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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is teaching really that bad?

441 replies

Cremeegg456 · 15/03/2022 22:39

I did a secondary PGCE and gained a pass with Merit, and 'outstanding', that was 6 years ago and I've never completed my nqt year.
I know the PGCE isn't representative of what actual teaching is like though but I remember it being what seemed like a lot of unnecessary paperwork, but we also had the assignments on top.

I've done various work with young and elderly people since which I've enjoyed, but I've never made a lot more than minimum wage. Had zero hours contracts, agency work etc.

I did enjoy teaching but I am just not prepared to work evenings and weekends as well, it's just not worth having no life for me. Not prepared to work more than 45 hours a week.

But truthfully if I want a higher and more stable income I think I would have to go into it, if I'm thinking of buying a house, children etc in the next few years.

Would be interested to hear from people as to what their work life balance really is.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cremeegg456 · 15/03/2022 22:41

I'm not afraid of work i used to work approx 60 hours a week over 6 days, but at the expense of rarely seeing anyone, no time for hobbies, cooking etc. Life's too short

OP posts:
coffeeschmoffee · 15/03/2022 22:41

Don't do it. Join the civil service instead.

PurpleDaisies · 15/03/2022 22:42

I did enjoy teaching but I am just not prepared to work evenings and weekends as well, it's just not worth having no life for me. Not prepared to work more than 45 hours a week.

Did you go into it having never spoken to a real life teacher? You surely must have known this was totally unrealistic, especially in the first few years after qualifying. Confused

SoftwareDev · 15/03/2022 22:42

It's not as bad as you think - it's worse.

There is a reason hundreds of us are leaving the profession!

earsup · 15/03/2022 22:42

I think it depends where and the levels etc....I did 27 years in FE...taught for 16 hours a week....excellent salary...planned well and had little stress and enjoyed the long holidays...i doubt its like that now...!!

Original poster
Cremeegg456 · 15/03/2022 22:43

Do you think a PGCE would lend itself to other roles?
I have a friend who's a head of department and says she never does any work outside of school of stays late which is incredible

OP posts:
beetuljoos · 15/03/2022 22:43

It's fine. Long hours but long holidays to make up for it. I really enjoy it.

PurpleDaisies · 15/03/2022 22:45

@Cremeegg456

Do you think a PGCE would lend itself to other roles? I have a friend who's a head of department and says she never does any work outside of school of stays late which is incredible
Yes, incredible. As in having no credibility.

Your friend is either highly unusual or telling porkies.

SmallOrFarAway · 15/03/2022 22:45

In my experience secondary teaching was just not compatible with a young family. My own kids needed me and I just didn't have enough hours in the day to complete my marking and planning plus actually see or spend any time with my children. So I wouldn't think it's the most ideal job if you are planning a family. Once my kids are bigger I could probably return but I can't foresee it until they are at least year 9 or beyond. Obviously many do make it work but I just felt too pulled in all directions.

Original poster
Cremeegg456 · 15/03/2022 22:45

True I need to remember it balances itself out, most jobs I've had offered 28 days per year.

I have been a TA which i really enjoyed, but it's too low a salary sadly (not saying it is too low for everyone)

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 15/03/2022 22:45

@beetuljoos

It's fine. Long hours but long holidays to make up for it. I really enjoy it.
The op doesn’t want to do evenings or weekend work. Or work over 45 hours a week. She doesn’t want king hours.
SickAndTiredAgain · 15/03/2022 22:49

I did enjoy teaching but I am just not prepared to work evenings and weekends as well, it's just not worth having no life for me. Not prepared to work more than 45 hours a week.

My mum is a teacher. She doesn’t work evenings or weekends but that’s because she officially works a 4 day week, and then sorts the extra work on her “day off”.
Luckily this is affordable for my parents, and they both see it as a the preferred option, as it gives them more free time together. I think she’d move jobs if she had to work full time teacher hours.

WithRosesAroundTheDoor · 15/03/2022 22:50

I teach primary. I love the actual teaching but, I had a meeting until 4:30. Picked up my kids and put them to bed at 7:30.
I then stated work again. I stopped about 15 minutes ago.
It's endless and seems to be getting worse.
I am looking for a way out.

RingofBrodgar · 15/03/2022 22:53

I am head of a core subject in Scotland, where I think it is generally less pressured than England. However over the past few years the workload has really ratcheted up and now I rarely get home before 8 on a week day and work at least 5 hours on Sundays. The pressure is horrible. I have very little life outside teaching, struggle to exercise and eat well. I am planning to leave at the Summer age 53.

Kite22 · 15/03/2022 22:54

It seems bizarre to me to complete a PGCE, with all the work and stress that entails, but then not bother to do the NQT year.
Then to work in min wage jobs.
Especially as you say you want to buy a house and have dc in the next few years.

I mean, once you've got QTS, then you could work 3 days a week and still earn more than someone on min wage.
So you'd have a reasonable balance of hours (say working 33 a week) and a better salary than you are on.

I mean, I wouldn't necessarily encourage someone to go into it on that basis, but if you are wanting to apply for mortgages, you are being very short sighted to not use / not finish off your qualification, as you have done over 50% of it.

OrangeIsTheNewRed · 15/03/2022 22:56

I'm nearly 20 years in and am on the slt with a full time class. I rarely work weekends these days. However, this is practise, experience and finding the right school.

Be prepared for 2-3 years of very long hours (standard) and working weekends. Teaching is extremely underpaid for the skill it demands. You have to really want it and be in it because it's your vocation. If you don't and it isn't, you'll sink fast.

Missdread · 15/03/2022 22:56

It's nightmarish at the moment and every teacher I know is looking for a way out of it. I recently halved my teaching salary to work from home creating educational resources and the work-life balance and being out of petty school politics is worth every penny. I was broken. Don't do it!

PurpleDaisies · 15/03/2022 22:57

It seems bizarre to me to complete a PGCE, with all the work and stress that entails, but then not bother to do the NQT year.

And to seemingly have no idea what the job of a teacher usually entails.

A very strange post.

Ispini · 15/03/2022 22:57

Yes it is that bad! Sorry.
I used to love it and worked internationally for years. I worked in the adult language sector and in SEN and enjoyed those as well.
Sorry to say since I came to the UK four years ago it’s been hell. I’ve worked in good schools and absolute dives.
I now work where my kids go to school, it’s apparently one of the best schools in the area and I just dread every day and worry my kids aren’t getting the best education because of behaviour issues. And the worst part about it is there are really lovely kids there that I just love.

I really object that they are missing out because some parents are absolutely resolute that their precious child could not be possibly compromising the learning of other students. Totally makes me 😡!

Management don’t care, generally parents don’t care and HODs just want to make themselves look good by not tackling issues head on.
I hope to give it all up in the next year and am desperately trying to find an alternative job or a business I can enjoy.
All the best. 👍

Ispini · 15/03/2022 22:58

Sorry that sounded really negative, it’s been a shit few weeks!

42isthemeaning · 15/03/2022 22:59

I've worked in state and independent as a secondary school teacher for over 20 years.
I've never managed to achieve no work at evenings and weekends except when I was doing 3 days a week. I had to use my days off to plan the rest of the week. Sad

DelphiniumBlue · 15/03/2022 22:59

I notice that in a lot of the schools I know of, there are very few female teachers with children working full-time. I reckon that is because the workload is unmanageable if you are also looking after your own household and children.
If you want to be the main earner with a partner carrying out most of the childcare and domestic load, then maybe it's doable. Otherwise I would say not. I can't help but observe that the male teachers with children in the schools that I know are up and out in the morning without having done night feeds, getting children to childcare, doing school run etc - they all have a wife who takes care of all that and maybe works flexibly/part-time.
Most of the teachers I know are in work between 7-7:30 and work until at least 5, with more work at home in the evenings and weekends. Its also quite unpredictable, i.e. "can you please do this admin thing that will take you 4 hours by tomorrow/Monday morning" so bang goes your weekend plans. Fine if you are single and your time is your own, not if you still have family admin to do and actually want to see your own children.
I think you'd get better pay and conditions in a different job.

Spottybotty20 · 15/03/2022 23:00

I’m part time, with young kids and it’s manageable but there’s no way I could be full time and I never plan to go full time again as I value my time.

Teaching has changed enormously in the last 6 years. My school is under extreme pressure with insane amounts of child protection, social services, mental health issues. There’s barely any time to reach with everything else our young people need!

maddy68 · 15/03/2022 23:00

Just don't do it. It's honestly souls destroying

TheHoleNineYards · 15/03/2022 23:00

It doesn’t really matter whether we like teaching or find the work-life balance manageable or not. You don’t.
You did you PGCE then didn’t continue to an NQT year. That was a choice you made. What has changed since then to make you doubt the choice?