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Original poster

to be second guessing re training as a teacher … help!

104 replies

Starcarbar · 23/12/2024 20:35

I worked as a solicitor for around 9 years. It 34 and we want to ttc in next few years. I’ve always wanted to go into something other than law and my plan was to do teacher training from next year ahead of ttc. I keep having doubts. I don’t know if it’s the media but I often hear about how the workload spirals etc. I typically work 8-6 or 7 in law and can usually avoid working a weekend. Does anyone know if it would be worse than that in teaching? I love the idea of making a difference and working with kids and in certain I want to leave the legal profession. Am I making a mistake? I feel like it’s now or never to jump ship!

OP posts:
RhaenysRocks · 23/12/2024 20:40

You'll have loads of posts telling you they work 24/7 and never see their kids. I can't speak for primary but I've been teaching secondary for thirty years and only rarely had to work late in the evening or more than a couple of hours at a weekend. It is harder at the start unless you work in a school with a great bank of resources but if you work smart, efficiently and chose what to give a fuck about very carefully, it's perfectly doable. The school you work in matters enormously too..it has to be a good fit with the right level of management involvement..oversight but not constant scrutiny is the ideal. I've been very lucky in my career and raised two kids alone while doing it. But there's many that will say different. You just have to try it and see.

Original poster
Starcarbar · 23/12/2024 20:40

@HPandthelastwish 7-10!!! That sounds horrendous. I will check out that board thanks

OP posts:
FourEyesGood · 23/12/2024 20:39

Sorry, but I wouldn’t encourage anyone to go into teaching now. It’s downhill all the way and is increasingly soul-destroying. I’ve been teaching (secondary) for over 20 years and am looking for alternatives.

HPandthelastwish · 23/12/2024 20:38

Spend some time in The Staffroom Room part of the Forum
You are more likely to do 8-4:30/5pm at school then 7-10pm at home with teaching more during your training and ECT years. Half of Sunday too and at least 3 days in the holiday when you aren't recovering from the billions of illnesses you pick up at least at the start of your career and everytime the curriculum changes so you have to make new resources.

Keep your career in law, teaching is not child or parent friendly. If you want to make a difference to young people volunteer at Brownies / Scouts / Young Carers. Make a work experience programme for teens interested in law where you are currently etc.