To want to pack it all in

[Bella43]

I started a PGCE in September and I absolutely hate it! Nearly everyone in my class is already in a teaching role so the information is absorbed quickly or known already. They're excellent in IT. I have little experience having worked in retail all my adult life. I feel way out of my comfort zone and dread going into class each week. I have to start placement in two weeks and an dreading that too.

I loved every minute of my degree. I thought this would be a way to share that passion. It turns out that teaching is mostly planning/paperwork/setting up IT. Hardly any of it is the actual teaching.

I'll have to balance placement with the day in PGCE class, work and two children. I'm a single parent too. No help from their father.

My family are incredibly proud of me for doing this PGCE and I feel like I'd be letting them down but I'm not coping. I hate the assignment I'm working on. It's a huge amount of work. I can't do the things I enjoy anymore because this is zapping my energy. I have no intention of going into teaching. Tutoring maybe but definitely not teaching. The industry is so tough with so much expected of you. Aibu to want to through the towel in? I feel so embarrassed and wish I never enrolled on it.

If you haven't got the enthusiasm now just stop. The hours are harsh (the real hours you work not the perceived 9-3) and the pay isn't great. People do it for the job satisfaction so if you don't feel that just bin it!

I did secondary school maths teaching as a 2nd career. When you start out the lesson planning is huge. I remember spending around 2 hours planning each lesson in my pgce year. However I found it got easier as you teach the same topics and so you build up your own resources.

I've been a teacher for 26 years. I still love it. If you're getting this stressed a few weeks in may i kindly suggest it's not for you. You need to be strong, know your own mind, be confident and not be intimidated. I do not answer messages/ emails in the evening- I may mark online but that's different. May I also kindly suggest that your stress would transfer onto the pupils and noone would enjoy the experience. Kids need confident people teaching them as they're role models.

I feel that you've taken up a space that someone else may have really appreciated. Here in Scotland it can be as low as 1 in 25 who get into a PGCE secondary course and 1 in 30 for primary.

See how your placement goes. What you are doing now is not teaching and you may find that when you finally get in front of a class, this outweighs all the buggering about behind the scenes. You cannot learn everything you need to know about teaching in one year, but I have been teaching for over 20 and still learn new things all the time. You just have to decide if you can accept all the crap that comes with the job.
FWIW, I don't think I could have survived my training and first year if I had children of my own, apart from the workload, I was permanently exhausted and rundown, so you are under a lot of pressure on several fronts.
Teaching is not for everyone and although the job gets easier, the hours I put in have not, although some of that is my choice. My home life has played second fiddle to my job frequently over the years. If it isn't for you, there is no shame in deciding that you don't want to continue.

I do lots of mentoring in my role. I can help to train apprentices too.
If you were half way through the PGCE or more, I'd say stick it out, it shows you can do a Master's level qual etc etc....but it's not even Xmas yet. I think teaching in general is going to get hugely worse before reaching a breaking point and change coming through.

Is there anything else you can think of that you would like to do? And that you would find interesting?
If so.. do it. Don't fall in to teaching because it feels like an obvious choice.

That was the advice my very good, very skilled teacher friend gave me when I was considering doing a PGCE. I chose something else. Thinking I could always go back to it in the future if plan A/ plan B don't work out

@LittleRa You're right. I mean, I don't want to go into teaching now I've found out how all consuming it is.

To the person saying I took up someone's place. I didn't. My course had very few students in the beginning. There were more places than people! Due to covid, I think people were reluctant to sign up for it. I did loads of research on the course before starting it but it's like having children. Nothing can quite prepare you!

Tutoring still sounds like an option. If nothing else, this course has taught me that I'm more of a one to one person. I've done some casual tutoring in the past. Students approached me, not the other way around but I can see how a teaching qualification would help with tutoring. I had no idea how to plan the lesson and spent an hour longer with them at first than I should have (didn't charge them extra either). They loved the lessons. Boosting their confidence was the best feeling ever 😊

@MrsSpringfield I love books. I looked into being a librarian but that requires a degree in librarianship. I applied for a job as a library assistant but it turned out to be a zero hour contract covering sickness and holidays only. They said I could go weeks without work so sadly that wasn't an option. I still haven't given up on the idea though once covid goes away. Sadly our library has barely been open through all this, same as all other libraries up and down the country I suppose.

I'd love to set up a book club. I know that's not a career and I'm way too busy at the moment but I can dream.

I love history as a subject too. Working in a museum would be amazing. Especially if I was one of those walking talking tour guides. Also love the theatre. There seems to be a running theme here. All the arts industries that I hero worship are closed. But I know it won't be forever.

Loads of people in the past have said I should be a teaching assistant.

Just a bit about me, I'm quietly spoken, have excellent people skills, excel in customer service (regularly have compliments/cards/great feedback from customers). Managers have always praised me on this. I have the patience of a saint, very kind and caring. I would never intentionally upset anyone. I'm a people person in general. I thrive in other people's company but also like alone time. I'm very independent and reliable.

How about something pastoral in a school, OP? A pastoral care and guidance leader, or family worker?

My MIL and BIL are both secondary teachers and a few friends are teachers too. MIL is an assistant head.

BIL loathed his PGCE and his NQT year, but a few years in it’s loads better and he loves it. He’s teaching his subject and is in a rough school but loves the challenge of those children and that setting. Yes, he marks and plans, but says once you’re a few years in you know what you’re teaching and don’t need new materials all the time.

I think the first few years are really hard in teaching, then you hit your stride. It depends on the school and the Head, but I honestly would give it more time. My friends who do it have progressed quickly too, and the pay is good once you’re senior.

Not everyone hates teaching. At least stay on and complete your placement- you may love that, and before you know it you’ll have done the year and got your qualification. Worth thinking about.

FWIW, my sister did nursing in her 20s at uni, and is a single Mum. It is a lot harder retraining as a single parent, but it can be so worth it if you hang on in there.

Speak to the uni and or the uni welfare service if you’re struggling- they may be able to offer things to help you work through it.

I would get the pgce done. It will be a help if you want to tutor. Remember you could do supply too - which is mostly teaching. Or be an HLTA and tutor (which is what I do). Or an arts job in the day and tutoring in the evening. It’s all possible. How about being a museums education officer? If you get the pgce so many more doors open for you. Also have a look at being an archivist or archives assistant. It might suit you.

How long have you been doing the course? Just make sure that you've given it enough time to settle in and if you quit it's because you dont think you'll enjoy teaching rather than because you have imposter syndrome and are comparing yourself to other students

Havent read the whole thread but wait until you are in school. You might find you like teaching. I'm a teacher and dont have work after 6 pm. I work one day of the weekend but many are more efficient than I am.

It's tough, my PGCE nearly pushed me over the edge. It broke up a very fragile marriage. My stress was never so high! I'm a year post graduating but in my fifth teaching year in FE. It's killing me. Today I had a chat with a colleague who graduated with me about quitting. I'm exhausted. I work seven days a week, pretty much 12 hrs daily. I'm timetables to teach 9-9 with a 30 minute break Monday to Thursday. The course management is relentless. I teach adults so I get texts and emails pretty much 24 hours a day. I loved teaching initially, now I resent the fact that it has kidnapped my life. If you feel wobbly now I would suggest you walk away.

I am not sure if you really don't like teaching - or if you are simply intimidated by your course mates. I think you should give it a while before packing in the PGCE tbh. Surely you would need this even if you wanted to tutor (rather than teach)?

I think you sound scared by the enormity of it. If you have no desire to teach quit while you're ahead. If you think you might want to, suck it up and crack on.

I dont think you should give up just yet. Get the first placement over and see how you feel. You may still not like it but at least you will have tried. It may get easier there is a lot to take on at the start..... good luck

OP, please don't be put off by others seeking smarter. Often the most popular students /probationers with management are not the ones who come in knowing everything but who know they have a lot to learn.

Id advise sticking out your PGCE year. It's a tough year but you are halfway through and times are tough. Going against the grain here I know. But you are not getting the consistent best bit just yet which is your classes.

And for what it's worth this is a bloody brilliant time to come in because we are all just trying to keep afloat and all in the same.bowt.

Try to stick.the course out. The PGCE will open doors to tutoring maybe you would make a great supply teacher? Also with your soft people skills you may be great for working with students with additional needs, like Pupil Referral Unit (PRU)?

I took an evening course in Teacher Training Certificate (City & Guilds NVQ level 3&4) so that I could teach FE/HE students.
I didn't end up doing that, instead i use those skills with Apprentices and young adults on National Citizen Service
(NCS) to engage and connect with them through my public sector employers community commitment. Am hoping we can encourage them to come and work for us on the future and raise the profile of our (largely undervisible) organisation!

I loved my PGCE year but the NQT broke me. I didn’t see the year out, my mental health was ruined, and I’m still working on my anxiety and confidence 3 years later. My advice would be, if you’re already feeling it’s too much, life is too short- leave. I now have an amazing job in a related field and leaving my NQT was the best thing I could have done.

Honestly, my PGCE was the worst 9 months of my life. I have never worked so hard in my life, nor been surrounded by so many bitchy and unsupportive people. Teaching is hard work, but it's not got the full on intensity of a PGCE.

Hi @Bella43
I’ve been a teacher for nearly 9 years now and I completely agree with how overwhelming the PGCE can be. I remember I first attempted the pgce in 2009 and like you, I wanted to give up- and then- I actually did give up! I spent two years being a teaching assistant to realise that I did indeed want to teach and so I reapplied. It IS overwhelming and there is always so much going on. You will also find trainees who literally have no life. Unfortunately I believe the first few years of teaching are the same too...until you learn to prioritise the actual teaching over the bullshit paperwork. I think teacher mental well-being needs to be re-evaluated as so many great potential teachers are leaving the profession due to the lack of balance. I can’t advise you whether or not to leave but it DOES get easier. I’m on maternity at the moment and I do genuinely miss the buzz and drive. I miss making a difference. Do what you think is best

I would see how the placement goes first because often the practical side is very different to the learning side. But if after that you still have no intention of teaching there’s absolutely no point in doing a PGCE.

I feel that you've taken up a space that someone else may have really appreciated.

This is unfair - how was OP to know in advance that she wouldn’t enjoy it?

What's the situation with your loans or funding and leaving the course?

It's very early days to sack it off but I appreciate there could be financial implications if you leave it too late.