Calling fellow teachers. Please help. Feeling desperate

[MimiCaeger]

Feeling broken and desperate

I’m wondering if anyone has had any luck at all securing a first teaching post after some time out in between the degree/pgce and the NQT year.

I got my QTS in September 2018 I was 60:40 mixed secondary and primary, and had planned to go onto supply to increase my confidence, as some ill health during the first part of my training left me feeling a bit out of my depth. (I only had a couple of weeks off but I did a pgce and the first bit was really intense)

However my partner was made redundant from his job after injury and I had to be the main earner.

I have been working in social care since then, and despite taking all my a/l to do half days in a school each week for a term, and to attend Teachers CPD I just feel like I’m falling further and further away.

I can’t get a TA job or do supply as I can’t afford to pay my bills as it is and I get top ups from UC and if I “deliberately worsen my financial situation” I will get universal credit sanctions.

Jobs don’t come up often near me, and I’m quite rural, so it’s limiting. But I have been applying for jobs since June and the response is always “you’d be better with more experience”. But, how can I get this?!

I work in the day, and do sleep ins at the weekend, I visit schools on my lunch breaks and volunteer with children in care, a youth club and young offenders. But I can’t quit my main job, or I’m homeless and bust.

Is there anything I could do, to help me get a teaching job at this point. Or any mentoring schemes or groups that I could join so I can stay in the loop and keep up to date with things. I feel like if I don’t secure anything this year I will be so far behind that I won’t ever be able to teach. 🙁💔

Thanks so much x

However, slightly unexpected twist in my tale.

I’m pregnant and due over the summer holidays, so I’m likely to stay where I am, not return after Mat, and move over to supply locally after that.

I was definitely feeling hormonal & fraught.

You’ve all been lush.

Register with a couple of supply agencies but say you only want long term

You could try tutoring? If you're qualified to teach a specific secondary subject, there is a lot of demand for GCSE tutors? You could also send your details to the H. R managers of local schools in order to start building a relationship with them? It's not clear what subject you specialise in though, so as an employer, I would need to know more about what you can offer.

Do supply. Sign on with several agencies. I have done supply several times over the years and always been kept busy. And it usually led to a long term or permanent job x

Sorry just read your update. I would still go to supply once you eventually go back to work x