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Original poster

How Stressful is the PGCE Really?

155 replies

DudeDudeson · 19/06/2023 21:30

Hi, I have a place on a PGCE but have had cold feet about it ever since being offered it. I've been teaching English as a foreign language for too many years now and really want to get out of it as it feels like a trap. I'm decent enough at it after an initial few years of being absolutely rubbish at teaching. I've taught at university too while doing my PhD. I was ok at that but not great according to my former supervisor.

Anyways, long story short, I actually went and checked out two schools and it was ok? I mean the behaviour was pretty meh, nothing majorly awful. And yet I read a flood of stories about how awful teaching is the in the UK. My concern stems from this and also the workload. I'm ok with a steady amount of work but would not be able to withstand an avalanche of demands and zero work life balance. I also suffer from IBS and insomnia, exacerbated by stress which are not good for teaching. For reference I did teach full time in ESL, teaching 6 hours of classes a day but couldn't keep up with the pace. I'd get overtired and make mistakes. The reason I'm considering teaching is that it's a meaningful job and my CV is solely in education as that's all I've ever got jobs in.

I have an offer of an Instructional Design course as well, and am eyeing that but have major doubts about landing a job after it as many ID firms want corporate experience which I don't have. Conversely if I managed to survive the PGCE, I would be confident about landing a job. However, my lack of confidence stems from the actual surviving part. Given that my school visits appear to contradict what I'm reading on the internet, I'm at a bit of a loss in gauging just how demanding the course is. If it's fair, I think I can pass it. On the other hand what I'm reading is seriously spooking me and I can't afford another course that doesn't work out. I need to make whatever course I do actually result in a step up from what I've been doing for years.

OP posts:
Singleandproud · 19/06/2023 21:41

Your other option is to work in a school, maybe as a TA or cover supervisor for a year, get some real mainstream classroom management experience behind you and then ask your school to sponsor you or if you have enough experience go the Assessment Only route if it still exists.

onlyamam · 19/06/2023 21:39

I'm a secondary teacher - I would say it you are not fully invested, then don't do it. It is a very, very difficult time to be a teacher at the moment. I've been at it a long time and it is the most stressful it has ever been (and it's always been stressful). It can be very rewarding, but if you don't really want to be there, it will become overwhelming very quickly.

Shinyandnew1 · 19/06/2023 21:39

I did teach full time in ESL, teaching 6 hours of classes a day but couldn't keep up with the pace

But why would you think teaching full time would be any different?!

Your whole post is about ‘surviving’ the PGCE as if once you’ve made it through the finishing line, then getting a job and a lasting career in teaching will be easy.

Teaching is just more of the same- 6 hours a day of lessons, marking, planning, assessments, parent evenings, book scrutinies, learning walks, reports, Ofsted, Deep Dives etc etc

Original poster
DudeDudeson · 19/06/2023 21:37

That's good to know. My aim would be to do the course but try to work anywhere but England if possible. If not I would try to find a supportive school to work in and could finish out the 2 years NQT.

OP posts:
cansu · 19/06/2023 21:32

From your experience you will likely manage the course. The issue is whether you can cope with the job. If you find teaching EFL exhausting you are likely to find secondary teaching exhausting too.