Quitting PGCE after four months?

[DishSoap]

I have been studying/working for a PGCE since September 2020, and it's safe to say that it's destroying my mental health. I absolutely loathe it. I dread waking up every morning and I feel physically ill when I leave the house and 7.15am for the hour-long commute to a school that's less than five miles away (thank you, rural English public transport!).

I've had major depressive disorder for around a decade now, so I'm not suggesting that the PGCE is responsible for bringing it on. Not at all. However, it seems obvious to me that it is exacerbating it. I constantly feel like I'm at breaking point and that I'm on the verge of bursting into tears and literally walking out and running away.

My heart was absolutely 100% in this when the course began but now I just hate it. Am I a completely pathetic, idiotic failure if I leave the course before completing it? Am I dooming myself to a life of zero career prospects? If I were an employer, I probably wouldn't think a whole lot of someone who quit a course after a couple of months.

Sorry for being such a doomer! Just genuinely feeling quite terrible at the moment.

Absolutely not. How long left?

@Chlordiazepoxide

Absolutely not. How long left?

Until the end of May/mid-June (all Covid dependent) this year :(

Better to quit now if you’re sure. Imagine feeling that way every day for the rest of your working life. You don’t have to tell future employers - you could just say you were unemployed during the pandemic.

PGCE is a tough year anytime, letalone now.

For what it's worth, and others may view it completely differently, I'd say leave it. I did mine twice, the first time having failed because I was not in the right frame of mind for it. I worked in schools for 5 years, then did it and passed. It was still tough, but I knew I could could do it. I left the job to start my second PGCE when I was crying driving into work. It sometimes just isn't worth it, and if the time isn't right, it's not. I'd leave it for now. Doesn't mean it's forever, but feeling constantly as you do isn't sustainable.

One caveat though, I felt like this once in my final placement in my second PGCE. My fanatic mentor had invisible seen from the sidelines that it was panic because I didn't feel on top of things she taught my classes for the day, and found me an empty classroom for the day. I sorted out paperwork, got everything organised and left that day feeling like it was all okay So don't keep it to yourself. I think mentors are quite used to mini breakdowns, and sometimes just having it out in the open helps.

So talk to someone. If it's still wrong, it's wrong for you. Teaching is a tough gig, and I find the PGCE the hardest year of all.

There are always ways to turn it into a positive, so don't worry about career prospects. Talk to someone, and get advice.

I almost quit my pgce with only 6 weeks to go. It's a really tough year to get through and doubly stressful with Covid, Before you do anything please talk to your course tutor about how you feel. You are certainly not the only person feeling like this and contrary to what you might feel, they want you to succeed and will support you in school any way they can.

I'm sorry you're having a rough time. Just wanted to say you might get more responses if you post in the Staffroom section? This section is mostly for people teaching at university and we don't (usually) do PGCEs.

I do sympathise, though - this must be such a strange year to be doing it.

I’m in my 4th year of teaching and feel like how you are. I’m considering leaving full time teaching soon. If I’m absolutely honest it doesn’t get any easier. You just manage everything better. I think you have to decide what’s best for you and your mental health. You are only at the beginning of your career and also teaching is not for everyone. So if you didn’t complete your PGCE I don’t think it’s a deal breaker. It just means you realised very quickly teaching wasn’t for you and therefore exploring other avenues. You might on the other hand want to stick it out- count down the days, get your qualification and never look back. Do what’s best for you.

I found mine to be really dull...most of us found it tedious and waste of time..however the 7307 cert I did before was great and exempt you from parts of pgce so try that.

I don't think you should worry about what employers would think. This is just a small amount of time in your working life overall. Are you enjoying the experience in school? If you didn't have your commute would it be okay?

I would say talk to your tutor - but if you really hate it, it doesn't get any better or dramatically change when you are qualified. Teaching is not one of those jobs you can just keep your head down, get through the day and leave at the door. I think if you feel this way now, perhaps it is not the right path for you.

I agree with talking to your tutor first. Everything is ten times harder at the moment because of Covid. I don't think anyone actually enjoys a teacher training course! If it's the teaching itself you hate then that's a big problem. And if you do leave have you got a plan B in place.