To quit my job and become a primary school teacher?

[togointoteaching]

I currently work in the pharmaceutical industry and really dislike it. I don't like the corporate aspect and have always wanted a job where I feel like I'm making a difference. I worked in a nursery as a teenager and I really enjoyed working with children. I have also done some work experience in a primary school before I went to university and, again, really enjoyed it. I'm in my 20s with a science degree and master's.

Recently I've been seriously considering applying for a PGCE, a complete career change for me.

If you have experience of working as a primary school teacher, I'd really appreciate your advice

I love teaching but the hours are long and the workload is huge. Even in the holidays. I would spend some time in a school to see what it's like first hand before deciding.

I think before you quit, try and get as much experience as possible in a school or two and talk to the staff. Some teachers want out, some love it. Some schools are awful to work in, others are great.

The job is generally hard, especially in your training/early career, so you really have to go into it knowing what you're letting yourself in for. And you have to have a real passion for it, otherwise it can easily wear you down.

Why not enrich your current job with outreach work or mentoring?

I'd recommend primary teaching but you have to find the right school. Behaviour can be incredibly challenging if you are in a tricky school. Go in with your eyes wide open regarding hours and level of work. In my experience, it's a minimum of 8am - 6pm every day. It doesn't get easier with time (I've been teaching 12 years) because things change, you're expected to do more, you have to uphold impossibly high standards. It's a tough job, as in it's actually incredibly difficult to be successful in every aspect (of which there are many). I do really enjoy it. The days are not boring. Time flies. Kids / parents make it worth it. I feel passionate about it and the difference I make. The holidays are great and I don't work a lot in them (maybe 1 day in each with a few for summer hols). I like that it's local. Pay / pension isn't awful but never going to be amazing. You peak early and it definitely deserves better pay for how hard it is. Also worth considering, 9k to do pgce.

I used to love it, but now hate most things about it.

I absolutely love the kids and the actual ‘teaching’ part but that’s only about 30% of the job now. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

Are you organised, creative, flexible, somewhat easy going, a people person, do you like children, good at writing? Do you have a presence in front of a group of people. You don't need them all of course but I think these make a good primary teacher.

Do you work in a very well paid job in the pharmaceutical industry or are you a dispenser in Boots because the salary is definitely towards one or the other.

I work in school admin for the most amazing primary school and I love every second. However I get paid very little above minimum wage and actually n my past I have a PGCE (S) so whilst I’m not taking I am very comfortable in the school environment and offer many many skills above the job description. I mutter very often “Remember, I’m on the big bucks”.

School is BRILLIANT if you land in the right one, which is an absolute lottery. And it’s not well paid for what it is

While I’m not teaching

I taught for over 10 years, I was good and I loved it in many ways. The hours though ground me down, but in particular it was the unnecessary work that got me. Pointless planning beyond what was needed to fit a template, pointless marking that was beyond what fed into learning, pointless meetings and more ways to waste my time than are imaginable to people not working in school.
I quit and I have never regretted it.

I work in a fantastic school which I love BUT the hours are still 7.30 - 5.30 at school then 7.30 - late after my baby is in bed. A few hours every Sunday as well. I'm used to it, and have worked up the payscale so I feel it's worth it, but I spent years resenting my long hours. You also need to factor in parents evenings, evening performances, residential trips etc all of which are part of the job.
There's just so much to the job that people don't realise. As a pp said, the actual teaching is about 30% and there's a real culture of criticism which you have to get used to.
I can't see myself leaving and vow not to complain if I'm not going to do anything about it, but I do try to be honest when people ask!

Also actually parents ground me down. Threats to get you because a lunch box is lost in the dinner hall, accusations of bullying that transpire to be an argument between adults, complaints regular midnight emails have been ignored by the next morning, persistent neglect beyond what you imagine, complaints that are simply impossible to unpick due to mix of poor writing and deviation from facts. Yes most are decent, but year one year dealing with even a few who are out to chase you constantly is so stressful.
I’d really really consider if you can deal with it.

We need good teachers so I say do it.

But then, it’s often incredibly difficult and soul destroying for a myriad of reasons so don’t do it!

Definitely get real work experience at a range of schools before applying for a PGCE.

If it’s something you’ve always wanted to do, then perhaps seriously consider it, as it’s sad regretting things you haven’t done.

Having said that, I left recently after about 17 years. My heart used to sink at 8.50 every morning, when the kids came in. Every day I would think, when am I going to get my work done? I was essentially starting a second job at 3.30 each day. The workload is insane.

Some schools might be better than others, but from what I can gather, many are not.

I’ve mentioned an FB group on here before, for teachers leaving the profession. The stories of bullying by SLT are horrendous. Once you reach the top of the main pay scale, they try to get rid of you.

However, like I said, if you really think you’d like to do it, then try and get as much experience as possible and try and talk to teachers and see exactly what their workload is like.

I recently qualified after doing my pgce, I'm 41 and just finishing my nqt. The main problem is there is very little work / home balance. Paid for 32.5 hours a week but lucky if you do less then 70 and holidays and weekends are taken by work.

Primary teacher desperate to leave teaching here. I didn't realise how stressful the job was until I finished for a year of maternity leave and was able to learn how to relax and be happy again. It was like I could breathe again. Teaching the kids is amazing but all the red tape, pressure, observations, scrutiny, marking, paperwork, and long hours eclipses that in my opinion. It is impossible to feel like you are doing a good enough job because you have to plan, teach and assess 6 sessions a day for 30 children with different needs. Then there are discussions with parents, meetings, after school clubs and more. There is rediculous pressure and very high expectations put on the kids these days and sometimes I feel sad to be part of the problem, I want to see children thrive and embrace their many talents - not just pedal them with different variations of maths and English all day. The government also refuses to acknowledge that there are some fundamental reasons meaning that not all children are able to achieve ARE - we will always try our best for every child and support them in making amazing progress - but that doesn't always mean achieving age related expectations. For example, I teach many children who haven't had a single book read to them at home their whole life - which massively impacts their attainment but this is not acknowledged. All children are expected to achieve age related expectations by year 6 and if they don't it's our fault.

I also feel sad that people don't value teachers - this was definitely highlighted in the pandemic. One of the riskiest professions in this scenario - yet no real safety measures or early access to vaccines. No free testing now either. The way people talk about teachers sometimes too - there is just not a lot of respect.

In my experience, because of the high-pressured nature of the role - the type of people who stay in teaching are not always the kindest people to work with. I've often been shocked at the amount of teachers I have come across who have displayed bullying behaviour themselves. I just feel that more sensitive types, like myself, find staying in the job really tricky because of the constant scrutiny. In my opinion though, sensitive types can make the best teachers. And like another poster said - there are amazing schools to work at but they are few and far between.

I'd love to say go for it but if you are looking to make a difference and have a less stressful non-corporate feeling job - definitely get some good experience in a school before taking the plunge. This may sound dramatic but 50 % of teachers are looking to leave the role within 5 years and there are some very good reasons why. Honestly though, it could be the best job in the world if we were trusted to do our job and could really just focus on the best interests of the children.

OP
There are more and more programs AED at getting children into STEM
Would you consider that sort of role? Still working with kids, but not as full on as teaching.

Does your company offer any sort of community outreach incentives for their employees?

Primary teacher here. Well ex, left last year.

Loved it when I started (1999) but it’s not the job it was. Workload is horrendous, behaviour gets worse year on year. And the parents! OMG the parents 🙄. Parenting has nosedived in the last two decades and the teachers are the main losers in this. Parents who believe everything their child tells them were the bane of my life 🙄.

Not saying definitely no but do your research.

Good luck!

Thank you for the replies.

My current role is in marketing for a pharmaceutical company. We don't have any outreach programmes. The hours are long for my current job (9-5:30pm but often I work until 7:30pm most evenings) and it's stressful too.

I wouldn’t recommend teaching to anyone. We are hated by everyone and absolutely everything is our fault.
The very worst bit is the neglect of children by their parents . It’s appalling.

where I feel like I'm making a difference

Don’t go into teaching then. You cannot make a difference. Everything you do is dictated by central government. The children you most want to make a difference too, the children with SEN, the children with poor home lives - they are at the bottom of the list for this government and when school funds are allocated.

Also - your hours - currently 9-5.30 and sometimes til 7.30pm? That’s not enough in term time. Be at school by 7.30am, carry on working til 10pm and add a full day at the weekend, that’s more like it.

difference to* not too

@Shinyandnew1

I used to love it, but now hate most things about it.

I absolutely love the kids and the actual ‘teaching’ part but that’s only about 30% of the job now. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

Exactly this! I am in my 28th year of teaching...I used to completely love my job, but I'm now counting down the months until I can retire. It's exhausting!!

Totally love the children though 💗

Everything else about the job is soul destroying.

I would not recommend teaching.

The work life balance is awful. The workload put on teachers is horrific in some schools. It's like survival of the fittest. The endless planning grinds you down. Constantly reinventing the wheel.

My current role is in marketing for a pharmaceutical company. We don't have any outreach programmes. The hours are long for my current job (9-5:30pm but often I work until 7:30pm most evenings) and it's stressful too.

Sounds exactly like teaching except you will start at 8am.

And I say that as an ex teacher who now works in pharma (not marketing though!) I'm in QC.

@togointoteaching would you look into changing company or role within your company. Personally I love working in pharma...I have flexi time in my company so I love it!