Is teaching really that bad?

[Cremeegg456]

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.

When do yoi do all your marking barfotoliv?! Sounds much more sensible hours. I've often read posts from teachers in Ireland and thought how much better teaching seems there!

I love it and on the whole feel I have a good work life balance.(Secondary school) You have to be disciplined and work hard in School if you don't want to take work home with you. I hardly ever do bring work home. Also you have to find the right school.

@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

Because your job is mainly delegating and communicating but you have to put in a lot of legwork to get there.

It isn't possible to teach and not work weekends and some evenings.

@cansu

It isn't possible to teach and not work weekends and some evenings.

I totally agree.

@purpleleotard

The practice of teaching can be really fulfilling.

The crowd management and bureaucracy can be a killer.

Depends which one wins.

Such a good description

Well I don't do an awful lot of marking! I don't formally mark classwork or exercise books, for example. As pupils are working, I will be walking around, checking in, and giving verbal feedback as I go. And they also do a lot of peer and self-assessment in their classwork books. I mark tests or more formal end-of-unit type assessments, but I always manage to get it done in school. It is worth saying I never feel on top of things. I never get everything ticked off my to-list! But what gets done gets done. It's just a completely different culture.

I am always interested what 'paperwork' people are being asked to do? I have been teaching 15 years and although I agree about the long hours and other challenges, 'paperwork' has never been one of them.

Teaching is a lifestyle choice. If you don’t “feel” it, you won’t stick it because it asks so so much of you, your time, your skills, your energy. So if you don’t want to put the hat on, don’t do it. It’s criminally underpaid as a profession, but teachers that enjoy their jobs do so because they are called to it.

I taught primary for a while, but worked for a theatre company which delivered outreach workshops to schools across my area. That was enjoyable, as I got the pleasure of running sessions with the kiddies but without all the admin/prep/marking/reports that run alongside a mainstream teaching job.

So from my experience I would say look for a more unique teaching opportunity, one that allows you to focus on the children, and delivering your lessons. But avoid mainstream as you’ll essentially be doing two equally demanding jobs at the same time, the admin & paperwork etc plus the practical teaching side of things.

I think it’s such a shame, the way things are within the profession nowadays. So many talented, enthusiastic teachers driven out of their jobs because of overload

I find these threads so depressing. I’m a secondary English teacher. I love my job and I am very good at it.

@SleeplessWB

I am always interested what 'paperwork' people are being asked to do? I have been teaching 15 years and although I agree about the long hours and other challenges, 'paperwork' has never been one of them.

Assessment, assessment, assessment, SEND paperwork (IEPs, provision maps, pupil premium strategies), subject leadership documents. The list goes on. Do you not have to do any of this?!

It is different for everybody. I agree with the PP who said find the right school for you.

I’m a full time Head with a young family andsometimes work will be all consuming but the majority of the time I don’t work in the evenings or weekends- except on projects which interest me and I want to research more.

There is no one answer to this as we are all have different skill sets and working environments vary so much. If you want to build a career in any field there are some demanding years to establish yourself.

I will never teach in this country again unless I am totally totally desperate for money. Had an OK work life balance abroad but here it's insane. I hate education and think it turns people insane. I hope everyone leaves like me and the government might have to listen instead of spending millions on patronising teaching adverts

Are you primary? In a secondary school the senco and heads of dept would be doing those things, not classroom teachers. We only mark assessment pieces/exams/hw, no classwork/ notes.

If you don’t want to work evenings and weekends can you do something else related to your degree? I’ve switched between teaching and industry over the years. It’s incredibly draining being a decent teacher- long hours, safeguarding, send support etc it’s not enough to effectively deliver your subject across the ability range.

@SleeplessWB

Are you primary? In a secondary school the senco and heads of dept would be doing those things, not classroom teachers. We only mark assessment pieces/exams/hw, no classwork/ notes.

That’s not been the case in any school I’ve worked in. The send departments have never done the differentiation or resource prep.

Teaching is a lifestyle choice. If you don’t “feel” it, you won’t stick it because it asks so so much of you, your time, your skills, your energy. So if you don’t want to put the hat on, don’t do it. It’s criminally underpaid as a profession, but teachers that enjoy their jobs do so because they are called to it.

Lots of the teachers quitting the profession, or ones wishing they could, almost certainly are people who 'feel it' and were 'called' to the profession. I certainly was. I decided I wanted to be a teacher when I was 12 and never changed my mind. I loved it. I still do love sone aspects of it. Having a vocation doesn't change a broken system.

It depends.

On the kids, the management, the culture of the school, what you teach, any extra responsibilities you take on. ..

I handed in my resignation after 2 years post PGCE because of the lack of support and workload, I felt like a failure.

But I was convinced to stay on part time. 15 years and 2 kids later, It works for me. Experience has helped me become more efficient. I get to school around 7.45 and leave before 5 most days, and I rarely take work home. Breaks and lunches are too brief once everything else you need to sort gets done, but the days do go quickly.

The mental stimulation and community feel can be great if you find the right school for you. And the holidays are well deserved but definitely another bonus, particularly when you have kids.

Even when I'm tired or I've had a bad day I feel like I'm doing something worthwhile. Can't imagine going back to full time though!

I've just finished work. Got in at 7 30 this morning. Parents evening tomorrow.

Make of that what you will.

I work ‘part time’, 3 days a week which easily works out at around 33 - 35 hour weeks when it’s not the holidays. That’s at a school with not much paperwork and an understanding and decent SLT. What you’re looking for just isn’t realistic. I enjoy it and working part time makes it manageable so I take it in my stride. If you want a job where you can just switch off outside of school hours and only work during approx 8 - 5 with no prep outside of that then I think it’s just not for you tbh. And I’d understand - I wouldn’t want to do it full time.

I thought you could only complete your nqt year so many years after your pgce?
If you are still allowed to do it, you could explore going part time? Better pay than ta and better work life balance than ft teacher.

I'm into my 8th year in a core subject. Yes it is that bad; it's awful. Go into the civil service.

I remember it being what seemed like a lot of unnecessary paperwork

If you thought the PGCE was a lot of unnecessary paperwork, don’t teach.

Like pp I'm in Ireland. Teach mixed infants class, am the deputy head and have two very young children of my own. I don't feel a bit overwhelmed. I absolutely love every bit of my job . Two days a week I stay in school until 4 and the other three I leave at 2:30 ( my class go home at 1:30 but I came leave until 2:30) and that is mainly to catch up on my deputy Principal work.

Can't leave..