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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask any teachers whether they’d advise their own dc against teaching?

64 replies

Polenta · 30/10/2018 20:37

Dd is 20 - she’s done two years of uni and is currently on a year abroad in France before returning to complete her final year in the UK next year.

In terms of what she wants to do after uni, she’s torn between Teach First and the Civil Service Fast Stream (I know they’re both very competitive and she very possibly wouldn’t get in on her first application/maybe at all).

It just made me wonder - there are so many threads on here from teachers at the absolute end of their tether. Would you be happy if your own dc wanted to go into teaching?

(Fwiw, I’m a GP and I’m very glad none of my dc wanted to become GPs!)

OP posts:

Original poster

Polenta · 30/10/2018 20:38

(Her degree is Maths if that’s relevant)

OP posts:

SwizzelsFizzers · 30/10/2018 20:40

Why teach first? Just apply for a PGCE or teach direct itt.

What does she want to teach?

I was a primary head and still work in education. My DD is doing ITT at the moment, PGCE.

It is a stable job, you can travel the world. Never unemployed.

Can earn £60,000 in 7-10 years from start to primary headship if you are that was inclined.

Haggisfish · 30/10/2018 20:41

I would prob try civil service fiestas you can always go into teaching later.

Haggisfish · 30/10/2018 20:41

Civil service first!

Jezzifishie · 30/10/2018 20:41

I am an ex-teacher, and DH teaches. I think our advice would be to pick your school very very carefully, make sure it matches your skillset and personality. DH has taught in schools that have suited him really well, I taught in a school where (for whatever reason) my face didn't fit and they made my life hell. DD is 3 so we've got a while, but when asked she always says she wants to be a nursery teacher so you never know!

Inferiorbeing · 30/10/2018 20:42

Currently a trainee and i would really avoid TeachFirst, its a 'sink or swim' approach and many people leave through stress. If she is thinking teaching i would consider SCITT or PGCE!

JupiterBelle · 30/10/2018 20:43

If they want to teach then that’s up to them. They’ll see how long and hard I work and would know that it’s not easy but it’s their life and their career, so their choice.

By the time mine will be old enough to be thinking about this teaching may have completely changed (hopefully for the better).

Original poster

Polenta · 30/10/2018 20:43

She wants to teach maths. She’s also fluent in French (as dh is French) so she thinks she could teach that too if it was ever needed.

I’m not quite sure why she’s ruled out doing a PGCE - I think part of it is that she’s keen to start working.

OP posts:

Jezzifishie · 30/10/2018 20:43

Just spotted your update - schools are crying out for Maths teachers. Would she consider teaching Physics? The world is your oyster if you're a Physics teacher!

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 30/10/2018 20:43

I am a primary teacher and I wouldn’t currently recommend it.

If she does want to do it, as pp has said, do a PGCE.

SillySallySingsSongs · 30/10/2018 20:44

My Aunt and Uncle advised us all not to in the 90s.

brighteyeowl17 · 30/10/2018 20:44

Probably not. It is really hard to have life and be a teacher. Your continually verbally abused by kids (and parents) and managers, (+ the general public for the most part) , unless you find a good school. It takes a good few years to earn a decent wage too. Tell them to think carefully.

Bloodyfucksake · 30/10/2018 20:44

One of my DC has all my skills and qualities. The ones that make me a good teacher. I was gutted the other day when he said he wanted to do what I do.
Maybe before he makes his A level choices I will show him the kind of emails we get from parents.
Teaching children is amazing. Dealing with their parents is a nightmare.

Athena51 · 30/10/2018 20:47

My DS is a maths teacher currently doing his NQT year. He loves teaching and does tutoring too but it's not for everyone.

He went the traditional degree followed by PGCE and also spent time working as a TA in schools to get loads of classroom experience. Maths teachers are very in demand though.

SwizzelsFizzers · 30/10/2018 20:47

I would say that a good number of secondary math teachers go into school leadership- in fact a disproportionate number.

Athena51 · 30/10/2018 20:48

Also DS got a tax free bursary of £25k to do his PGCE and was in school 4 days a week with a day at uni so it is very hands on now.

t00dle00 · 30/10/2018 20:49

My mum told me to pick any other career so I did. I'm glad I didn't get into it now I've seen what friends are going through. My mum left primary teaching 10 years ago and hasn't looked back.

My sister in law was a math teacher at secondary and hated it. She left 4 years after qualifying.

Goldenbear · 30/10/2018 20:50

The Civil Service Fast Stream is very very competitive, I don't think they're comparable in that sense.

MidiMitch · 30/10/2018 20:54

I would vote for Teach First if she is interested in moving her career forward quickly. I did TF because I wasn't convinced I wanted to teach and TF gives you opportunities to develop skills in other industries. Turns out I loved it - tough but rewarding. My career moved forward quickly. I'm now a Deputy Head in a large all through school.

maskingtape · 30/10/2018 20:54

''It is a stable job, you can travel the world. Never unemployed.''

Tell that to thousands of supply teachers who can't get a permanent position.

''Can earn £60,000 in 7-10 years from start to primary headship if you are that was inclined.''

I've been teaching for 12 years and earn just over £30k. My head earns £44k and has to teach 2 mornings a week. Very few people will be a head in 7-10 years and many primary heads will earn no where near the 60 thousand you say.

If anyone asked me if they should teach I'd quite honestly say it can be utterly awful at times and it's even worse now with budgets being so shit, behaviour getting worse, support depleting for SEN, everything being so progress and results driven despite the tough times so many kids are going through.

Biscuitsneeded · 30/10/2018 20:55

I'm not at the end of my tether. In fact I mostly like my job. But I don't want it for my kids. I became a teacher at age 38 having had another career and kids first. Teaching suits me now. But I wouldn't want my kids to go into it at 22. I can't really articulate why, but it feels like the safe, 'known' option and I want them to go and experience a bit of life first. Nobody should spend their entire life at school!

Banana770 · 30/10/2018 20:56

Hmm. I’d advise against it, but if she’s adamant Maths is a shortage subject so she should be able to be picky about the school she works in at least. There are a lot of wonderful things about teaching, but it’s stressful!

Plantlover23 · 30/10/2018 20:58

I've just started Teach First primary in September of this year. It is exhausting: the hours are incredibly long, the context of the schools TF place in brings complications and there's all of the PGDE work to do alongside teaching (pretty much full time from the off in most cases). But at the moment, I absolutely love it and wouldn't change it, so would recommend it to someone who thinks they can hack the workload!

Jackshouse · 30/10/2018 21:01

Nearly 1/3 of qualified teachers leave within 5 years of starting teaching. I managed 8 years. 55% of teach first teachers leave teaching by the end their second year as a qualified teacher.

There is a recruitment crisis in teaching but the retention crisis is of more concern.

Goldenbear · 30/10/2018 21:01

Also, the average fast stream appointee is not straight out of uni.

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