What would you think if your adult child wanted to become a primary school teacher ?

[SwanWings]

Really smart, still in uni, it's that adult dc life and their choice, but I probably worry it could lead to a hard life, low pay, too many demanding parents, unrealistic expectations from the schools, being inspected alot.

Just wondering what you'd think if was adult child considering this
Of course we will support dc regardless and of course its a valuable job indeed

A teacher in today’s world of kids - hard no.

I taught Early Years and my daughter followed in my footsteps.

People I know who have taught across the age ranges always say the younger the children the more difficult it is - teaching all subjects and starting from a very basic level. I loved working with the younger children though so it's horses for courses. It was management that drove me out at 60. My daughter had a career change for medical reasons although she still loved it.

The pay isn’t that bad-new ECTs start on over £30k. There aren’t many first jobs that pay that.

If that’s what they want to do you should not stand in their way. It’s a wonderful job if you want to work with children.

Also as a mother who has always worked in corporate (full time as part time has never been an option), I would have sacrificed every bit of extra money I earned to be able to spend the school holidays with my children. That is a priceless benefit that would have made a huge difference to family life and to my relationship with my children.

Although the pay may be a little lower, you also have the massive benefit of generous pensions and job security - there is zero job security in corporate these days and that creates a lot of pressure. This will only get worse as AI takes on more and more tasks.

In your shoes I would be very happy indeed. There is also the plus that they could move anywhere in the country with that job so could live by the coast or somewhere beautiful if they so chose. There are good and well-paid international teaching jobs as well (Japan, Dubai etc.) Lots of great career paths for bright people.

The most sucessful person out of all my friends and others who I was at school with, trained as a teacher and worked i a primary school for a while, before moving into an education-related business. She's done brilliantly well for herself. 25 years later, her teaching degree and experience is still relevant to her work, even though she hasn't taught in a couple of decades.

A job isn't for life these days, and teaching is well respected and opens doors to lots of other jobs.

I think you're right to worry about stress etc, it's certianly not easy teaching these days. But it can also be incredibly rewarding.

And, if it doesn't work out, it's not time lost, it's a great underpinning for several other careers.

I'd defnitely support my DC if they wanted to go into teaching.

I have a very good friend who is now Head of Year and an art teacher at a secondary school. She loves it, always has. She has been a teacher since leaving university and said it was hard at first but once she got into the routine of it, she found it easy. I have actually never heard her say anything negative about it.

My FIL is a retired grammar school teacher, he loved the job and often his old students stop and chat to him when we're out and about. He retired last year and has a very good pension, PIL have barely been at home since he retired, they are really enjoying life.

FIL always says that he recommends working in the industry you intend to teach in first. This is what he did. He said that he did not feel he could teach anyone about the realities of working in the subject he was teaching without actual experience of it.

Good luck to your son!

Actually, many graduate schemes do start on at least or more that. The problem with teaching is that it has to become your way of life and not just your job. By the time you take your actual hours spent working into account it will probably work out as less than minimum wage, especially at primary level. Of course it is a job that can be very rewarding too.

I'd be happy for them. Not everyone wants to work somewhere where money is the main goal.

Some people get a huge amount of pleasure working with children and good teachers can make kids see education in a positive way, and it can change their life. I still remember my wonderful primary school teachers even now.

Job security for primary teachers is a bit of a myth nowadays sadly, many teachers are on temporary rolling contracts and many schools cannot afford all the actual teachers they need.

Job security for primary teachers is a bit of a myth nowadays sadly, many teachers are on temporary rolling contracts and many schools cannot afford all the actual teachers they need.

Look ar the positives.
She can always change careers if the positives are not forth coming in her particular job..

Good holidays.
Secure pay
Travel opportunities
Comfortable work conditions

My dc teaches primary and absolutely loves it. It’s hard work but decent pay and if that’s what they want to do then why not. It’s their choice.

I am an ex secondary school teacher if 30 plus years. I liked teaching, but not the incessant workload. I think.measures are in place to help with this nowadays. I would say while it's an enjoyable profession it is very difficult in my opinion to maintain a work life balance.

Teachers aren’t in low pay. The teachers at my kids school who I knew outside of it were as happy as anytime. Sure politics etc but what job doesn’t have that? They should try shadowing a teacher for a week though - my DD did that and it put her off!

Most teachers that quit say it's the parents that are the problem not the kids

I was a primary school teacher and left because the job wasn’t paid enough for the stress and demands on my life. But I have plenty of friends who have stayed in teaching and don’t plan to leave. So I would share my experiences with my child, but ultimately it’s their choice.

Agree with rest, but comfortable work conditions?

DD's woodwork teacher is universally beloved. He keeps planning to retire then changing his mind because he loves his job so much and all his students love him. He also teaches the adult evening class I go to and I can see why he's so popular - I don't want him to retire either!

Many positives- the children being the main one, but most teachers I know (including senior leadership) have discouraged their children from entering the profession, which is sad. They are also people who have had long careers and loved teaching and have been loved as teachers. Work load, Ofsted, the curriculum, behaviour issues - to be honest, nits is really really not the biggest thing to worry about.
Having said that- we need teachers, and we need teachers who love the job, so if there is a genuine passion there, that is good.

If they are really committed, that’s great. The thing about teaching, though, is that you’re never away from it - what seems from the outside like short days and long holidays is in fact endless prep and lesson planning, and being absolutely exhausted by the end of each term. Then there’s the parents to contend with. The children, for the most part, are lovely.

Also as a mother who has always worked in corporate (full time as part time has never been an option), I would have sacrificed every bit of extra money I earned to be able to spend the school holidays with my children
Why didn’t you then

I’m aware that some teachers discourage their children from becoming teachers. I’m also aware of doctors, vets and lawyers who have discouraged their children from following in their footsteps. It’s easy to focus on the negatives in any career!

One of my daughters is a teacher, though secondary rather than primary and the opportunities for promotion there do seem better, as a PP has said. My daughter has some extra responsibilities and earned just over £51k last year in her 4th year of teaching. If my calculations are correct (the pay scales haven’t yet been published) she will be on just over £55k in September. No doubt she’d be earning a lot more as a lawyer or in finance, but I think it’s a pretty good salary for a 26 year old (she’s in the “fringe” area so earns a bit more than she would in most parts of the country, but less than she would in London).

More importantly, she loves her job and is very happy at the school, which seems extremely well run. Obviously there are irritations and annoyances from time to time, but that is the case with any job!

I wouldn’t have recommended it to my children, but they were very against it anyway. My grandson has just graduated and I wouldn’t be disappointed if he chose to go into teaching, but that’s because jobs and careers are changing so much and even if it’s not a long term career, it will stand him in good stead for something else if needs be.

The same as I said to my own DD “ congratulations on choosing such a worthwhile career , I’m very proud of you .”