curriculum are prescriptive and don’t allow much flexibility for you to really delve into your subject - this is why I didn’t bother to pursue English teaching, although I love my subject.
Added to which, adult teaching is likely going to be full of people who just need to get the qualification and get out - not foster a love for English for personal reasons, although there will be some I’m sure.
I would agree with the post above who said you would also likely teacher a lot of GCSE resits. In your shoes, I’d go with nursing

[averythinline]

From a family of teachers and a few nurses I would choose nursing...and regret not doing so when younger...

Not saying nursing is not hard it is and it can be harder moving up pay scales if that's a concern ...but teaching is relentless and I think you actively have to really want to teach ..
I think nursing has more flexibility in that you can work bank etc...voile of the mums at school just worked a couple of night shifts a week when kids young so no childcare ..

[LolaSmiles]

Spam88
It depends on area though and the difference between getting on a course and getting a job.

In my area it's almost impossible to get strong English, Maths, Science or MFL teachers. People are doing some of the training courses but that's not translating into people seeking job, or getting and keeping jobs.

Some schools I know have a revolving door of NQTs or NQT+1 and the retention isn't brilliant, even in good schools.

[NCTDN]

Op did you decide?

[yoyo1234]

I would think nursing would feel more rewarding.