Moving into FE teaching at 50 - what's it like?

[Nodney]

Hi
I'm 50 and have been running a business for the past 20 years. I have an MBA but no teaching qualifications (yet). I am thinking of closing my business and moving into FE teaching. I have three children, all in lower secondary.

Has anyone moved into teaching FE in later life? Are there any FE lecturers out there who can advise on what the work/life balance is like? I'm struggling to know what to do. My business is doing ok but I have always wondered about teaching.
Thanks

Thanks for your input @Trollsinmyeggbox Volunteering is probably a good idea @BMrs Thanks for the suggestion

I think it's a huge gamble.
How flexible is your current job? If it is, you could look into sessional hourly paid work in a college. The pay will be rubbish but it'll give you a sense of whether you like the role and environment or not, and whether you want to take the plunge or not?

TBH @OneCup that's what i have been trying to do - get some sessional lecturing. Unfortunately, I cannot find a single vacancy and I have been contacting colleges on spec. I have had my own business for 20 yrs but (thanks brexit and covid) I'm struggling a bit now. I did hope to do sessional lecturing alongside my business but I can't find the opportunities.

I loved the classroom side of it (taught adults) but hated the equal amount of unpaid stuff I did outside of the classroom (marking and planning).

FE is known as the 'cinderella sector' of education which I think tells you all you need to know given HE lecturer and school staff are striking due to pay!

As you are unqualified, you'd be on the low end of this pay scale, if not even lower, just so you are aware. And pay progression might be hindered unless you were willing to get QTS.

WRT BTECs, there is a lot of admin and marking for coursework units- you will likely find yourself completing the "admin" in your holidays if you have lots of students, as it's the only way to get it done. If you're not used to marking, you'll likely also find marking the assignments time consuming (at least at first).

BTECs are a very faffy qualification- there's lots of good aspects to them for students, but they are very admin and marking heavy for staff delivering units. And the pearson system (IMO) is not very user friendly. There is a lot of pressure to get it right- as mistakes can have implications for the whole cohort.

You may also find yourself having to give up a lot of time to help students who are missing deadlines/struggling/missing lessons due to illness etc.

At most FE colleges, you'd also be expected to work during open evenings, parents evenings and open days (usually weekends or holidays).

In my experience of teaching full time, if you're teaching a unit with regular coursework, you really won't have that much free time- except possibly in the summer.

Locally, my impression is that colleges around me are moving away from sessional lecturing to contracts that mimic school contracts more closely so e.g. 0.2/0.4 contracts. A lot of FE staff aren't happy with variable hours/casualised contracts and there is pressure to try to regularise things more.

I also think occasional/sessional contracts don't really lend themselves well the current structure of vocational courses.

FE compared to school

less pay
less sleep
more working through the night, particularly BTEC, where after Easter it can become two night a week working straight through, marking and giving feedback

You are likely to be pressurised to cheat - your decision but decide and stick to it. If you refuse, you can have life made very difficult for you

students who have failed at everything, on BTEC level 2 - so lots of SEND, lots of non English speakers, lots of students who were on bail for various crimes and missed schooling for those reasons

more students involved in car crashes, shootings, stabbings, marriages, elopments, pregnancies, students becoming mum or dad mid course, more arrests, more deportations, as permission to remain can run out on 18th birthday, lots of students estranged from parents, sofa surfing,

lots of unsupported care leavers

lots of threats from student MUCH bigger than you

Have a go by all means, it can be rewarding and heart breaking, I dont regret it, but I couldn't do it for longer than 5 years

Thanks @Postapocalypticcowgirl @Nimbostratus100 and @taleasolasgrime It might explain why I have been unable to get sessional work. Thanks for explaining the (rather grim sounding) reality

Have worked in FE for many years but teach adults. I love it most of the time (great team, fab students and local) but it is hard work for little money. Most of my team are on around £28,000 FTE and have 15-20+ years experience.

It is not as pressurised as secondary. Very few opportunities to get better pay if that's what you want.

I started teaching in FE when I was 46, I'm 54 now. Hours are long, I teach 8.30am-9.00pm Mon-Thurs with Friday 'off'. But my Friday is my only admin time so I work for free. I rarely get a break and my 9pm finish is inevitably closer to 10pm. I always turn up an hour early too, to prep. I'm on holiday now and have worked 12 hr days since breaking up to catch up. The behaviour of learners is just as bad as secondary school. Believe it or not I was earning 19k for this prior to a merger with another college. I do it because I love what I do (most of the time). Frustrations are poor leadership, no resources, working open day Saturdays for no remission, lack of admin time, hours and hours spent of my own time to keep on track, ridiculous reports and paperwork, conducting pointless course entry interviews etc.

I wouldn't describe it as grim, by any stretch.

But what were you hoping it would be like?

Maybe grim is the wrong word @Postapocalypticcowgirl My friends in high school teaching have all described a rather depressing view of teaching. This thread has also reflected much the same. I thought maybe FE was different. I know the salaries in FE aren't great - and I was already aware of that. It's been v helpful to get other FE teachers viewpoint.

Thank you @freeandfierce That's incredibly long hours