To ask if I am too old to get into teaching?

[Yellowroses123]

I had my DC young, in my late teens. I went back into education once they were in school, and recently got a degree. I was considering doing a PGCE to become a teacher, but I am wondering if I may have left it a little late.

I am 33 now, I started my degree with a foundation year when I was 29. I would need to get some experience working in schools, so if I applied for the PGCE I would start next September and finish when I would be 35.

I often feel like I am playing catch up with my career now after spending a lot of my twenties looking after DC, so I am feeling a bit anxious about applying for teacher training when I know most of the other students will be early twenties. Can anyone offer any words of wisdom, or tell me if I am being ridiculous and overthinking it? 😊

thanks in advance!

Bugger, too old, I mean!

The 2 main things I would say are: do you have the capacity to work long hours/into the evenings/weekends? (ie a supportive partner/older DC). As an experienced teacher but not management, my workload has eased off loads, but as a trainee, you'll have HOURS of work to do outside school hours.

Secondly, make sure you get plenty of experience in as many different schools as you can. This will massively help your application, but mainly will give you both a genuine insight into the reality of the job so you can decide if it's truly for you, and be an invaluable starting point for your own teaching style/methods/ideas.

It's definitely not too late. You're still young. I know somebody who retrained at 40. Not sure why you would want to though. It's an awful job.

I qualified when 43 and am still working some 19 years later. It is tough and exhausting though so be prepared!

I did it - went to university after 30, started teaching aged 36 (almost). Taught for 21 years. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone but it can be done.

Advice: Be strict about the hours you work, during training and when working. 12 hours a day maximum.

There are other routes into teaching too. More learn on the job kind of training. It was QTS about 16 years ago when I did it, and I got paid £13k for that year before starting as an NQT.

I am thinking of doing a pgce this year if i get accepted onto the course. I am 38

If you have a degree you can often do it 'on the job' eg teach first and others.

Not too old, but don't do it. Teaching is awful. You'll never achieve a work-life balance.

Not too old. I retrained at 42. But be prepared for your work life balance to go out the window during term time.

No, you're not too old.

But teachers are leaving the profession their droves because teaching is not what it used to be.
It's the last job.
Don't do it.