Teachers or anyone with good advice

[Serena1977]

Hi,

I'm a primary trainee about to start my final term to gain QTS (not PGCE, dropped it because of the pressure).

I feel so overwhelmed. It's the Easter holidays and I've got so much to do for school. The house is a tip (needs a deep clean and some decorating, can't afford the decorating though). Only got 1 week with the kids because I train in a different county so I wanted to sort everything so I've got next week with them but I've got a rotten cold and a horrendous period.

I'm not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. It's taking its toll on my physical health, I am already obese and have fibromyalgia and high blood pressure. I don't have time to cook healthily, exercise, have a bath, spend time with the kids because I am either schooling or sleeping.

Plus as a lot of people, we are having financial difficulties and for the first time needed to visit a food bank last week. (This is due to servicing debt accrued during DH's furlough and also he was off 13 weeks last autumn from work and only received statutory sick pay. (He nearly died and was in ITU with a tracheostomy at one point). Plus with heating and eating over the Easter hols and petrol, to get to school, it just feels never ending.

I also worked out that once I've got a teaching job, I may be worse off because we'll lose family tax credits, need to start paying back my undergraduate and teacher training loans and with childcare costs, petrol etc. not including the stress and loss of family time which isn't quantifiable.

I'm sat here surrounded my dust, dirty grouting, peeling paintwork, ill fitting carpets in the cold putting a brave face on it for the kids, eating beans on toast, whilst DH is at work doing yet another overtime shift. (working so much was one of the reasons he got sick last autumn so I'm petrified it'll happen again).

Is it worth it all? Please tell me what to do.

Continue training, quit and look for teaching assistant job now. Get into bed and stay there, go to GP (pretty impossible at the moment)

You are so close to finishing. I would suggest finishing and then deciding on a next step after that. You could always consider part time teaching or supply if taking a full time job will leave you worse off. Would your DH be able to reduce his hours once you were qualified?

Hi,
I qualified 8 years ago so not sure how it works now - do you not have to do a pgce anymore?
I'm not going to lie to you - it's an extremely tough job and the first years will be hard. Especially as the pay is crap to begin with for what you do but it does pick up. I nearly quit 2 years in but now I'm 8 years in, on UPS and a Tlr and able to not work every night and every weekend like I did when I started. The job security is great, the holidays to fit around childcare are amazing. So I would tell you to go for it but it's so hard and I totally understand your dilemma. Do you plan to work full time? Do you actually enjoy it?

I would try and plough everything in your finishing, and then make a decision as to whether you want to teach or not.

Being a TA would be a huge pay cut, more so as teaching progresses.

I’ve been teaching 12 years and I’m looking to get out. But I earn more doing my 2 days a week teaching than I would doing 5 days a week as a TA.

It will get easier as you build up your bank of resources.

Finish your training then work as a part time teacher.

@Blondephantom
my DH could stop doing all the overtime but that's all.

@User65412 don't need PGCE just QTS which is what I am doing with a scitt. I do enjoy it sometimes but I do feel down with the relentlessness of it. It takes so long to prepare a lesson that in a flash it's taught and gone! Also, I'm at a city placement at the moment so behaviour and SEN needs are high.

@Troublesometooth
The idea about being a TA would be because I wouldn't earn enough to have to pay back my student loans and we wouldn't lose as much tax credits, not need as much childcare and of course the stress etc

@MiniDaffodils
yes, I have thought about this option, there's not much around to apply for at the moment but I'm hoping it'll pick up after Easter

Good advice already, imo. You’re so close to the end that it is worthwhile finishing. Your qualification doesn’t expire and can be useful in ways that aren’t a traditional full time teaching post.

The first couple years are absolutely draining in many schools. You’re still learning and you won’t have earned the respect from students that allows you to give them a look to get them back in line. I was so slow with my marking in the first few years too. It takes a while before you look at something and can just have a good feel for its level straight away.

But there are multiple ways to work part time - either as a part time position where you see the same students each time but you’re on a part time timetable, or by working supply through an agency, or by picking up a maternity cover, which sometimes has a bit less planning work because the outgoing teacher will have had a bigger plan for what they would want covered while they are out (not always that organised though so do be aware when interviewing).

Even if you end up switching fields entirely, you can show that you stuck with something that is widely known to be very hard work, and that is never a bad trait when applying for a post in any field!

I hope you find a position that works for you and your family.

Finish. You will earn more even if it takes a bit of time. Keep going. X

I'm primary SLT.

Push on and finish but then think really long and hard about whether you want to teach FT. The job is brutal at the moment and it sounds like you have a hell of a lot on your plate.