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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:
intheblightgarden · 16/03/2022 09:27

@Cremeegg456

Thanks again everyone. I think this has helped me confirm it isn't for me.

In response to another poster, it is absolutely not 'naive" to think you can have a 9-5 job that pays more than min wage. Many people, including my parents, work less than 45 hours for a salary that's probably double mine. Otherwise what a depressing World that would be.

To be honest, everyone I can think of in any career has put in the long hours at the start of their careers in order to work more normal hours later on for a decent salary. I am sure there are ways to shortcut this but I don't know what they are. This is why people tend to front load the hard work in their twenties before having kids in order to reap some rewards later on if they can. I'm not saying it always works this way but thinking of all my peers I would say that's pretty standard.
Cognoscenti · 16/03/2022 09:36

I went more or less straight into education management, but am qualified to teach and have done ad hoc. Most of my experience is in the FE sector and even then (ime) there are so many tutors sick of being overworked and underpaid, for the most part. I love teaching but I don't want to deal with the long hours and amount of extra work that comes with it.

Justgamboling · 16/03/2022 09:43

Sorry, I haven't read the whole thread through so I am unsure whether someone else has already mentioned this.

If you completed your PGCE 6 years ago, is it still valid? I thought you had to complete your NQT year within 5 years- i am really not sure about that though, so maybe look into it?

For what it is worth, I am a teacher, I love my job but I do work a lot of hours. I cant see me working in another profession now though as I really do love it but it does come with stresses - alot of them are not to do with the kids, rather school management/SLT/outside sources

UnsuitableHat · 16/03/2022 09:47

I teach post-16 and enjoy it. I find it intellectually and socially stimulating, which isn’t something that can be taken for granted about a job. Also, the holidays are brilliant. But there are stresses and you do have to be able to manage your time to work outside your contracted hours. I find I can do this without compromising other aspects of my life too much, but obviously everyone has different circumstances to consider.

PurpleDaisies · 16/03/2022 09:49

If you completed your PGCE 6 years ago, is it still valid? I thought you had to complete your NQT year within 5 years- i am really not sure about that though, so maybe look into it?

This has changed. It’s easy enough to find out whether you’re posting out of date advice. It’s even been pointed out on this thread that this is incorrect.

Gonnagetgoing · 16/03/2022 09:51

When my DM was young she retrained as a teacher and taught (in mid 70s through to late 90s) - she went into it being a good job, finishing at 3-3.30 so she could pick us up and also school holidays.

It's not like that now - all extra pressure on kids including homework - which we never had. My NDN was a geography teacher in a secondary school in a 'nice' area and had an awful boss, friends are primary school teachers and do similar hours as mentioned here plus weekends.

NDN has relocated to Canada now for her DH's work and I think teachers get a better deal there but also the children don't do homework which they're thrilled about.

Funnily enough one of my DM's close friends has a business which offers career coaching and her main source of income is teachers/headteachers/deputy heads.

Gonnagetgoing · 16/03/2022 09:53

DB's MIL teaches law (and did teach history) at A level stage in a secondary school. She enjoys it and is teaching at 70 (yes I know), I don't think she works weekends and most evenings she is free but she may have to do a bit of lesson prep in evenings. She does get pressure from the head and also sometimes pupils though which is awful, like them being nasty to her.

itssquidstella · 16/03/2022 09:59

Teach in a private school. I work really hard when I’m at work but I almost never bring work home with me (apart from emails - I will admit to checking my emails in the evening because I like to know what'll be on my desk the next morning). I do minimal work in the holidays: three or four days at the end of the summer, and a day at the end of Christmas and Easter.

To be fair, I’ve been teaching for 14 years so I’m more efficient than a less experienced teacher might be and lesson planning is much quicker than it was at the start. But although my job is busy and can be stressful at times (I have significant pastoral responsibilities which can make it difficult to switch off), I also have a good work-life balance and don't feel overwhelmed with how much I have to do.

GuyFawkesDay · 16/03/2022 10:01

Been teaching nearly 20 years. Am bloody good at my job. I definitely cut out all "waste" wherever I can.

It's not the job it was. The pressure, scrutiny is constant. And soul destroying. Add on the fact so many kids have MH issues and other needs we have to accommodate and it's a Sisyphean task.

I am now seriously considering leaving as it's trashed my own MH but staff don't get the allowances the kids do for that. We just have to bend round everyone and everything else. I

am utterly exhausted and burned out. Covid plus the other toxic stuff has meant the demands on my time are so constant.

I am 4 days a week and I will either have to drop days or leave. I don't know which yet, but I am just done in.

axolotlfloof · 16/03/2022 10:06

I think you need to do your NQT year, so you have QTS.
There are non teaching jobs (mentoring etc) that require that.
Saying that my NQT year was horrendous but if you pick your school carefully you can get through it.

Justgamboling · 16/03/2022 10:07

@PurpleDaisies

If you completed your PGCE 6 years ago, is it still valid? I thought you had to complete your NQT year within 5 years- i am really not sure about that though, so maybe look into it?

This has changed. It’s easy enough to find out whether you’re posting out of date advice. It’s even been pointed out on this thread that this is incorrect.

and if you read my post, I also said that I had not had the opportunity ready through the full thread. So wind your neck in
Justgamboling · 16/03/2022 10:07

read*

nopuppiesallowed · 16/03/2022 11:24

I was a primary school teacher but having read all this, I'd never go into teaching now. It sounds incredibly miserable! However, to bring a bit of balance into this, my husband worked full time while studying for actuarial exams in the evenings. For 5 years we didn't have a social life because of his work / study regime. After he passed his exams he still worked long days as well as evenings. He was paid very well but his working hours were appalling. I.put up with it because we married very young and I knew no different as most of my friends had husbands who worked long hours, too.

Phyllis321 · 16/03/2022 11:35

I must be honest - I work in the independent sector and my job is great. Long working days but after a few years I didn't need to work at home/weekends. Big holidays (17 weeks). Decent pay (c.50k).

Postcovid · 16/03/2022 12:08

My SIL is a primary teacher and is always free in the holidays and weekends. She's been a primary teacher for several years, she doesn't have any extra responsibilities that I can gather and she definitely goes above and beyond the average 9-5pm when needed, for example she goes with her class on residential trips away, that sort of thing.

But she certainly never works 60 hours a week, nor more than 45 hours regularly. She's a great help for my DP and I in the school holidays with our DC and we see her quite a bit on weekends too, she also has a normal social life so certainly isn't a slave to work on the weekends and evenings.

She never complains about teaching and seems to enjoy it, unlike the majority of teachers I know I have to say!

Runaway1 · 16/03/2022 12:29

The kids are great, the classroom time whizzes by and it’s constantly interesting. What made me leave was the constantly changing goalposts. Being experienced doesn’t buy you much in terms of cutting work hours because texts and syllabi are constantly changing political footballs.

OfTheNight · 16/03/2022 12:59

I don’t think your PGCE will still be valid so you might need to check that. I thought you needed NQT after 4 terms but I’m pretty out of date so could be wrong!

I’m nearly 20 years in now, most of which I spent at secondary.

I was happy to start with. It is hard work. The first few years were very tough going, both mentally and in terms of workload. Working out of hours is commonplace and expected.

When I had DS, I went part time but it just didn’t work for me. Teaching in mainstream just isn’t compatible with having young children. The paper work was ramping up and I just didn’t enjoy it anymore. So I left when he was 2.

I now work for a training provider. Money is no where near as good, but the work-life balance is priceless.

DP is assistant head at a secondary and hates it. It’s got worse and worse since I left 6 years ago. He is super efficient, very highly qualified and mentally tough, but it is starting to impact him and he is so unhappy. He’s in the process of leaving to do corporate training. I don’t think either of us would advise anyone to go into teaching these days.

It’s a poisonous job to be honest. Teachers are held to a ridiculous level of accountability. Everything is the teacher’s fault.

I saw a lovely NQT managed out on a ‘support plan’ just before I left. The way she was treated was disgusting. They destroyed her. I think that was the defining moment for me.

Teachers are expected to practically sell their souls for the kids, but they are treated like shite by SLT and Ofstead.

Seenoevil1 · 16/03/2022 13:11

It is very hard. Just left teaching (age 52)
Weekend and evening work. Some good daytime experiences in the actual teaching part- but very few plus difficult to switch off, lots of paperwork and overall I'd say do something else. All the best.

Villagewaspbyke · 16/03/2022 13:40

I am not a teacher though one of my ex’s was. He didn’t work particularly long hours and the holidays are unlike any other career. While other teachers maybe do work long hours, I would agree that reasonably paid jobs that don’t involve extra work on evenings and weekends are pretty rare these days. My ex certainly worked much shorter hours than me. He changed careers to law then changed back because of the hours.

A lot of women work as teachers to do pick ups and school holidays. It’s not badly paid out of London either of u take into account pension and holidays

Narutocrazyfox · 16/03/2022 13:42

Don't do it OP. Next to the NHS, I'd consider schools to be the very worst places to work at the moment!

Italiandreams · 16/03/2022 13:53

Before I had my own family , I loved teaching. It was long hours but I could manage it. Now I have my family it's relentless. There are not enough hours in the day to do the job properly and have any sort of family life in term time. I constantly feel like I'm struggling to keep my head above water.

Italiandreams · 16/03/2022 13:54

@Villagewaspbyke - how do teachers do pick ups?

Howeverdoyouneedme · 16/03/2022 13:56

This is so disheartening to read. Would people who have been teaching for 15 plus say anything has improved? Do the children know more? I qualified 20 years ago, but have been out for 8 years and I can’t help but feel all the paperwork/emails etc is pointless. I’ve friends who teach in Ireland and don’t do near as much as teachers in the uk, but uk kids aren’t doing better so why? I went in one school and they’d got rid of textbooks, so teachers then had to spend time finding something to photocopy. It’s madness.

maddy68 · 16/03/2022 14:16

@Howeverdoyouneedme

This is so disheartening to read. Would people who have been teaching for 15 plus say anything has improved? Do the children know more? I qualified 20 years ago, but have been out for 8 years and I can’t help but feel all the paperwork/emails etc is pointless. I’ve friends who teach in Ireland and don’t do near as much as teachers in the uk, but uk kids aren’t doing better so why? I went in one school and they’d got rid of textbooks, so teachers then had to spend time finding something to photocopy. It’s madness.
No it's got far far worse this last decade. Underfunded , bigger class sizes , lack of resources, lack of mental health and send support and other awful cuts have Increased teacher workload and don't get me started on Ofsted