Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Shinyandnew1 · 08/02/2023 14:22

His motivation was to earn enough to support his family

and what if your teacher salary isn’t enough to support your family…?

Girlswithgoodbodieslikeboyswithferarris · 08/02/2023 16:36

CohenTree · 08/02/2023 09:40

Isn't the main motivation of anyone's work to earn money? No. My father was a teacher and was definitely not motivated by money. In fact, he turned down several prestigious jobs that were offered to him on a plate. His motivation was to earn enough to support his family and to make a difference in improving public education.

Show quote history

So predominantly money then? 😂

TheNefariousOrange · 08/02/2023 16:40

CohenTree · 08/02/2023 09:40

Isn't the main motivation of anyone's work to earn money? No. My father was a teacher and was definitely not motivated by money. In fact, he turned down several prestigious jobs that were offered to him on a plate. His motivation was to earn enough to support his family and to make a difference in improving public education.

Show quote history

The economics of now vs then are completely different. My dad was a window fitter, paid a mortgage on a 6 bed house in a nice area and had paid off before they were in their mid-30s, and my mum was a SAHM of 5 children. As an educated professional, I can not provide that same standard of living with just 1 child.

CohenTree · 08/02/2023 19:18

TheNefariousOrange · 08/02/2023 16:40

The economics of now vs then are completely different. My dad was a window fitter, paid a mortgage on a 6 bed house in a nice area and had paid off before they were in their mid-30s, and my mum was a SAHM of 5 children. As an educated professional, I can not provide that same standard of living with just 1 child.

Show quote history

That is true. In fact my Dad's pension is worth more than my sister earns as a CA (chartered accountant).

saraclara · 08/02/2023 19:40

CohenTree · 08/02/2023 19:18

That is true. In fact my Dad's pension is worth more than my sister earns as a CA (chartered accountant).

Show quote history

How is that possible? I'm recently retired and I've just looked up how much Chartered accountants' starting salaries are. My pension is not even remotely near that. Not even half (though I did have about four years as a SAHM)

LorenzoVonMatterhorn · 08/02/2023 20:23

CohenTree · 08/02/2023 19:18

That is true. In fact my Dad's pension is worth more than my sister earns as a CA (chartered accountant).

Show quote history

I 100% do not believe you.

UnicorseTime · 08/02/2023 20:55

My dad's pension (business, old final salary) is more than I make. I'm a well qualified graduate. He worked his way up in his business. I can believe it.

Georgeandzippyzoo · 08/02/2023 21:04

Stats from 2022

44% of newly qualified teachers quit in the first 5yrs!!

That says it all!!

Sinthie · 08/02/2023 22:21

I work part time in a very nice 6th form and it’s usually manageable, sometimes enjoyable. I still have to work some evenings and weekends, and the real terms pay cuts are starting to bite. I would not set foot in a secondary school though.

saraclara · 08/02/2023 22:27

UnicorseTime · 08/02/2023 20:55

My dad's pension (business, old final salary) is more than I make. I'm a well qualified graduate. He worked his way up in his business. I can believe it.

We're talking teachers though. Unless that poster's father was the head of a huge comprehensive (though she only refers to him as a teacher) I can't see how his pension could get anywhere near a chartered accountant's salary.

saraclara · 08/02/2023 22:35

I just checked. The average pension for a teacher (who has taught for their entire working life) is £16,034 per annum for a male teacher and £11,581 per annum for a female teacher. Presumably the difference being down to maternal time off/part time work, and men (of retirment age now) tending to have worked their way up the hierarchy more.

Does a chartered accountant really earn less that £16k?

Member869894 · 08/02/2023 22:37

Very very few of you are mentioning your long holidays! Don't they go some way to redress the balance??

Insanity012 · 08/02/2023 22:39

I used to know someone who dropped out of teaching. Went to work in a nursery but hated that also. Do wonder what she ended up doing.

Girlswithgoodbodieslikeboyswithferarris · 08/02/2023 22:39

Member869894 · 08/02/2023 22:37

Very very few of you are mentioning your long holidays! Don't they go some way to redress the balance??

No, because teachers only get the same number of paid holidays as anyone else. The rest are school closure days, they are unpaid.

saraclara · 08/02/2023 22:41

Member869894 · 08/02/2023 22:37

Very very few of you are mentioning your long holidays! Don't they go some way to redress the balance??

Clearly not, because for years teachers have been leaving in droves for jobs that don't have much holiday. And they don't come back.

MumW · 08/02/2023 22:43

I work in a school but not in a teaching/ta role. You couldn't get me to teach for all the tea in China. The workload/stress is immense.

However, in your position, I think I would do the NQT year just to get QT status as you never know when it might come in handy and would be something to fall back on. (adult education/tutoring/etc)

Having gone to the effort of doing the PGCE, it would be a shame not to finish it off. It would be something on your CV and you'd be able to say that when you actually got into a proper job, you realised it wasn't for you, which I suspect would look better than saying you'd heard all these horror stories/everyone told me not to bother so I didn't.

Anyway, good luck with whatever direction you choose to take.

redbigbananafeet · 08/02/2023 22:45

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

So she arrives at 9am, leaves at 3.30pm and her is head of department? When does she plan, mark and prep?

saraclara · 08/02/2023 22:49

redbigbananafeet · 08/02/2023 22:45

So she arrives at 9am, leaves at 3.30pm and her is head of department? When does she plan, mark and prep?

Show quote history

...let alone hold department meetings. What subject does this unicorn teacher specialise in @Cremeegg456 ?

Changechangechanging · 08/02/2023 23:19

Member869894 · 08/02/2023 22:37

Very very few of you are mentioning your long holidays! Don't they go some way to redress the balance??

If they did, do you think the current exodus would be happening?

CohenTree · 09/02/2023 09:06

saraclara · 08/02/2023 19:40

How is that possible? I'm recently retired and I've just looked up how much Chartered accountants' starting salaries are. My pension is not even remotely near that. Not even half (though I did have about four years as a SAHM)

Show quote history

He earned a very good salary and has three pensions, one of which is a "final salary" one.

saraclara · 09/02/2023 09:31

CohenTree · 09/02/2023 09:06

He earned a very good salary and has three pensions, one of which is a "final salary" one.

Show quote history

So only one is the teachers pension. The others private ones that he chose to invest in.

Please stop with the misinformation that a teachers pension can be higher than a Chartered accountant's. There's enough bullshit going around about teachers on this board without you deliberately adding to it.

noblegiraffe · 09/02/2023 09:36

Current teachers won't be getting a final salary teacher pension either. That stopped years ago.

postwarbulge · 09/02/2023 10:02

Imagine working a ten hur day at school, and then getting home to find that you were still only two-thirds of the way through your working day!

schratching · 09/02/2023 11:06

I used to work as a teaching assistant and I miss being with the kids so much. I was also a sahp and miss it so much. I want to become a teacher but I know I wouldn't be happy with current working conditions. I've got a traineeship with the civil service but I really miss working with children and being part of a school.

Moxysright · 09/02/2023 11:23

I know two teachers. One is a full time head of dept in a secondary school and has three children. She’s often very stressed, tired and is admittedly trapped by her wage.

The other is a full time primary teacher (juniors) has had same year group for a number of years so very little in change in terms of her lesson plans and resources etc. She has no children at the minute so doesn’t mind the working after school / weekends etc. I imagine her attitude will change once having children. Will no doubt ask to go part time.

so two different examples but I think it is a hard job to have once you have a family!

should also add I know a lot of the baby toddler groups I’ve taken my children to over the years are run by ex teachers who are looking for better work life balance once they had their own children.

Swipe left for the next trending thread