To want to train as a teacher

17??? I get 12: 6 in summer, 2 at Easter and Christmas and two half terms.

The first few years are hard work but I get 17 weeks holiday a year and don’t work most evenings and holidays. I’m efficient, experienced and have strong boundaries so don’t feel overworked.

I always said to my kids when you factor in the unpaid time marking and planning, it’s not well paid at all. I guess even harder when you have Dc on your own. None of mine fancied it, but equally, glad some people do go into teaching as we certainly need more teachers.

Just don't.

Please rethink. Teaching used to be so rewarding but now it's utterly soul destroying.

DON'T DO IT, OP!

If you want no social life whatsoever (because it takes over your weekends, evenings, most of your holidays and even early mornings), then that's fine. Throw in the fact that you will be made to feel terrible as a new teacher when you do make occasional mistakes, or you have children with behavioural issues that might pop up in public (I had a more experienced teacher tell me that such a child should have been "broken" on induction day... I was really glad when she was giving demonstration lessons to each class as to how phonics should be taught, and when it came to my class's turn, the child kicked off big-time. She asked me if they were always like that). Throw in the hard days, when you have kids disclosing abuse (because no amount of training prepares you for that), and it just gets too much.

You'll love the children that you teach, but hate having to deal with the adults around them. This includes the parents that shout at you, or say that you are accusing their child of doing something because, "My child would never do that!" and other members of staff in your school.

The stress got to the point where I had imposter syndrome, stopped eating/sleeping/bathing, couldn't concentrate, cried a lot, felt guilty every time I wasn't doing work things, and had a nervous breakdown, etc. Needless to say, I'm much happier out...

I would also recommend a SEND school. It has it's own challenges (managing extremely challenging behaviour, managing a big team of adults in the class etc) but, on balance, it is way more sane and lacking in BS than mainstream. I run a unit on a mainstream site, so I can make a direct comparison. All the tea in China would not get me into a mainstream class.

Don't let your height hold you back. 18 years in the classroom now work in a closely related field. Happy to answer any questions pm me.

In 5 ft 2! I teach English. I trained as an act after uni so have quite a loud voice. I love the fact that I actually use my degree directly. For transparency I work at a big , cut, academic day school so have fewer restrictions in terms of what/how I teach and behaviour is largely fine. I’d go into some secondary schools and do some observing and see what you think. In Secondary you have a range of classes do it’s less intense. Another advantage of teaching English is that you have your classes regularly so have fewer of them than other subjects and more opportunity to get to know them and form relationships - that makes a huge difference either discipline. I was sorting out a bunch of boxes yesterday as I’m moving and found lots of thank you cards. It’s an important job. Good luck whatever you decide.

Yep. It really, really IS that bad.

It used to be a great job but I wouldn't recommend teaching (especially primary) to anyone any more.

I would recommend making sure your eyes are fully open and would suggest spending a few hours reading posts on the 'Life after Teaching: exit the classroom and thrive.' Facebook group and really pay attention to what people are saying. The group only started a few years back and now has over 175000 members. That says a lot about how people feel now about the profession.

This is good advice, if you go into teaching it doesn't mean you are bound to it for the rest of your life! You can just give it a go!

I am a qualified teacher but have for many reasons decided that being a TA is much better for me.

I would suggest spending some time in a school before making any decisions. Don’t rush into it.

I did it for 12 years. It wasn't all bad, but by the end, I'd had enough. I went back to working with grown-ups.

For example a teacher can decide that in history they will cover Scott of the Antarctic because they enjoy the subject. But in an academy it will be decided for you . From what I understand, far more schemes of work are used and that can sap your enthusiasm as you become a slide clicker.

Mine is one that isn’t….. yet. Currently teachers can choose what they want to cover in history, class reading, geography etc .In academies all classes have to teach the same subjects at the same time apparently .

Also depends if it’s in an academy. If so you have far less freedom to teach.

DM was a teacher in the 1980s. I've never seen anyone be so stressed and so often be ill as her then. She had constant coughs, colds and flu and worked about 80 hours a week in term time. It can obviously be incredibly rewarding but OMG the downsides are pretty big.

I have been teaching 25 years and have worked in both mainstream secondary and SEN/SEMH. I returned to mainstream from SEN as, despite their being less planning, the mental drain is more. SLT were mainly useless (in both schools I worked in). They also tend to be trust based and prefer MPS or unqualified teachers - yet expect the same level
of work (this didn't sit well with me as younger unqualified staff were being exploited).
I love my job. It's both the best and the worst job in the world. Kids are much more easily distracted these days and cannot actually hold a conversation - they can speak but not listen. Staffrooms in many schools have been removed so it can be quite isolating. There is SO much paperwork and monitoring it is ridiculous.
One of the big changes is parental attitude. Teachers are seen as the lowest of the low by some - we are lefty, lazy folk who teach because it's all we could do and have loads of holidays and short days. Parents expect miracles and many seem incapable of doing basic parenting. Oh and many refuse to 'allow' you to sanction their precious babies!

As a subject mentor - of the last 5 I trained only 2 are still teaching.
That said I absolutely love it and over time have developed a way to win over even the nastiest of parents. I have never had the cynicism that some teachers get. Would I leave if I could afford? Yes I would, but for now I like being in the classroom with the kids.

I've just left after 22 years as a primary teacher. It's not a decision I took lightly. But I just can't do it any more, emotionally and physically.

You might enjoy teaching for a few years - if you're in the right school.
Your experience as a support worker for children with SEND will stand you in good stead. There are always vacancies for teachers in SEND schools.

If you’re going in with your eyes open, are aware of the statistics in terms of drop out in the first few years, have good support - particularly that your partner is supportive and understands what it will mean for your household, why not? We don’t all give in after a few years, many of us love our jobs and reap the rewards with the time off! Even if you only do it for a few years and do it well, that’s something given the current crisis. Good teachers are harder and harder to come by - I got my current role on supply 10 years ago in a lovely independent and never left - prior to that they had advertised multiple times with a string of unsuitable applications and had had a string of unsuitable supply till I rocked up. I had left my previous role because I felt I could no longer do it…the right school, the right line manger can work miracles. Good luck!