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Original poster

I want to be a secondary teacher but I'm scared

36 replies

maybewellgettomeetashton · 15/04/2023 20:44

I'm only a year away from a decade long stint as a stay at home mom and I have an amazing opportunity to start my life working again. I have 4 children ages 10-3

My head tells me to just work as a part time cleaner or carer for extra money for my family, my heart is telling me I'd regret it.

I really want to be a teacher at secondary or even college level but I'm really scared I'd breaking a massive mistake, getting into student debt, not earning for a few more years while I study and if I end up not liking it I'll be stuck.

I don't know what to do. I want to be a science teacher, but I need to get my alevels at college and then a degree university and then an extra year for a teaching degree. I think I'd love it. But then I have so much free time now to go to school plays and pick my kids up at 3:30pm every day.

I did a short (1 year) online course a few years ago to become a qualified teaching assistant but the younger children just blew my mind. I liked it. The school environment was great, the workload was quite a lot. But I ended up quitting to help DP focus on his career. It worked, he earns more now and we bought a house but I'm still where I was when I left school. infact I'm actually worse off now because I have 4 children so I'm still time poor and I'm restricted by their school schedule.

I don't know what to do.
I don't want to wake up in 20 years, all my children have moved out and I have nothing left for myself, but I also am wary of spending money and getting into debt for something that may not be so great, considering teachers are leaving in droves I'm worried that I couldn't do it.
so lucky to have been able to be a stay at home mom for so long, I'm so lucky to have a beautiful family but the eldest is moving to secondary soon and the youngest is starting school, it really shown me how short this part of my life will be and I don't want to put 100% of my life towards my children and be left with nothing for myself when they are older. Or worse, be left in a bad position should mine and dps relationship breakdown.

oh gosh. Does anyone have any advice?
I feel as confused as I did at 16 leaving school, but instead of being full of optimism I'm now full of doubt.

OP posts:

mnahmnah · 15/04/2023 20:57

Go and spend some time observing in a secondary school. Only then will you know if it is for you or not, before you even consider workload etc

Didicat · 15/04/2023 21:00

Why don’t you TA at a secondary school or do some invigilating of exams? Secondary schools are full on in a different way to primary.

MothBat · 15/04/2023 21:02

Open university courses?

converseandjeans · 15/04/2023 21:05

I teach secondary school & do like teenagers & the variety of the job. No day is ever the same. There's always something going on.

It's not great pay & the hours are long. But they are short of science teachers. You might be able to get a good bursary for science teaching. You could then start part time?

Notellinganyone · 15/04/2023 21:09

OP - why don’t you just do the degree first? That will give you confidence and might open up a range of career possibilities. I’ve been a secondary school teacher for 27 years and love it but it’s tough these days. It would be hard to manage the needs of four children and such a challenging job. You do sound a little naive so take it step by step.

biffyboom · 15/04/2023 21:09

I'd definitely recommend working as a TA in a secondary school before committing your time and money investing becoming a teacher in one.

Starlingnest · 15/04/2023 21:15

Can you do your a levels as an evening course? And in the mean time look for jobs as a ta at secondary so you can get the experience.

Precipitate · 15/04/2023 21:16

If you want to do it you have years until you will be qualified. So why not wait until all your kids are at school so you have time to study. If you plan on doing science A levels you could get a head start by looking at the content now.

If you do want to teach science I would recommend physics because then you will always have a job and you will likely be entitled to all the best bursaries etc.

Mafelicent · 15/04/2023 21:17

Honestly, that's a huge number of years to commit to a career that you really know very little about. I am a secondary teacher, but I think would bring home a very similar amount each month if I were a TA, because I spend thousands on wrap around care a year (oh, and just FINDING childcare early enough in the morning is an absolute ballache - paying for it is the easy bit!)

I strongly suggest doing a year TA in secondary while you're making up your mind (you'd probably earn more in tesco though 🙄)

Did you do non-science A Levels, or did you leave school at 16? I wonder if actually your own education is actually more important to you than the teaching specifically? If so, then absolutely find a way to do the A Levels and beyond, alongside whatever else you're doing. I do think anyone should have to "justify" higher/further education (but you might have to do it slowly alongside other commitments).

Mafelicent · 15/04/2023 21:18

*DON'T think 🤦‍♀️

Singleandproud · 15/04/2023 21:22

Get some work in a secondary school, TA, cover supervisor, junior science technician.
Skip A Levels and do an Open University degree in science, the first level 1 unit is easy and Gcse level science which builds up to A level for the second level 1 unit, level 2 and 3 are normal degree level courses.
You could then work as an instructor / unqualified teacher to see if you like it and then do teacher training within your school or assessment only route depending on if it still exists.

Singleandproud · 15/04/2023 21:26

The above is the route I took, decided I didn't want to formalise and qualify properly and left teaching after 6 years as an unqualified teacher now work in a different science related career that I love which I wouldnt be in without that experience.
If you work as an unqualified teacher when you qualify you move across to the nearest appropriate pay grade not down to the start of the teachers pay scale and I was earning just under £30k.

Goodread1 · 15/04/2023 21:29

Hi Op@maybewellgettomeetashton

Why not do one of those Access course , it gives people a second chance, to better themselves,

Once completed access course,
You can go onto university with all the credits you get,
No exams, just more or less continusly assessed course work,
Doing Assigments often, and a brief power point presentation

You be susprised the varied choice of courses you can do with Access courses too

Maths and sciences Humanties and Law Microbiology

Ect list goes on

Karwomannghia · 15/04/2023 21:32

Definitely start work asap as a TA. See what jobs are going or join a supply agency and put yourself out there and get some experience in a school (and some money).

CBAironing · 15/04/2023 21:40

Teachers are leaving in huge numbers. I’d pick something else if I were you.

Stripedbag101 · 15/04/2023 21:44

You want to be a science teacher so
you must love science - and be strong in maths.

if I were you I would start evening classes now to do a levels in all the sciences and maths. Science and maths can lead to so many careers - so whatever you decide it won’t be wasted.

Do you know any teachers - I have a couple of friends who are teachers at secondary schools and they are extremely negative about it. They are miserable and have both taken quite long periods of idk leave die to stress. One friend seems to take six months on stress leave every two years. Being unhappy in work can take over your life so be sure this is for you.

Mmndanone · 15/04/2023 21:46

I‘m an unqualified secondary teacher and I love it, it’s the best thing I have ever done.

BUT I only have 7 lessons a week (one subject, small school). And the workload is already quite a lot.

I definitely recommend at least sitting in on a few lessons and asking yourself if you think you could do it.

Never go into teaching thinking it is easy and you will get holidays off.

earsup · 15/04/2023 21:55

Go spend a week at a local sec school, dont pick the good ones....have a look at the FB group....Exit the classroom....hundreds quite each week, horror tales of too much work, nasty bullying managers etc.....i took early retirement a few years ago from an FE college, enjoyed most of my years but some really toxic evil female managers made life and job hell for many so they left. proceed with caution !!

purplesky18 · 15/04/2023 22:19

I quit teaching after having 2 small dc and I just could not balance the work load. I did work as a TA for many years before hand and it opened my eyes to how horrific the education sector is these days. I would suggest you do the same and get some real life experience in the classroom. You do hear a lot of horror stories and unfortunately there’s a reason why teachers are leaving in droves. There’s so many other science based careers you can pursue that would be so much better but only you can decide.

PeppaPigWorld · 15/04/2023 22:28

A science degree would be really useful, regardless of whether or not you ultimately become a teacher. It would definitely be good for you to start there. It will be tough, but you'll be doing something for you, plus gaining a useful qualification at the same time. I don't see the need for you to work as a secondary TA for a year, if you've already worked as a primary TA. I'd start researching uni courses asap and work out the best route (Access course or Open University as pp have suggested). Good luck!

Salzburggirl · 15/04/2023 22:52

I would start by doing the A-levels and then taking it from there.
You might find you don't enjoy the subjects once you start studying them. On the other hand, you might love it and then go on to do a degree. Once you're doing your degree you will become aware of other possible careers using the degree and you might decide to pursue something you don't even know exists right now! And you might decide to do a PGCE after all - but make sure you get experience in secondary schools first to find out if it's for you - but that's a long way off.
One step at a time - do the A-levels first. Good luck

froggythefoggy · 16/04/2023 08:43

I work at a school as a classroom assistant. I think if you really want to do it then definitely look into it but I will warn you that secondary school kids at my school are really difficult and the behaviour can be really really bad. Kids have no respect for teachers these days and there's only so much teachers can do. So I'd say if you able to be tough and handle difficult situations then go for it. The holidays alone are fantastic and it would be a rewarding job in the end. Good luck

OutDamnedSpot · 16/04/2023 08:54

I’m a teacher and I love it, but in your situation I wonder if it might be better to look at other routes to different rewarding careers. Have you considered an apprenticeship?

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

Find an apprenticeship

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

mdh2020 · 16/04/2023 09:20

I think you should concentrate on getting your qualifications first, if that’s what you want to do, and then think about a career. If you go for an OU degree you don’t need A levels, as described above. I have a friend who did not have A levels and simply wanted a degree like her husband and children and she studied with the OU. She felt wonderful when she graduated but never used her qualifications. Be aware that teaching these days is very hard work but if that’s what you want then go for it and good luck,

LunaNorth · 16/04/2023 09:22

Don’t do it. It’s foul, will take over your life and ruin your mental health.

If I could have my time over again, I would do literally anything else.

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