To want to retrain to be a primary school teacher - age 45 when qualified

[EddieStobbart]

I've been working in a quite a niche finance-type job for the best part of 20 years. My role changed a lot a couple of years ago after a major restructure and after another wave I'm due to find out next week if I'll be made redundant. It'll be a relief really as I don't enjoy my job which bears little resemblance to the one I had before the restructure but I knew I was lucky to be employed and in a reasonably well paying position at that.

Teaching at secondary level in my original degree subject doesn't appeal but I'd assumed primary teaching required another undergraduate degree over 3-4 years rather than a year's post grad. I have 2 dcs and can't really be out of work for that long (though can manage a year or two as am lucky enough to be in line for a pretty large pay off) but I realised a couple of weeks ago that I could do it in a single year after all. However, I found out yesterday that the course application is still via UCAS and should have been in last Friday (I have done a few post grad qualifications and all were direct applications to the university and later in the year). Late applications aren't accepted at my local institution. I've been a bit off the ball as the whole redundant process has been elongated for various reasons and I've had to keep it quiet which is sometimes a bit stressful.

I'm currently 43, turning 44 in September. The course runs from August, 9-5pm every day for 10 months so if I was accepted on the course next year I would finish a couple of months before my 45th birthday.

I've always worked long hours and full time. Earnings would be a fraction of what I earn at the moment but that would be the case in any other job I got and we can afford the drop.

I spent years doing something I didn't particularly enjoy but it was reasonably varied, colleagues were nice and there was enough flexibility when the kids were tiny (now 9 & 6). AIBU to think about primary teaching at my age?

briss,

You either need a degree + 1 year further initial teacher training (PGCE or in school training such as Schools Direct, SCITT etc)

OR

A BEd degree of 3 years.

I would suggest to your friend that looking for a BEd would be the best way forward, discussing with the university in question whether the BTECs she holds are suitable for entry. She will also need good GCSE passes in English and Maths.

she is a single mum with a child so probably a full time BEd won't be possible :-( shame really.

You really need to research teaching well. Also consider whether it will have a detrimental effect on your own kids. The hours at school can be very long, and then on top of that you have to spend a lot of your own free time planning lessons, marking etc. I hardly saw my children while doing my PGCE and decided that it was completely incompatible with a happy family life and my own sanity for me to work as a full-time teacher. Unfortunately there are hardly any part-time roles around in my area, so several months later I still don't have a job. Two of my relatives also started a PGCE and decided they had to give up - the stress and sheer hours can make normal life difficult.

I was in a similar position to you OP. In a very high paid job that I didn't really enjoy. I did my PGCE last year and started my NQT year in September. I am 41.

Age isn't a factor really. I wasn't the oldest on my PGCE course and, dare I say, my maturity and many years in a high pressured job, meant I was able to cope with the demands of the PGCE year better than some of my younger counterparts.

I also didn't struggle to get on a course. I did School Direct. My original degree wasn't in a primary subject and my only experience was volunteering as a parent reader for one hour per week for a term at my dc's school.

And for the record - you have now found a happy primary school teacher (albeit I appreciate I've plenty of years ahead of me to become jaded )

Good advice here, thank you. I often get home after 9pm at the moment and have many, many nights working far later to finish off presentations etc. I also did a distance learning post grad with two small DC and a FT job so as long as it isn't more than this am hoping will be ok. All jobs have different pressure though so definitely need to get some direct experience to really see.

An acquaintance of mine is retraining this year, doing a primary PGCE. He is around 50 and worked in a well-paid job with shifts - his teaching salary will be lower. He's finding it hard work but is loving it.

I think you should go for it. It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into it and you've certainly had experience of a demanding job. I often think people who go into teaching after a different career first have good 'life experience' and that can be an advantage.

So your two issues are relevant experience - enough to get you on the course, and having missed the deadline to apply. Why don't you give them a call? ( not UCAS, I mean which ever training provider it is where you'd do the course) You've got nothing to lose, and if they are short on applicants this year, then they may allow you to apply late. Possibly unlikely, but you never know unless you try. You could ask them about relevant experience etc too - they may have suggestions, or know of schools who need helpers etc.

If there is a place for you next year, then you could spend the next few months getting relevant experience.

Good luck!

Eddie I don't know where you live or the institution where you intend to train but have you looked at several uni websites for their PGCE courses?

There are many routes into teaching at secondary level but at primary level it's not the case. You would be teaching for a lot of the time- building up classroom contact over 3 terms. You would also have lectures on top of this and possibly at weekends and school hols.

You do need to start getting classroom experience now. Sought -after unis (see league tables for primary PGCEs) are very selective so you do need some kind of experience in working with children.

And as others have said, be realistic about vacancies in your own area. If you have a specialist subject ( your degree) and can be a leader in a school for maths, science, etc, you will find it easier to find a post.

I'll will get some direct experience. I'm not bothered about weekend work as have done lots of that anyway and FT job means have worked school holidays for years. What experience are school leavers applying as undergrads expected to have?

School leavers often have done at least a couple of weeks' work experience in a school. They may have done some tutoring whilst at Uni, or run rainbows/beavers groups. Some have taught swimming lessons to children - all sorts really. You generally need experience with children (which you have!) Plus some relevant classroom experience.

I taught secondary, so it's a bit different, but I had spent a year teaching English abroad. They still did ask about English classroom experience. I didn't really have any, but arranged to go into a local school ( This was after my interview but it still counted)

So don't let it put you off, you don't need loads, but you do need some. But be creative, think of anything at all you've already done that's relevant, and then just try to get a little bit of time in a school.

My 'mature students' PGCE group (weird part time lot) had experience that included working as a TA or cover teacher (most common), working as a peri music teacher, running things like cubs / brownies / boys brigade, working in another job with lots of contact with children (mostly medical, but also in nurseries), doing things like running toddler groups / pre-school committees with our own children. Weekly volunteering in a school was pretty much the minimum. For interview, I had to take in an example of an activity that i had done with children in some context.

Where i work, we get a constant stream of school leavers or work experience placements from school looking for primary experience. Others also help run after school clubs, come in during their lunchtimes as volunteer readers etc.

PLEASE get some experience working with other people's children before you commit to this! Volunteering in school / working as a lunchtime supervisor / classroom assistant are all good options but might not be possible if you are in full-time work (and round me it is super-competitive to get the paid roles). If you can't do it look to the voluntary sector which might well have opportunities that you can do evenings / weekends - most Guiding or Scouting groups are crying out for more adult volunteers and it's a great option to find out if you have any chance of hacking it. But when you're sure, go for it - you're not too old!

I'm glad I posted, this has been really helpful, thanks to all. I've probably got max two months left in this job then have loads of freedom time to volunteer. Had started to plan a range of things but I wanted to be more confident about whether my ideas were at least potentially viable options first.

I started a primary PGCE a couple of years ago and would have graduated at age 50 so age is not a problem.

However, don't underestimate how tiring and stressful primary teaching is. You are 'on stage' the whole time. It's a bit like doing presentations to clients all day and having to do all your prep and planning in your own time. I thought I'd be able to get lots done after the chn had gone but there are meetings 2-3 times a week till 6. Most people were in school by 7.15 to 7.30am.

I was working till gone midnight every night on placement and most of Saturday and Sunday too with planning and marking. What worried me was that all of the teachers I worked with seemed to work all day Sunday too.

Teaching really is a lifestyle choice rather than a job. I thought I worked hard with long hours in my previous jobs but it was nothing like that.

It was no surprise that when I started my banking training course 3 out of 12 were ex teachers despite the salary being half a teacher's salary.

Eddie all school leavers are not really school leavers some are graduates doing PGCEs and some are doing a BEd(for primary alone.)

One uni I know which offers teacher training insists that all school leavers have 2 weeks work experience in a school by the time the course starts in the Sept- so that means getting into a school for the final 2 weeks of summer term, at least.

Many others might have helped with Cubs, Brownies, Scouts, Guides, Swimming instructor/ lifeguards, summer play schemes, etc.