To even think about doing my NQT year while DS1 does his GCSEs?

[orangeylemons]

Found out today that I should have 'no problems' being accepted to do my PGCE starting September for Secondary maths at the same school my son attends.

Here is the dlilema if I do the PGCE this coming year - the next, (tougher?) NQT year will be my DS1''s GCSE year and DS2's first year at secondary. I am a single parent.

What are GCSE years like from a parent's POV?
What are NQT years like, really?

I know I'm mad/brave/stupid to be doing this at all. I am seriously considering delaying a year to avoid the NQT/GCSE/new school combo but I am also quite daunted at times by the road ahead so don't know which thoughts to trust right now. I did get a 1st with the OU (Graduated 2107) so the boys are used to me working and studying, but I am, honestly, worried that this will be too much. On the other hand waiting a whole 18months to start the PGCE seems crazy when we are living on a min wage and no maintenance.

Hoping there are some thoughts out there that could help?

Thanks Mnset! X

Expect to work 60 plus hours a week.

The PGCE is a bloody awful year too, but you could do it, see how it goes and then decide whether to do your NQT year immediately. If not, you could do supply work in the meantime. There's always call for maths teachers.

I am SP, no support and work (although not at teaching) in a job that on paper I should not be able to do, but I work with a couple of people who really believe I can do the job, who have encouraged me. Only you know how much your sons will need help and how much difference the money will make.
The teachers on this site vastly overestimate the amount of work they do and spend a lot of time on MN knocking parents. I hope you dont join them

What? My mum used to work 80 hour weeks including nights when I was doing my GCSEs and my A levels. It was absolutely fine.

As someone who works at a university, it helps enormously if the students who come to us are used to independent study without a parent hovering over them.

Oh and my mum was also a single parent.

I found the NQT year easier than the PGCE. You already have a bank of resources (a small bank perhaps but a starting point), you don't have uni work on top of planning and you have your own classes rather than having to constantly liaise with the regular class teachers on placements. It is a lot of work though. Be prepared for working late into evenings and devoting at least one full day at the weekend to getting your work done. I am on mat leave currently and honestly dreading returning to work as I don't know how I will keep on top of everything.

How do you know your placement school?

You will be fine. NQT is easier than PGCE. You will have extra PPA and a school based support. You will likely be joining a department with medium and long term plans so you will have somewhere to start. Teaching is hard work, no matter what level. Good luck and congratulations!

Unless you're a teacher how do you know teacher vastly exaggerate their work load! I hope you're talking from experience and not just being a know it all!

As a teacher the NQT Year is hard. Expect long days (7-6 at school and then until about 9/10 at home) but it's worth it. I did a 4 year BEd so can't comment on PGCE.

Only you know your children as to whether you could manage it.

I would totally wait.
DS1 is in his GCSE year. It's not all-consuming but I definitely have to be on hand to quiz him/tutor him/ encourage him to revise. I have to be mentally with it, emotionally available, and present. It's his time and it's not a sacrifice to take this year as being mostly about him and his future.

That's me though.
I wouldn't expect you to share my approach but I will say that as a parent, you need to be available, not too preoccupied, during GCSEs.

Thank you for your messages and sharing, it's really helpful to have the benefit of your thoughts whilst I weigh up what to do.

I didn't realise a break could be taken between the PGCE and the NQT so that is food for thought.

Amazing how much parents can strive for bettering the family life situation, wow to some of the experiences shared.

Thank you again.
I wish you all well, X

Do it. You can have study times when all three of you spend a couple of hours working then spend a couple of hours going out/eating/watching a film. I don't understand this idea of doing your children's homework for them. Carve out time for them to do it, support the school sanction if they don't. Advise if you are asked. They need to sort it for themselves.

Good luck!

Secondary maths the workload is not as high as posters who are talking about 11 hour days at school plus more at home. It simply doesn’t need to take that much time!
I know, 100% that at my school the teachers socialising in the staff room before school, at break and lunch, are the maths faculty!
Good luck -

Is it a PGCE with a University or a school led programme? Sounds like the latter as you say it’s at your son’s school. In that case, are you employed by them as a trainee and will they therefore expect you to just carry on after the first year? It isn’t very clear.

DD1 is in her GCSE year. So far, my input has mainly been in terms of enforcing good study/sleep habits and holding her hand when the pressure is getting to her. I am, however, fully expecting the period from April to June to be extremely stressful. She has 24 separate papers to sit, with very few days "off" between exams. I think the whole family is going to be on edge and I'm not sure I'd want to be coming to the end of an NQT year myself at that point. But a lot depends on your relationship and whether you are likely to wind each other up if you're both stressed.

Yeah I'd see how the pgce goes and then decide. You can do it anytime in the first few years (I think 3-that might have changed) so no huge hurry you can even do it on bits so if you started and it was too much you could do 2 terms and the 3rd one later.

The PGCE is much harder than the NQT year but manageable. I would try and get that out of the way first and then delay the NQT year if you want. In all honesty though, the NQT year, whilst hard, is nowhere near as difficult as the PGCE. If you really feel like you want to postpone it, you could always earn extra money by doing supply work for the GCSE year, giving you greater flexibility.

PGCE is a very intense year. I found the NQT year as hard as the PGCE but in a different way: less paperwork but the volume of classes and marking hit me like a ton of bricks!

I would think it could work quite well with you both being in the same school. You could both do your work/revision in school until about 6 and then head home together. Or work together at home.

I think the second year of teaching is more difficult than nqt year. More teaching and less support.

I agree with Weareboats. I've been a teacher for 11 years. I go through busy periods especially around exams where I work quite late into the evening. But, the workload isn't consistently crippling. It's a tough gig. Expect to work at home. Expect to do a couple of hours at the weekend. But, it isn't overwhelming in terms of work.

Currently in my nqt year with a supportive partner and eldest dd doing hers. She’s a reliable, motivated kid. As far as parenting goes she needs our support at a few evening meetings and a sympathetic ear. We cope, as long as I function on five hours sleep. A kid who needed pushing I would never have time.

My PGCE was the worst year of my life. NQT was a doddle in comparison.
I would wait - are there any tutoring jobs you could apply for in the mean time, or resource creation jobs? The idea of a child sitting GCSEs in the same house as a trainee teacher sounds incredibly stressful. Also how does your son feel about it being the same school?

I found the NQT harder than the PGCE.
The PGCE had weeks and weeks of not teaching.
I did my NQT last year as a single parent.

You may find it gives you insight into what your son should be revising and you van help him more that way. I have a whole host of resources that I will use in the future for my daughter.

I am secondary Science. I did half Maths , half Science for my NQT. As a team we joint plan. There are times when it is busy but in my school most teachers leave 4.30-5 . Unless theres a mock to mark they don’t work at home. They work hard when there , use all frees to the max etc. I don’t think it is as time consuming as primary.

@Smilingthru If you do those hours, you’re in the wrong school!!!

I’ve been teaching for a while and if you find a school that is supportive and forward thinking they won’t want you staying at work ages/reinventing the wheel for every lesson. Do it!!