To retrain as a teacher at 54?

[Goblincore]

The job I currently have is looking like it might not go on for much longer. Its a design and marketing role that I've had for years. I have a degree in English Literature and was looking at pgce
There's a good one at Exeter University which isn't a million miles away.

Am I mad to consider it? I'm sure English teachers are ten a penny wishes she'd done computer science or something

I mean they probably won't accept me anyway.

@nocturnalcatfreetogoodhome

Do it, you have reams of life experience any kids would be lucky to learn from.

Absolutely no reason you wouldn't be hired. All my primary school teachers were 50+.

Unlikely newly qualified at 50 plus...more they had been there a long time.

Teaching can be quite ageist. It's not uncommon for older teachers to struggle to get classroom teacher roles. Although this can often be because they cost more than NQTs do.

Probably best to do some online networking with recently qualified older teachers to see how they found finding work.

Hi OP, name changed, as I’m obviously about to reveal personal information.

I did the Exeter English PGCE, and it is an excellent and very innovative course. Very, very intense though. As another poster has said, you need to be prepared to pretty much live underground in a world of intense study for a year. When I was on mine, there were about three students who were 40+ out of 42 of us.

Please feel free to ask me any questions if you want!

I have a friend who has just qualified in his late 40s and is really struggling to get a job - it does feel like his age is counting against him.

@Livinthedream84

Oh and as for pay… you are paid a set salary and work approximately 10-20 hours a week for free, FREE!!!

To be fair, that's the case in many professional roles, not unique to teaching

If you apply for a PGCE to start 22/23 academic year you'll then have 2 years as ECT you'll be 57 before you have qualified properly.

Subject knowledge and passion for your subject is important but so is behaviour management and building relationships with children. I think many people who aspire to be a teacher view the role as a way to inspire the next generation with their favourite literature standing infront of a quiet, captive audience and that simply isn't the reality. Imagine having to teach Shakespeare to a class full of 14 year olds who have a reading age of less than 10 years old, that is the reality in my school. Students who only eat at school and can't focus, students who care for their parents at home and spend their day pratting about and causing disruption as its the only place they get to relax. The idea of teaching a captive audience is far from the norm in most schools and it takes alot of time, effort and planning to teach a class who really don't care and don't see the point in your subject.

You could look at cover supervisor role. In a secondary, better paid than TAs and basically work as internal supply teachers, ours double as TAs if not required for cover.

Sixth form teaching may also suit you, you could offer English or design and students tend to be more engaged as they want their grades for uni.

I'm sure you'd be good. But I wouldn't if I was in your position. I'm an English teacher of 27 years and love my job in so many ways, but the crazy working conditions that I hear about in England and Wales are only just starting to creep in here and I don't like it one, little bit. Schools are run like businesses these days and unless you find an excellent SLT you're a bit fucked.

Sorry, but it's the truth.

Sorry, I'm in Scotland where teachers are still regarded as something to protect and treat well- but that's changing here too!

Definitely go for it. I retrained as a teacher at 50 - Computer Science 😀. I can honestly say it’s the best thing I have done. I wasn’t the oldest training either, although I was the oldest NQT (newly qualified teacher, 1st year at teaching) at my school. I think you have a different perspective compared to those who come straight into teaching I’m now 53 and love it.

As a teacher (who manages trainees) I would also suggest you think about it very carefully. It is relentless for not just the pgce year but also the first couple of years in the job… by the time it gets easier you will be thinking about retirement! Also having worked with a trainee in her fifties recently, she was very open about going through the difficulties of menopause while retraining in a physically and emotionally demanding career, which is not something I’d ever considered before! Older teachers can sometimes have less classroom control too as they can’t always hear the low level disruption- I know this isn’t applicable to all but it’s just something I have noticed at times. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Hi I trained as a teacher 5 years ago with PGCE it was really hard work. I questioned myself daily but got through and the rest is history. I love my job and being a 50 something with no kids at home I can dedicate myself to my job. Good luck dm me if you like

In response to Intherightplace
“ I love the way teachers forget that they earn a very decent salary for their demanding job. At least 3x your average TA does.”

You couldn’t be more wrong! I’m a teacher turned TA, I understand exactly the difference.

Another voice here saying think carefully.

I got out at 41 after 15 years as I was feeling old and couldn't keep up with the workload. God knows how I'd have felt in my 50s, I was planning on retiring then!

Have you looked at FE? Many will take you on as a teacher and train you alongside the role to get you a teaching qual. It's not always to QTS level (but you can do the extra year at a uni to get the level 6) but will be up to Level 5 and can mean that you earn while you train.

teaching can be the best job around, but there's also a lot of BS. in particular, it seems to attract quite a lot of 'nice', not very aggressive or 'commercial' people, and sometimes seems to disportionately reward [in terms of career progression] people who are thick skinned/aggressive/etc. some of the behaviour of management [callous, unprofessional, getting away with nonsense] is closer to what you'd tend to see from a dockside gangmaster than in a professional environment.

Spot on.

Also to pp who said it’s only 15 years til retirement- that seems like a very long time!

Maybe I have missed this in the thread - but surely Lucy Kellaway Go Teach is applicable here?

Main issue is that OP may not want to teach a subject that’s in shortage.

Go for it! I'm Irish and have 2 years of the 4 year BEd completed. Absolutely loved my teaching practice placements and can't wait for 3rd year in September. I'm 54 too by the way

If you didn't like TEFL why do you think you would like secondary school teaching?

I trained at 40, never had an issue getting a job but am a shortage subject. The best thing you can do is to get into a couple of local schools and see what you think. Go to a 'good' school and a not so good school - the differences may surprise you. Talk with staff about their workloads. Think about what you're seeing in a classroom - what has happened for that teacher to be able to deliver that lesson? What kind of work was put in? Good teachers make it look an absolute doddle - like they just stand there and make it up as they go along. Unfortunately it's not like that. Not by a long shot.

English has a high marking load which is something to be particularly aware of. The profession is highly scrutinized from within, usually by people who weren't great at the actual teaching bit but somehow managed to climb the greasy pole. 'Good' teaching is also highly subjective (even if 'bad' teaching is very evident). You will probably have to teach exam classes as it's a core subject. This adds extra pressure in the early years.

It is a tough job and not for everyone. The kids are only a part of it. Coming at it as an older person myself, I would say every older new recruit I have come across has been far less likely to be stressed and upset by the kids than a younger member of staff. This is a massive bonus because a lot of new teachers spend their NQT year trying to choke back tears. When you're safely in the 'mum' zone, you don't have to deal with the nasty madams who criticise your dress sense very loudly and wonder about your boyfriend and what he sees in you. This can be very upsetting for younger staff and is hard to deal with initially.

It is a rewarding profession but you need to be in the 'right' school.

I'd add to PP who are saying that there aren't a huge amount of jobs around at the moment - natural attrition rates down and training applications up due to the pandemic. Many ECTs haven't secured jobs as they expected this year.

I'd also echo those who say that the marking load for English is particular is fairly punishing.

If you're realistic about what you expect this to be like for you - and I'd also agree that spending some time in a school is the best way TO understand what teaching is like - then go for it

TEFL is so much nicer than secondary English teaching in my experience- I’m also interested to know what you didn’t like.

All the teachers I know are desperate to retire early and 2 have just left after nearly 30 years of teaching as they can't stand another minute. I think you'd be mad to consider it personally. TEFL? Private tutoring?

It's worth considering and I wouldn't rule it out, but I would suggest doing your research. Talk to staff, get into schools, and maybe come across to the staffroom board.
I love teaching, but always advise people to go in with their eyes open.

I've been a teacher for nearly 20 years and hope to retire when I'm 55. It's a very demanding job.

Hi - Sorry to crush your obvious enthusiasm
At 54; you probably won't be considered against younger NQTs as they are seen to be keener; more enthusiatic; more energy [ rightly or wrongly]. They are also seen to be more malleable!
PM me for more

If you're interested in a school direct course, look on the websites of some schools near you.