If I don't want to teach, what do I want to do?

[IrisJoy]

I have wanted to be a primary school for years. I have a few years experience as a TA; but that was over 10 years ago.
I have since done an OU degree in childhood and youth studies with a view to doing my PGCE for primary teaching.
But with so many teachers so stressed I am not sure wheather it's a good idea. I am a single parent. Two dds at secondary school. Is it realistic to think I could do a PGCE and then work in a primary school (year R or 1 hopefully) and not get too overwhelmed? Or would it really be better to go 9-5 job with less stress but not the holidays? And, if so, what should I look at doing?
Surelysl social work would be just as stressful. But I do want an interesting job and not just an office job. I do want to help people ideally.
At the moment I work in a secondary school but need to get a full time job with pay I can live on.
I am semi rural so need to take that into consideration too. Any ideas or suggestions?

[IrisJoy]

Anyone?

[Littlelambpeep]

I doubt it would be 9 -5 in teaching anywhere really?
But it is meaningful - holidays are great

[IrisJoy]

I realise it isn't 9-5 in teaching. Which is why I am asking if it would be better to get a 9-5 job (so fewer hours in term time) that doesn't have the holidays.
Good to know teaching is worth it though. It can seem very negative on here about teaching. Thank you

[Smudgymoo]

It’s a great job but you’ve got to think about the long term - it’s really tough at the beginning but every year it gets a little bit easier, and then 5 or so years down the line you can plan your lessons really quickly, and you learn to get much less stressed by things that happen. I didn’t feel like I could manage behaviour successfully until my 4th year of teaching. I also found training to be so much work - as often you are unsupported as the mentors are not being paid extra or given any extra time to actually support trainee teachers.

I will say I don’t think marking ever gets quick - but I guess it depends on what year you would work with in primary. I know primary you get lots less free periods than secondary and it can be a lot more physically draining (I have found when I have taught one lesson a week of primary(!)). But the holidays are fantastic and if you can work in the same borough as your child your holidays are largely similar!!

Good luck! I’d try and do a paid route of training though...

[MidiMitch]

In wouldn't bother with a PGCE - do a Scitt scheme (on the job training).

[WitcheryNights]

Whereabouts are you OP? PM if needed x

[30birthdayholiday]

Wonder if you could be a childminder? You can become full time quite easily, and the pay can be good.

[ASauvignonADay]

What about something pastoral? I won't lie it is high stress at points but not as much workload outside of school as teaching, and your holidays are free.

[IrisJoy]

Thank you everyone.
Yes I was going to try to get into a schools direct scheme. With uni PGCE for back up.

I would love to do pastoral on the school I am in; but the jobs don't come up very often.

I have thought about child minding. Sadly my health isn't 100% guaranteed, so I can't afford to be in a job that, I'd I don't work, I don't get paid.

I am down south, if that makes a difference.

[luckybird07]

Can you wait till your kids have left school? The training year and following year are so intense- as a single mum it will be very tough, doable as long as you surrender any sense of a right to free time. The happiest teachers are those who love the job that they do not resent using their free time to work or the laid back ones who can wing it and actually do get by putting in a 40 hour week. The people in between these two positions face the hardship the most because there is a sense that the job is never done so you could be working 12 hours a day, every day and not feel that satisfaction that you are doing a good job.

[IrisJoy]

That's what I was wondering. Elder dd is 16. So she will probably have left when I do it band younger dd will be in year 9. I have waited this long so that I am in that position. But I am wondering, even then, if u am better just to get a full time 9-5 job. I won't get the holidays with dd. But I will get term time evenings.. Do you think it all evens out Iver the year? Or will I really be better doing one or the other?

(I am fortunate enough to do term time only mornings at the moment. But need to up my income over the next couple of years)

[luckybird07]

I think that some of the work you do at home can be quite interesting if you just stop fighting that it has to be done. I think I will enjoy my job more when I do not feel my kids are missing out on me and personally I like being occupied with something meaningful, but not when it encroaches on family life which it does tend to during term time, unless you are very good at leaving your work at work. I think it prob works out the same hours as a regular 9-5 if you add up the hours you do in non work time. I like that I can be home by 3:30 if need be and then do some more of my work after my kids go to bed.I think with one child you would have to accept that you may be less available for the first 3 years- by which time your dd will be on her way to college...

[Madeline88]

Work for the ministry of education, do education outreach in museums etc?

[luckybird07]

Whether a teacher enjoys their job depends upon when you ask them I reckon. Just a month ago I was looking for other jobs as I was so overwhelmed by the mental load of it all....now as I near the vacation, I am finding it less onerous and looking forward to my 3 weeks off st xmas.

[Highfever]

Surely social work would be just as stressful

Yes it would be absolutely as intense if not more so than teaching.

[Bishybarnybee]

I think it's doable with teen age children, harder with young children (though people do it). You will feel like you have no life in term time at first. Holidays will help you get through it and it will get easier after a couple of years if you're in a supportive school. I did it in my late 40s and don't regret it 10 years later though I am in a fabulous school. My kids were teens and I thought being around for them in the holidays was really important and at that age probably made up for the inflexibility in term time. I am definitely in the "work long hours but mostly think it's worth it" camp. I actually left for a year to do a non teaching role and really missed the classroom. The hardest thing is when you're working the 60 hour weeks and not feeing you're getting anywhere because the expectations are unrealistic. That's why the school you end up in is crucial.

[SilverApples]

Bear in mind that the paperwork for EYFS is huge and demanding. It’s not just playing for a few hours and trotting off home.