Thinking of teacher training. Secondary, social sciences

[PikachuSayBoo]

I see a lot of posts here from not very happy teachers. Is it that bad? My parents were teachers and my SIL was until recently. SIL enjoyed it but was asked to teach maths and she's not a maths teacher so she left and is reevaluating stuff now. I get the hard work, marking in the evenings, etc

Am currently a midwife. I have a criminology degree so lots of sociology, psychology, social sciences, law, politics, philosophy in that degree. Also have an advanced diploma and half a masters in midwifery. So again more psychology, sociology and all the health and social care stuff.

20 years ago when doing my first degree I volunteered one afternoon a week for a year in a primary school. I wouldn't be able to provide references for thag though. More recently I taught a GCSE equivalent qualification to local 16-19 year olds. Set the whole thing up, got kids signed up, did all the teaching and marking. 100% of kids completed the course which the local Connexxions place were amazed by as it was in their own time and voluntary, they all passed as well.

Do you think my experience and qualifications would be enough? Do I need secondary school experience and if so do I just contact a local secondary school and ask if I can attend?

[noblegiraffe]

What would be your main subject? Health and social care wouldn't be enough to fill a secondary timetable and it's unlikely that a school would be able to offer you a full timetable of H&S, sociology and psychology.

Have you thought about FE rather than secondary?

[Leatherboundanddown]

I think you have enough experience to get onto the PGCE.

A few years ago there were just two SS PgCEs. Leicester Uni and one in Scotland.

Even in FE teaching just Sociology/Psych will not add up to a full time job. When I was in secondary (we were a rare school that offered sociology at GCSE, it is quite rare in 11-16 schools) I had to teach Child Development, RS and Music Technology BTEC (don't ask) just to add up to a 0.8 timetable!

There are not many jobs, I think you'd be looking at an FE college really, and there are not many jobs around really. I think it would be quite a paycut for you too, it is not well paid at all.

I left teaching in July so I would say don't do it but if you do then plan really carefully.

Do you have children?

[PikachuSayBoo]

The pgce is a social sciences one so guess I could teach stuff like sociology ' philosophy., law, politics, psychology afterwards. So guess it would be mainly sixth form. I don't mind part time only jobs.

[PotteringAlong]

Look at the TES jobs pages now to see, realistically, whether there are any jobs available.

[PikachuSayBoo]

Just one dd in year 11. I currently work part time so would be happy to work part time still . 0.6 would be ideal.

[PikachuSayBoo]

Thanks. Will look at tes .

[Heirhelp]

Yes it is that bad. You really need to get into some schools and talk to some teachers about it. Would you be happy to work a 60 hour plus week? A pgce cost a lot, it is not something I would want to do without finding out if it really is the right thing for you.

[BossWitch]

I wouldn't. Most teachers want out. With those subjects you'll have limited choices for jobs which could mean you get stuck in a school you don't like but can't move because there are no other jobs for your subject/s.

[Leatherboundanddown]

The thing with working .6 is that you will still be working at least a 40 hr a week for that but not being paid for it.

Is it the young people you would like to work with or the subject matter? You could look into working in the third sector instead maybe?

A one year masters in something like Social Research is cheaper than a PGCE.

[sashh]

Health and social care wouldn't be enough to fill a secondary timetable and it's unlikely that a school would be able to offer you a full timetable of H&S, sociology and psychology.

If you are prepared to work in colleges as well (or instead) you can get FT HSC. I've done supply for years, mostly teaching the physiology part of the BTEC. I've been prepared to travel though so not all were local.

[Iwantacareerchange]

OP I'm a nurse and also thinking of retraining to be a teacher, my degree is completely unrelated to nursing and is in a high demand subject.
It's a huge decision I started a thread in the education section and I had lots of comments from current teachers basically saying don't do it. But I've also spoken face to face to other teachers who I know (who don't have an axe to grind either way) and although they talk about the stresses associated with the job the long hours etc they also have been very encouraging and think I'd love it and also most encouragingly of all think I'd be really good at it.
Obviously I don't want to jump from the frying pan into the fire. It's a very difficult decision. I've PMd you.

[cherrypiesally]

I'm 0.8 teaching ks5 sociology plus extra hums at KS3. My previous school I taught KS4 soc, HTC and KS3 hums. The jobs are there but be prepared to have anything with the Social Sciences. It's brilliant teaching sociology, go for it.

[PikachuSayBoo]

I've just been reading the thread by the MNEr currently training and it's put me right off . The personal scrutiny and finger pointing is my least favourite part of midwifery and I don't want to be out the frying pan into the fire .

[Iwantacareerchange]

Pikachu the problem is that I'm not sure where is a good place to work any more? I'm very open to sensible suggestions.
I wouldn't be a midwife for all the tea in China. I seriously considered retraining as a midwife a couple of years ago but talked to midwifes at work and heard such horror stories of endless near misses and knowing the huge responsibilities they have I wouldn't touch it with a barge poll.

[pieceofpurplesky]

I love teaching. I have been doing it for nearly twenty years. I love the buzz of the classroom, the feeling when a child passes and exam and mostly how the pupils trust you to help them with their personal problems.
It is the hardest job I have ever done. It has changed beyond recognition. The paperwork and the box ticking is diabolical. The scrutiny is exhausting - the blame for pupils not making progress even more so. The pupils are no longer like they were - they expect instant success, can't understand why they cannot keep their Snapchat streaks up throughout a lesson and do not want to work. This is the majority of pupils. A minority work hard and a minority have behaviour issues. It is the bunch in the middle that ruin the job for me.
Getting a girl with ADHD engrossed in a novel or a boy with a broken home to write a poem are the rewards. Arguing daily with sporty kid over using his headphones in your lesson - not so much.
Be aware that part time in teaching does not have to be broken in to days - .6 is three days and that can be spread over 5.

[noblegiraffe]

Yep, I'm 0.6 and don't get any days off.

[PotteringAlong]

The personal scrutiny and finger pointing is my least favourite part of midwifery

I love teaching. But if this is what you're trying to get away from it's not the job for you

[OCSockOrphanage]

I too have a social science degree and retrained as a teacher at 54, to teach citizenship which was then a mandatory 5% in the curriculum. A combination of ageism and the downgrade for citizenship meant there have been no jobs to apply for since I qualified (location inflexible). Be careful.

[mumtomaxwell]

Up post some people have suggested you couldn't get a full TT with 'just soc/psych/h&sc"

That's wrong!! I have taught social sciences for nearly 18 years in a few schools. Every dept I've worked in has had several full time teachers!! Currently my dept (in a state secondary) has 6 full time teachers - 2 each for psych, soc and H&SC!! And in my experience that's normal!

[noisewithdirton]

I teach psychology A level in an independent school and it is a really good job. I have never had a problem finding a psychology teaching job so I reckon if you could offer sociology and health and social care as well you would be fine. (Look on the TEs jobs website for an indication) There is a lot of paper work and scrutiny but that is mostly to ensure you are doing a good job. I haven't taught in a state school for a while but even then I didn't find it too stressful as I taught a-level only. The PGCE is a bloody slog but if you are a midwife you will be used to that! Another option might be the on the job training https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/explore-my-options/teacher-training-routes/school-led-training/school-direct-salaried might be worth investigating with your local schools? Have to say it is hard work and relentless but then that is why the holidays are so good

[Phineyj]

Grammars and independents have psychology/sociology jobs, at least round here (Kent/London). Sometimes e.g. 0.6 or 0.8 in those subjects plus KS3 Science or Humanities. IIRC sixth form only subjects don't count for PGCE anyway as you've got to train in two adjacent age ranges (I had to teach RS to KS4 in order to get qualified - I'm an Economics specialist).

[KittyVonCatsington]

We don't teach Sociology and Health and Social Care at my school and we have one teacher teach Psychology A Level. A lot of schools in my area have been culling those subjects in the last couple of years

[KittyVonCatsington]

Pressed to soon and meant to add I'm in Kent Grammar and two other local Grammars have cut Sociology and Law as well