To consider a PGCE in 2018?

[youthrewmysandwichAWAY]

In a time when a lot of people are leaving the profession and are unhappy with the expectations placed on them and the children.

AIBU to consider taking this route right now anyway?

No, we really need teachers. But be aware of what you are getting into!
Tbf so much depends on the school. Some are reasonable, some horrific ( LOs printed with differentiated success criteria for every lesson, triple marking, displays changed every six weeks, constant data drops) and some in between.
I still like children. They make it worthwhile but I hate constantly feeling like I’m failing them somehow.

I'm not a teacher, but I spend a lot of my working life in secondary schools. As much as I like working with teenagers, I wouldn't touch the profession with a bargepole the way things are right now.

You'll probably find a wider variety of answers in The Staffroom forum.

They make it worthwhile but I hate constantly feeling like I’m failing them somehow.

This is my biggest concern really. I constantly worrying about doing the wrong thing, I have reservations about how anxious it would make me.

You have to be really ruthless about work life balance and about some things being “good enough”. Or it’ll eat you up.
BUT kids are great and I suspect I laugh more than most people do at work. My school has reasonable expectations too. It can be good. Just do your research!

I love my job (mostly). If you're prepared for a working pattern of intense/holiday/intense/holiday (with intense meaning a lot of working at home depending on time of term etc) and are pretty resilient, I would go for it. Some schools are much better than others in terms of minimising stupid paperwork, so choose wisely and don't be scared of doing some supply first to find schools you like. I'm never bored, some days I want to go and cry in a cupboard, but then I reflect on what went ok that day and give myself a wee shake.

If you think it will make you anxious, don’t do it. The children are amazing and the only reason I’m still in it- seeing them engaged is the job satisfaction for me. However, you will constantly be made to feel like you’re not good enough- by senior management, colleagues, parents and the general public who seem to despise teachers and really don’t ‘get it’.

There is so much pressure put on you, you really need to be resilient and good st handling it. Don’t go into it if you’re not thick skinned.

If you want to teach then do the PGCE. Personally I think teaching is a nightmare and every teacher I know is trying to get out, but it's your funeral. Try to keep an escape route open for yourself in case you need it when you realise there's a reason that teaching has such a high number of people quitting.

That being said, I bloody love it because the kids are fantastic!

but it's your funeral

Hahaha, thanks for the laugh!