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Original poster

wwyd.... getting into teaching Vs getting pregnant

113 replies

Needadoughnut · 14/12/2018 17:01

DP and I really want a baby we're not getting any younger so the sooner the better... We leave in a fairly rural area and I come from a corporate background so finding jobs hasn't been the easiest. It looks like I could do a PGCE with a bursary... But what would happen if I'm pregnant in the middle of the course? Or even before I start? Of course I could do it once baby is born (what I think I would do) but I don't know the bursaries will be available by then. Any experiences with this type of programme would be very helpful.

OP posts:
GinaLinetti99 · 14/12/2018 17:06

As a teacher and a mother - you'll find it easier to train and get through your NQT year before having children, or leave it entirely until the children are a bit older. I know that sounds really harsh and probably unfeminist, but teacher training is really bloody hard work and I cannot imagine juggling that with a small child.

Redtartanshoes · 14/12/2018 17:07

Training first. It’s easier to get back into something after having kids than trying to get into it

Hohocabbage · 14/12/2018 17:08

Just move somewhere you can get a job in your own field.

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Families
JennyOnAPlate · 14/12/2018 17:12

I would train first. The hours you would have to put into a pgce and an NQT year would not be at all family friendly.

Original poster
Needadoughnut · 14/12/2018 17:12

@Gina how hard was the training? I already have an MSc so postgraduate level study is not new to me. @cabbage that is completely out of the question as we both have children from previous relationships. In an ideal world that's what I'd do, but no a chance for the next 11-12 years.

OP posts:
peaches1991 · 14/12/2018 17:13

You would get more responses in the staffroom than chat. What's your subject? If it's science or maths I wouldn't worry too much about bursaries disappearing, there is a serious staffing crisis in those subjects. I would suggest training first then having children, your PGCE year is seriously tough. Being pregnant/having a child during your NQT might be do-able, but really that's for you to decide after you've done your training.

4point2fleet · 14/12/2018 17:14

I would only get into teaching if you REALLY want to be a teacher- like desperately- not just because it's available with some money attached to train.

I love teaching and being in school is where I belong, but it's incredibly tough and getting worse. I've been doing it nearly 20 years and there is no way I would want to be a new entrant to the profession now. You have to feel like there's just nothing else that could make you happy apart from walking into a school every morning to be able to survive the shit bits.

Original poster
Needadoughnut · 14/12/2018 17:14

It is modern languages (Spanish and French). I'll post in that section too, thanks for the tip!

OP posts:
tomhazard · 14/12/2018 17:15

In my experience as a teacher and as a professional tutor those that attempt the PGCE and NQT with young children have a high drop out rate, or if they make it they do so with utterly awful stress levels- worse than others.
I would try to train first - the hours you put in during those years are not at all family friendly

Original poster
Needadoughnut · 14/12/2018 17:18

@4point2fleet believe me... At this point I think anything is better than exposing myself getting into strangers' houses so I could get some polls answered. I only get paid per answered poll... So it looks like it's either that, getting into care or working at at a supermarket. At least I think in teaching somebody would profit from the 7+ years I've spent in graduate/post graduate education.

OP posts:
Verbena87 · 14/12/2018 17:18

My PGCE was much more tiring and hard work than having a baby, and I can’t imagine managing it with a small child - was up at 6 on weekdays, in school til 4 or 5, then working at home until 10, plus one weekend day. It’s purgatory.

So I’d train first and get NQT out of the way as well if at all possible. Xxx

stoplickingthetelly · 14/12/2018 17:20

As others have said please don't underestimate the workload associated with teacher training and your NQT year. I've been teaching 13 years and I'm a part-time curriculum leader with 2 small children. I'm just about managing. There is no way I could have done my PGCE and first of year as a teacher with a baby.

GinaLinetti99 · 14/12/2018 17:22

I don't think it's the academic element of teacher training that's difficult - it's the fact you're doing it while doing a brand new, full time job. Having mentored trainee teachers for several years, most of them work no less than 7:45am-5pm in school and then have marking/preparation/planning/uni paperwork to do on top. There is very little wiggle room in terms of deadlines.

Verbena87 · 14/12/2018 17:25

I’m 6 years in with a one year old. Took a full year maternity and have returned 3 days a week. It’s as much as I can do.

PoptartPoptart · 14/12/2018 17:26

The PGCE and NQT year is all consuming mentally and physically.
Honestly, don’t underestimate just how time consuming it is.
It’s not that it’s ridiculously ‘hard’ academically, but it is so so demanding.
My advice would be to definitely complete it before getting pregnant, if you are sure that teaching is definitely the right career for you.

GinaLinetti99 · 14/12/2018 17:30

I'm fairly certain you would be offered an extension during the course if you needed a maternity leave (given the law). I don't know how that would impact on any bursary payment.

MrsWooster · 14/12/2018 17:33

It's not the academic side that's a strain.. definitely, if you've time, do pgce and nqt year then get a permanent contract and go on mat leave and then part time if you can.

gutrotweins · 14/12/2018 17:35

I did a PGCE with a two year old. It was a very hard slog - many nights burning the midnight oil. I would imagine that it's even more difficult these days, because of continuous assessment and rigorous marking.

On the other hand, the first year of teaching is challenging for everyone, probably even more so if you leave a baby-filled gap between training and working!

Good luck!

BumblebeeBum · 14/12/2018 17:36

When I did my PGCE (last year) the person. who ‘paused’ the course due to serious had her bursary payments stopped with immediate effect. She arranged to finish off the course at a later date when her payments will resume.

I found my PGCE year awful, such a large workload and a feeling that whatever you did it wasn’t enough.

Original poster
Needadoughnut · 14/12/2018 17:36

@mrswooster I guess I could do that but I think I would be close to 37 by the time I could do all of that (not too old I know) but DP would be closer to mid 40sand that would be possibly pushing it.

OP posts:
MaderiaCycle · 14/12/2018 17:38

practically you can take maternity leave during a course of study and still get bursary payments throughout - it's not that I would be worried about.

In terms of study, iIf you have started a placement and take a gap for more than three weeks there is no guarantee that the same placement will have you back so you might need to start it all over again. The placement days have to be complete for you to graduate. It's not just learning something new it's also the physicality of the job I found difficult - so from a (predominantly) desk based job that was super stressful to what amounts to being on your feet 90% of the day, being alert (don't daydream or the kids will have you) - there's not a moment to not be at the top of your game as you're being constantly assessed. Also the first few years of teaching especially you're constantly working on lessons, resources, plans, what works for you, what doesn't - what sort of teacher you want to be and what sort of teacher you actually are.

Original poster
Needadoughnut · 14/12/2018 17:45

Teaching is also not entirely new to me. I was an assistant lecturer at my Alma mater a few moons ago. ATM I'm also a modern languages tutor, but I can't make an income out if it.

OP posts:
Gigis · 14/12/2018 17:51

Doing a PGCE almost caused me and many others to split from my partner and none of us were trying to also juggle being pregnant or any babies. It is nothing like lecturing (fewer behavioural issues?) Or tutoring (one to one?). I remember planning a year 7 lesson from scratch one Saturday. It took 4 hours. Every evening I was exhausted, upset after being told that the lessons I had lovingly crafted were "boring and shit" (by kids) and "lacking focus/energy/assessment for learning" (my mentor). Each weekend was spent catching up on sleep, eating and working with time for a walk to clear my head. Each evening was genuinely spent crying and printing and planning resources for the next day. The NQT year was easier because you have your own classroom but still was working each weekend and utterly exhausted. If you can, I would wait to have a baby if you're set on a career in teaching.

Gigis · 14/12/2018 17:52

Should be me and many others to split from our partners!

sallysummer · 14/12/2018 17:57

The PGCE year is probably the hardest thing you'll ever do. It's not the level of study, it's the teaching, the constant criticism, back stabbing and general misery. Other than that it was great,