Is anyone still teaching in their 60s?

[OfftoWorkIGo]

I retired six years ago and now I am finding myself with a bit of extra time (family grown up now) I am wondering what it would be like to do some teaching on a part-time/supply basis.

I am only thinking about it and it might be horrendous as I am well out of the loop these days. I understand pupils’ behaviour is ‘worse’ according to colleagues who are still teaching and I can well believe it.

Is anyone still teaching in their early 60s? What’s it like?!

Btw I have always taught in inner-city secondary schools.

I have always taught in inner city secondary too. Supply is a nightmare..

I taught until I was 62 ...last 4 years part time. What worked for me was that I continued at the same school where I was well know by other staff and pupils. I think it will be harder going to a new place after a break but probably doable. The great thing is you can try it and if it doesn't work out you can easily stop again. I loved my years teaching part time. More enthusiastic and energy for the class room teaching, far less marking, work to do at home and avoiding most of the politics. I would give it a go 😄

Second oldest in my (large, high) school at 44.

Yes but in HE which is very different. Much smaller classes, no crowd control and almost no pastoral care. One of my colleagues is in his 70s and still teaching. I love it.

I definitely will be as long as I have my health ! I’m in Ireland though and primary level . Lovely job !

I am mid-sixties and now work as a private tutor. Much easier than teaching in a classroom and you can work the hours you choose.

Yes private tuition is a good idea although I would need to access resources for that.

Staying at the same school would be an advantage but my school has been knocked down unfortunately!

One of our most regular and dependable supply teachers is 63. He used to teach at the school and was HOY and HOD so knows the setting and many of the staff. He's superb and the students love him. However, we also had a supply teacher in her 60s who'd lost the love of the job and wasn't abreast of changes in education after a few years out and the students ran rings round her.

I have two colleagues in their 60s, both teach 0.4, so effectively 2 days a week- it seems to work for them although one is planning to retire this year. I think part time in the same school is probably easier than supply?

I think if you only retired 6 years ago, I don't think things are so much worse than 2018-19? For me, the 2022-23 immediate "post covid" period was pretty bad, and things did feel pretty chaotic at that time, but I think over the past few years things have improved and are returning to normal.

There are of course issues- e.g. internal truancy to vape, which are somewhat new or at least on the rise, but a decent school will have processes to deal with this.

If you are concerned about behaviour, do you have any colleges near you? They will often offer variable hour contracts and behaviour should generally be a lot better. Pay would be worse, but it sounds like you are not doing it for the pay?