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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To consider quitting my job and training to be a teacher?

104 replies

magicmummy1 · 12/02/2011 18:50

I have a good job. Earn just over £50,000. Excellent pension arrangements & other benefits. Generous annual leave allowance. Flexible hours. Reasonable boss. Nice office. Short commute. Opportunities for training & career development. Lots of autonomy in my role. Heavy workload but not excessive.

I know I'm lucky in many ways, but I don't find my job remotely rewarding. I also struggle to cope with the high stress levels in my current job, not because of the amount of work that needs to be done, but rather because of the nature of it iyswim.

I secretly harbour a desire to re-train as a primary school teacher. In fact, I have been thinking about this for years, but the desire has become stronger since dd started school about 18 months ago. Apart from the general attractions of working with young children, I am fascinated by the way in which teachers plan lessons and develop the curriculum. I realise that teaching is bloody hard work and can be very stressful. I know too that teachers work long hours and that the long holidays etc are a bit of a myth. None of this puts me off.

Whenever I have considered this previously, I have usually ended up dismissing the idea, not least because of the drop in pay that I'd have to accept. I'm the main breadwinner in our family, and we can't really rely on DH's (limited) income as he has financial commitments to his extended family overseas. He knows how I feel about my current job, but I have never said that I would seriously consider quitting. I think he would be anxious if I told him this, though I think he'd try to be supportive.

Please be honest. Am I crazy to even consider this? (I'm 38 by the way).

OP posts:
Clary · 12/02/2011 20:01

Yes I know what you mean re redundancy.

There was no way I would have made the leap otherwise - I had the hours to suit (7.30 to 3, 4 days a week) and earned 30k doing a job that was not hard.

That's difficult to give up for less money, longer hours, working every day and having to retrain etc.

Not having a job for six months was grim tho; and now we have a lot less money, childcare issues we never had before, and no flexibility for me.

But I really like what I am doing (I work in secondary school, not a teacher) so maybe it will get me somewhere worthwhile Grin

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 12/02/2011 20:04

I actually think your age will be VERY helpful to any SLT at interview. Your a mum, you have worked in a high stress senior position, I guess you may be less likely to take maternity leave????!
Would you be looking for P/T??

stressheaderic · 12/02/2011 20:05

This is a really interesting thread, and I honestly cannot say for certain what to suggest to the OP, so many fors and againsts here.

I would add that I am a teacher but I volunteer at a youth club project in my local area on a Wednesday and Friday night and I find that infinitely more rewarding than teaching. IS this something that could be fitted in to your working week, you say you only have a short commute?

Changeisagoodthing · 12/02/2011 20:06

16 years ago I gave up a well paid job and went to do a primary/ey pgce. I now earn £85k but I have worked 70 hours a week for past 15 years and have probably seen less of my children than in my old job.

If you are a committed workaholic then teaching is not a good move as it's possible to never stop working.

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 12/02/2011 20:23

You must be a head or advisor Changeisagoodthing?!!

scottishmummy · 12/02/2011 20:24

depends on how the finances stack up.can you afford it.if you lose wage will dh be able to maintain commitments

consider
mortgage this is a biggie.can dh pay it.you say he cant - so what will happen

outgoings lifestyle, this can be dropped to an extent but can you live on nqt wage

what would you teach?is it shortage subject

you could take a gamble sell house, rent live on profits accrued and hope things work

you are still young,38 isnt an impediment at all

Changeisagoodthing · 12/02/2011 20:26

I was a ht within 6 years but now do something else in education- don't want to be outed!

serin · 12/02/2011 20:27

DH gave up a high salary in industry to retrain as a teacher a few years ago. It has not been easy financially but he is much happier and more fulfilled in his new role.

FWIW he thinks most teachers don't know what stress is (compared to his previous career!).

pudding25 · 12/02/2011 20:27

I am being negative again. I was like you (without the good salary). I had done tons of youth movement work with teenagers, taught English for a bit abroad and decided to career change to be a teacher as I thought I would love it. I even spent a week in a primary school. It all sounded great.
In reality, the PGCE is very tough (much, much harder than the law degree I initially did) and the job is relentless. I do have a small child now and work part-time so rarely get a break as in my spare time, I need to work. However, even before DD, it was pretty relentless too. Plus every 2 mins, the job changes and you are expected to do more and more in order to prove that you are a good teacher.
Taking all this into account, plus the fact that you earn a decent salary and are the main bread winner...

mumcanIaskaquestion · 12/02/2011 20:28

Can you teach another way.

I used to work with a lady in an office who used to teach reading & writing to adults in the evening.

The primary school i'm a governor at has just advertised for 2 teachers (yr 1 & 2) and we had 45+ applications.

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 12/02/2011 20:34

Changeisagoodthing but your not concerned about any cuts? I do 'something' else in education alongside class teaching and it's all very doom and gloom in our authority :(

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 12/02/2011 20:36

magicmummy1 I would wait another 2 years. Schools are in for major changes in the next year or two.....it may not look so great then!

angelfire · 12/02/2011 20:50

Magicmummy1

I could have written your post. You are in exactly the situation I am in.

And I am going for it.

Good luck

KangarooCaught · 12/02/2011 20:59

I prof mentor PGCE & GTP students, some of whom swap careers to come into teaching. The quality of the intake is high, but there is no doubt that with the amount of student debt these days a lot struggle financially and take on 2nd or even 3rd jobs in the evening and holidays. The best thing you could do is to get into a school for a few weeks+ (even if you use holiday time) and do as much as they'll let you, with regards to teaching/marking/prep to find out the reality.

The stresses of the job are well documented but so are the rewards.

I think if you had enough funds behind you to weather the training pay/first few years & were happy to retrench your lifestyle, it's do-able but you do need your family fully on board as the impact on them will be significant.

pointydog · 12/02/2011 21:01

I wouldn't.

Enjoy your good income, plan nice holidays. Do you really want to be struggling to get a job and lurching from short supply contract to short supply contract for a few years?

Get a worthwhile enjoyable hobby and focus on that.

pickledpoo · 12/02/2011 21:14

I know you've thought this through, but really, really think it through! I did the exact same thing a few years ago - gave up a highly respected and successful career to retrain as a primary teacher. I did actually love it and it's definitely rewarding, but, my god, it's such hard work - up til past midnight EVERY night. It's a cliche but the amount of paperwork for planning and assessment is unreal. I was used to working long hours and weekends in my old job, but my entire life was literally taken over by the PGCE. If you're happy with that though, and it probably does get better after time, still really find out about the job situation in your area - in some parts of the country it's nigh on impossible to get a job as a newly trained teacher. I was graded as outstanding on my placement but struggled to find work - all jobs went to experienced teachers.

stoatsrevenge · 12/02/2011 21:22

GTP it, magicmummy! But make sure you go with a teacher as good as your dd's! (Been following you on another thread Grin.)

We have a GTP at the moment, and (if we're nothing else!) we're a very nurturing place! However our GTP has just done his 6 week swap with a teacher who 'needs help' in the classroom. You have to be very careful (I'm not sure how much control the student has over that.)

We have found, during the selection process for new staff, that GTP applicants shine.

cuppatino · 12/02/2011 21:22

I'm a primary teacher and I love it. Agree with all the points made about job shortages and ridiculous bureaucracy-don't even get me started on APP-but I earn close to £50k and I'm 'just' a classroom practitioner (admittedly with ten years experience and inner London).
If you want to do it, like others have said, follow a primary teacher for a week and if you still like it, go for it!

stoatsrevenge · 12/02/2011 21:24

BTW, I came late into the teaching profession, mainly because of long holidays.

However, despite long hours, assessment bordering on the ridiculous, etc, etc, I LOVE IT!!! Smile

Changeisagoodthing · 12/02/2011 21:29

I am not sure about gtp. I have done proportionally a lot more capabilities on those who have gone and passed gtp (which I think is schools they were in not wanting to fail them). Especially those who were tas first.

stoatsrevenge · 12/02/2011 21:33

That's interesting ciagt, because we've only had positive experiences.

However, we were considering the downside on Friday - do you think schools feel obl/iged to take their GTPs if a vacancy arises?

We were also wondering if it will get more and more difficult for people to get a job if they've done their training in a college?

beautyspot · 12/02/2011 21:35

Every teacher I have ever known has been a miserable, moaning, whining, cunt.

pointydog · 12/02/2011 21:37

lol @ beauty. There's some truth there Grin

NinkyNonker · 12/02/2011 21:39

Haha, but only on a Monday morning!

stoatsrevenge · 12/02/2011 21:44

Not with the kids, beauty. Just the parents Grin