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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To still want to pursue a career in secondary school teaching even though everything I’ve read warns me off?

89 replies

Overmydeadbody456 · 09/06/2019 19:28

I am in the finance industry at the moment, and have been for 15 years. I’ve been wanting to be a teacher for years, but got complacent and kept pushing it further down the line. Pay and bonuses in my field are good which I would say was the main reason, however the job is very stressful and I’m just getting tired of it

This year, I feel i’ve developed this overwhelming urge that I need to move into a vocation that I actually want to do. Teaching has always seemed so much fun and rewarding. But any teachers I speak to or any forums I read all are advising people not to move into it because of all the red tape and funding cuts.
Has anyone here decided to completely switch careers and move into teaching despite being warned not to?
My subject would probably be business studies/economics

OP posts:
BeingATwatItsABingThing · 09/06/2019 22:56

Teaching has changed me. Drastically. I used to be an outgoing and sociable person. Now, the very thought of planning something for a weekend fills me with stress because I’m wondering when I’m going to get my work done.

I have diagnosed anxiety and depression and my daughter misses out on me. My children at school get the most of me and I would say 75% of them aren’t really all that grateful. I teach Year 5.

I hate my job. I hate what it’s doing to me. I hate how it makes me feel like I’m worthless and useless. I hate that I don’t know how to leave.

janetforpresident · 09/06/2019 23:01

I hate my job. I hate what it’s doing to me. I hate how it makes me feel like I’m worthless and useless. I hate that I don’t know how to leave

Flowers for you @BeingATwatItsABingThing I hear you.

One thing i found has helped is moving to a very different school. Could you try that?

Ultimately though you can leave. No job is worth it.

wildbhoysmama · 09/06/2019 23:02

There's some excellent points here. Listen to the people who have been there and done it. I'm 25 years in ( Scotland) and I still love many aspects of the job but this is because I am in a great school with a realistic ( mainly) and supportive SLT so there are few discipline issues and I have great friends there. I hear horror stories about other schools- seriously horrible situations with people dropping like flies through stress.

Even in my positive situation ( also only working 4 days) I am still knackered and get seriously pissed off with the admin, data and bloody politics as well.as being paid far less than I am worth.

Only you can decide on balance what you will do. It will not be less stressful.than your job right now, I can tell you that. The stress comes from never having time to do everything and being ' on your game's every minute you are there- there is no rest until you leave the building. Good luck.

SachaStark · 09/06/2019 23:19

I’m in my fifth year: commonly recognised as the final year nowadays for most of those who enter the profession. It is, indeed, my final year.

I’m in a FANTASTIC school now, though 12 months ago I was in another school, and was at the lowest point of my life so far, caused almost entirely by teaching (search for my thread if you like: “Broken by teaching, need to know how to get out”). The most significant thing is what kind of school you end up teaching in, as many are now academies, are toxic, or just have generally poor management.

Although I am in a better place now, I have spent this year realising that I am still “in recovery” from the effects of my previous school: I was diagnosed with severe depression, and was having thoughts of harming myself so I didn’t have to go to work. I don’t have any of those feelings at my new school, though the stress doesn’t diminish, as the workload is just the same. I will still be setting my alarm in a minute to get up early to finish marking (couldn’t do my normal workload this weekend as I had a family wedding).

I am a fucking GREAT teacher. In another life, if everything wasn’t so fucked up, I would definitely be a career teacher. But I simply refuse to do this to myself any more. I’m tired ALL the time, I am so impatient with my husband, because all my patience is used up by kids at school, I have poor sleep health, poor diet health because there is no time to consider what to eat or when during the week. I’ve developed functional dyspepsia and a stomach ulcer (my doctor reckons through the old adage of “stress” because they simply can’t find another cause).

Most significantly, DH and I want to start a family soon. And I will absolutely NOT put my family through trying to be a teacher and a parent at the same time. I don’t understand anyone who CAN do it. I work a 60 hour week now on full time, if I went part time, that would still be 40 hours in order to get all the marking done. There’s no way you can do it without “overtime”, OP! You get 10% of your timetable set aside for planning and marking, but basic maths will tell you that nobody can mark 100 exercise books and plan a few lessons in one hour a day at most.

As a previous poster said, teaching has drastically changed me as a person. I feel I have lost my twenties to teaching, because in many cases it simply HAS to be your life, not just a job. As I said, I am a fucking good teacher, but I am leaving to preserve myself.

If I was to be really honest OP: don’t do it. Or, wait until something drastic changes in education so the job becomes much more manageable. Or, wait until your kids are grown-up. Or, see it as a five year experiment, and do as an overwhelming percentage of us do, and get the heck out of dodge.

Overmydeadbody456 · 09/06/2019 23:28

@sachastark that was a difficult read and I feel really upset for you. Sorry that you’ve been forced to leave a career that you are excellent at. I do recall your thread and I remember reading it at the time thinking that there was no way I was going to do it. I think I need to read it again.

Surely something has to change. How can the authorities ignore this epidemic? How are schools finding enough resources to ensure there are physically enough teachers? It’s not sustainable surely. How much more of a shortage and exodus of teachers would there need to be until the government realises they are in the middle of a crisis?

OP posts:
Bumper1969 · 09/06/2019 23:45

I did it for 20 years in Love fon. Now am teaching in Ireland and realise even further the hell hole that is UK teaching. Nearly everyone I knew in that 20 years teaching ( if they stayed full time) suffered breakdowns, depression, anxiety and conditions such as fibo. brought on as a direct result of the stress and demands if the job. Yes teaching can be fun but that is 2% of the time. I wouldn't advise anyone in UK to teach.

Mistressiggi · 10/06/2019 00:04

Sunday night, worst night of the week for teachers (and others too I’m sure, but I never got quite such a feeling of impending doom as I do in this line of work).
Wish I could think of something else to do that I wasn’t too old for/used my qualifications/still paid the mortgage.

PissOffPeppa · 10/06/2019 00:48

I know teachers have different experiences but every teacher I know has had the same as me. Based on that:

Are you ok with somebody watching your every move and criticising it? Having management turn up with a clipboard unannounced, sit in the corner of your room and scrutinise every single thing you do? Spending your whole evening and weekend marking books only for management to inspect them cover-to-cover then tell you it’s not enough? Sacrificing your whole life, your friendships and relationships, your family life, for the job? Devoting absolutely everything you have to these children, giving up your lunch break to support Timmy- who has self confidence issues and doesn’t speak English- until at the end of the year he’s confident enough to stand in front of the room and present his work clearly, so you’re absolutely glowing with pride at how far he has come, only to be hauled into the head’s office (data spread out on the table in front of them) and demanded to explain why Timmy’s academic scores aren’t in line with national average? Seeing a child’s face crumble when you say you can’t join in with the end-of-term celebrations, because you have to stick all of these targets into the books before the deputy inspects them at 1pm (with one hours notice)?

The only thing I ever wanted to do was teach. I was an outstanding teacher. I cared about those children with every fibre of my being. And it was killing me from the inside out. Not an exaggeration- I had a mental breakdown and was suicidal. I used to fantasise about the train crashing on the way to work.

My training was a four year education BA. I spent a lot of time in schools, shadowing teachers and finding out about the realities. Nothing prepared me for what it was actually like when I qualified.

Sorry for the long post- as you can tell, it’s something I’m very passionate about. I’m angry that we have so many incredible, committed and passionate teachers who are being driven out of the profession because of the awful conditions.

I’m honestly not trying to put you off. We need more teachers, but the system is broken. Like I said, I’m aware that some teachers will have much better experiences. But it nearly killed me. And that’s the reality of teaching today.

PissOffPeppa · 10/06/2019 00:57

@beingatwatisabingthing

If it’s at all possible, leave. For your own sake. I know exactly what you mean- at my lowest, I spent an evening unable to talk to my husband. I was too afraid to speak and it was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced. I don’t remember my own wedding party because I was so unwell.

As soon as I left teaching, I came back. The old me returned immediately. Quitting was the best thing I did.

I hope this story comes across as I intend it to- as a message of hope. There is a life outside of teaching. I know there are pressures and I know you feel trapped, but if there is any way out at all, even the smallest chink of light, take it. No job is worth this Flowers

BrightYellowPostItNotes · 10/06/2019 01:04

60 hours a week in term time equates to a 40 hour work week in a 52 week working year. Essentially teaching is the ultimate 'compressed hours' job! But it is great fun.

Tessalectus · 10/06/2019 05:40

There are many different aspects to consider.

I cannot recall whether you said anything about children, or a future wish to have any. Term-time, I see mine 2 hours a day. I'm lucky to have found great childcare available from 7am, which allows me to start work by 7.40am most days and it is the absolute latest I'd be in work for without feeling too rushed off my feet. With meetings etc. you need to plan to be in work for at least an hour before school starts to get prepared for the day.

You mention pay. If you are considering teaching Maths (as a shortage subject) there are routes into teaching that will pay you a tax-free bursary in addition to your student fees. You could end up earning more during your training than the people who train you with many years experience, BUT you will alsohave to cope with a sudden £10k pay drop when you qualify.

Can you deal with being stuck at around £25k for many years? Performance-based pay is, in many schools, a thin veil over the fact that schools are severely out of money and will do whatever they can to keep you on as low a salary as possible. So even great performance from yourself all year may mean that due to circumstances beyond your control your classes do not achieve the arbitrary number grade you need. I'm recognised to be excellent at my job, but have been stuck at my current pay grade for 6 years; my similarly-qualified DH even for longer. It's soul-destroying seeing the effort you put in and how little it is valued.

You mention time. I've done this job for 15 years. I refuse to work much more than 2 hours extra a day, bringing my average working hours to about 50 a week. But I can make up a lesson on the spot, improvise and work throgh my breaks and lunches as well as using every time-saving method in the book. I'm still constantly exhausted, because teaching means full-on performance for about 6-7 hours a day. You will always be in contact with pupils; it is very rare to get a proper break, even if you don't follow my system - too many emails to repond to, phone calls to make, requests from students to talk to you, mini-meetings, paperwork etc.

Can you deal with, effectively, having to "behave" every time you step out of your front door? I've met students on holiday while trying to sunbathe, been seen shopping for personal hygiene items, been sworn at by a group of particularly lovely students on public transport in the presence of my own children etc. You can, and will, be searched for and found on social media and have kids and parents watch your every move when out and about. Even when, like me, you live a good drive away from work.

Can you deal with the emotional side of teaching? Behaviour has deteriorated massively since I first started teaching; both myself and colleagues have been assaulted by students often bigger and strnger than ourselves and still having to face them daily afterwards. Being sworn at is so common now most members of staff don't have more than a detention to be able to deal with this (often, there is a two-tier system, but that is a different matter). Even more common is disruption to your lesson - deliberate, through obvious disinterest (Catherine Tate used to make fun of it in her role as Lauren, but the portrayal is fairly accurate for many older students I have taught) or accidental, through people walking in and out of your classroom to pass on messages, pulling out students, events happening etc.

Can you deal with the stresses of observations? Having 1-2 people who often know nothing about your subject judge you on a mere hour or half an hour two to three times a year and through this system evaluate your worth to the school? Which means that if little Johnny decides to swear at Jane (his GF he has just broken up with) and then Nancy and Dave get involved with their mates and Wayne is refiusing to do anything, because he already has been given 3 detentions before arriving to your lesson and is pissed off at his dad, all this may turn into your lack of control over the class, wreck the carefully-planned lesson and allow people who know next to nothing about the class or the subject tell you you're not good enough.

Can you deal with constant changes made to what you teach and the way you teach? People will tell you that planning a lesson gets easier over time (it does) but that doesn't mean much less work when you have to re-upload everything into a new common format for the department, deal with almost annual changes to the curriculum and accommodate whatever the newest fad is into your lessons.

How good are you at saying no? To parents who request practically 1:1 tuition (extra work, catch-up during lesson etc.), senior leaders guilt-tripping you into giving up lunchtimes, afternoons or holiday days (i.e. family time, see first point) to do extra revision classes or lead enrichment, being asked to give up yet another prep lesson to do emergency cover? Being told to fill in pointless paperwork, often duplicated? Being told at almost no notice that there will be an extra meeting after school, even if you need to pick your kids up from childcare? You can say no to most things, but it takes a lot of balls to constantly stand up for your right to refuse and may make you a target to be moved on.

How good are you at prioritising? The job will never be done, no matter how many hours you work. Everything is a priority to different people in your school and most of all to the 150-450 students you will be dealing with, depending on your subject.

How good are you at dealing with frustrations? "computer says no" is fairly common, expecially when something you think may be a good idea involves money and endless paperwork. It is similarly frustrating when your job depends on others doing their work and seeing the tiny amount of influence you have on this (e.g. when you are held reponsible for your form's uniform standards, but Caitlin turns up in a mini skirt and with false nails every lesson and mum says the new iPhone she bought her daughter means that she now cannot afford a new skirt or varnish remover for the next four months).

By the time I get out I will have done the job for 20 years. I'll have been disillusioned for about half of that time. My students generally like me and recognise I'm doing a good job. But even though I've learned to say "no" quite firmly to many requests to preserve my own health and sanity (therefore work less, but also do a less good job than I could do if I still saw the point in it), I'm exhausted. The job never stops, especially in your head. No two days are ever the same, but year on year the issues you face don't change. I've lasted this long out of sheer determination and with the knowledge that (as a shortage subject teacher who is bloody good at what I'm doing) I will always find another job should I become uncomfortable in the eyes of senior staff (who are younger and less experienced than me). Everyone I've trained with has already quit. Most of my colleagues want to quit and are often only holding on because of the initial pay dop they'd face or for lack of ideas of what else to do with their lives when lack of time prevents them from exploring hobbies or realistically considering re-training.

I am passionate about education. But education is different from the reality of teaching.

MrsPandigital · 10/06/2019 05:57

I'm a maths teacher 😊 I do love it and hate it at the same time. I'm in my 4th year now. No kids.

As many people have said, it takes over your life. I remember when I was training in my first year, it was the hardest thing I've ever done (previously worked for KPMG) due to the exhaustion and hours. I'd work until 11pm every night, have Friday night and Saturday off and then work all of Sunday. This just is not manageable with kids! Unless you are okay with not spending time with them ...

The job is so much easier now, but you still end up working SO much unpaid overtime... I probably work 50hrs per week some weeks. Sometimes more depending on exam marking/parents evenings ... Oh and I am part-time ! (0.8 of a timetable )

I will be looking into alternative careers when I have kids 😊

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 10/06/2019 06:06

janetforpresident PissOffPeppa

Thank you both.

Leaving terrifies me. I don’t know what else I can do and we can’t afford to live without my salary.

Silvercatowner · 10/06/2019 06:11

With huge respect, if you haven't spent time in a school recently then you are going in with your eyes closed. Schools are very different to how they were 10, even five years ago, and you need to know what you are getting into. You may love it, but you may also hate it - until you've been in school you cannot know. I work with teachers. Some love it, some hate it, most love bits of it. Most are really good at their job, a few aren't - and being competencied out is grim.
We need maths teachers desperately. Get into a school - or preferably schools, as they are all different - and see how you feel.

Silvercatowner · 10/06/2019 06:12

And just to correct a poster above - School Direct isn't just for experienced TAs etc. It is designed for career changers who have transferrable skills (such as you, OP).

Blondephantom · 10/06/2019 06:36

It is designed for both, yes. However, there is an expectation that salaried school direct trainees will pick up teaching hours more quickly. It is also hugely competitive. Non-salaried would be a more realistic option for someone with no or little school experience.

I went the salaried school direct route with only volunteer experience on the first year they offered that route. I had significant volunteer experience over several years. Everyone else on the salaried route was a former TA.

hormonesorDHbeingadick · 10/06/2019 06:39

How are schools finding enough resources to ensure there are physically enough teachers? There not, I regularly had new to be me subjects appear on my timetable.

I worked as a TA for 3 years and then taught for 8 yrs. I’m that short time I noticed a huge negative change in the education system.

LolaSmiles · 10/06/2019 07:16

Silvercatowner
True but salaried SD routes are far and few between and mean picking up more teaching quickly so the successful applicants tend to be those who have got significant svhool experience behind them, in our area that's the case anyway.

HollyGoLoudly1 · 10/06/2019 07:29

I'm a secondary teacher. I love my job. I dislike a LOT of things about the education system.

I would echo several PPs in that it massively depends on what your school, and, more importantly IMO, what your department is like. At my first school as an NQT I was close to quitting. I've been at my current school for a free years now and I could see myself staying at for the rest of my career.

Re: school direct route. Be careful about the finer details - all will lead to QT status but not all will lead to a PGCE qualification. This is important as some schools look for a PGCE qualification and if you ever wanted to teach abroad, it is pretty much mandatory.

Phineyj · 10/06/2019 07:47

I've been in teaching (Economics) for 8 years now and had another career before. I'd say 60 hours a week full time (if you have decent management, students without too many problems and are rigorous about any additional stuff - there can be a lot of pressure to coach sport, lead DofE, supervise competitions, get involved with music or drama, be a house coordinator, etc etc). I do 30 hours part time plus I have an additional responsibility (for which I am paid) which varies but I'm probably doing 40 hours a week term time plus a 10 hour commute

The problem with getting qualified is Economics doesn't 'count' as it's usually KS5 only so you need a National Curriculum subject. For you that would be Maths presumably, but just so you know your ability to teach Maths at KS4 is the crucial part.

I had a DC shortly after qualifying and I work 8.30 to 4 in school (or at home unpaid) plus 2 hours Mon, Tue, Sun plus whatever time I need on Fri-Sun to stay ahead.

Have you done the numbers on the pay? Bear in mind you will need wraparound care when the DC go to school, you will miss some of their school events and you will need some holiday childcare to keep afloat and to cover non-matching holiday dates.

Inner London schools pay much more than Outer London and Outer London more than home counties.

All my jobs have been KS5 only, but I have opted to teach KS3 at times.

I do enjoy it but I wasn't on £££ before.

FenellaVelour · 10/06/2019 07:48

I admire teachers hugely, the stories on this thread are horrendous but seem to be almost universal experiences. Those who even try it are bloody heroic in the current environment. It’s so sad that fabulous teachers, worth their weight in gold, are being forced to quit for their own wellbeing. What a mess it is.

I wanted to be a teacher some years ago now, spent time in schools, did a couple of TA jobs. Looked at university courses.

It was threads like this, common even back then, that put me off. Thankfully.

I trained as a social worker instead. And while that’s been frustrating and stressful at times due to bureaucracy and lack of resources, it’s nowhere near what teachers describe coping with.

I had a teacher tell me once that he couldn’t do my job, but I know for an absolute certainty that I couldn’t do his.

Hollowvictory · 10/06/2019 07:52

Have you spent any time in a classroom? You'd need to have some voluntary work experience for at least a week or so, possibly more, before you can apply

myself2020 · 10/06/2019 08:26

Disclaimer: i’m not a teacher, but loads if friends and family are
What intake out, its a high pressure job that is often oversold as family friendly. It isn’t particularly (although betted than most finance or management jobs!). however, if you are currently in finance, you are used to high pressure, idiots in management and long working days, so you should be fine!

HollyGoLoudly1 · 10/06/2019 09:37

I would also add that aside from my training and NQT years, a 60 hour week would be incredibly rare for me. It does happen, especially when there is a poorly timed storm of reports, parents evenings, exam marking etc. but it's rare. A 40-50 hour week is more usual, some days during summer to prep and usually a day at each half term.

However this will depend massively on your school.

DuchessSybilVimes · 10/06/2019 09:54

I didn't put this in my earlier post because I didn't want to take the thread into doom and gloom too fast, but I also ended uo with mental health problems due to teaching. Spent months fantasising about crashing my car and killing myself. Insomnia. Nightmares. Diarrhoea every weekday morning. Finding myself unable to speak and dragging my nails down my arm to keep control of myself. Finally gave in and called the gp when I stood at the kitchen sink trying not to throw up in front of my husband and daughter. The gp took one look at me and signed me off with severe anxiety and depression. I had 4 months off, counselling, aantidepressants and a phased return. I was lucky that my school were very supportive but I am so, so glad I am not going back once my mat leave ends.

I never thought I was a weak person but teaching has made me feel that I am. It's knocked my confidence hugely. I have no idea if I will be able to find a second career.

Tread carefully, is what I would say.