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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if I could/should get into teaching

94 replies

Whattodo182 · 17/12/2022 12:26

That really.

I'm looking for a career change, not an easy life FWIW.

I have a degree in a pretty vague humanities subject, but probably would be looking to get into history/English/social sciences teaching.

Is there a demand for these subjects? Lots of info online for funding for training but seems to be mostly science/maths. Could I take this route despite not having a relevant degree?

Any opinions/advice welcome

OP posts:
Hobbi · 17/12/2022 14:35

Orangepink5 · 17/12/2022 13:34

I’m not quite sure what all the fuss is about. I was a secondary school teacher before having my children and enjoyed my work and found the hours quite reasonable and the holidays amazing. If you’re organised with marking and setting work you rarely have to work past 6pm. Most professional jobs require a bit more than 9-5 anyway.
In state schools the school days usually finishes at 3pm ish which gives you a few hours after school to catch up.
I have also never worked more than a couple of days at the end of the summer holidays preparing for the term ahead.
I taught maths though which is probably much quicker to mark.
Any particular questions let me know

Yes. I can't believe retention is so poor because your portrayal is so accurate. I'm surprised you're not still doing it as a hobby.

alittlelifex · 17/12/2022 14:40

Stompythedinosaur · 17/12/2022 12:30

I suppose if you are just feeling too valued and happy, getting into teaching might be a way to remedy that.

(Don't do it. I know many teachers, and the only ones who are happy or have a decent work-life balance are they ones who do the bare minimum and do not care about the kids they teach).

This isn’t the reality. I honestly would say I have a good work life balance and I love my job - and I really care about the children, and I don’t do the bare minimum. I don’t think that 7:30-6pm work days are excessive in any way, shape or form personally.

But… I’ve only been teaching three years, so take this with a pinch of salt, OP! I also don’t have children, and live 5 minutes away from work. Two big factors. Also, I work with my best friend and met him through work, and as a large and young staff we all socialise a lot and that makes my specific school really nice.

Teaching is very full on, but I’m not really sure how it compares to other careers because I’ve never done anything else except for when I was a teenager.

electricmoccasins · 17/12/2022 14:42

WhatHappenedToYoyos · 17/12/2022 12:38

I wouldn't be advising anyone to teach but if you truly think it's your calling, go with English as there is always a demand for English teachers.

I'd suggest getting some serious volunteering experience before putting your whole life in to this career though. You might be surprised by the things teachers have to do.

I’m going to disagree. Do not go with English. It is a core subject. English and maths are under constant scrutiny from SLT. If ofsted decide to do a short inspection, they will always look at English and maths. The mark-load for English is horrendous. You also get loads of pupils take it at A level who can’t think what else to do, but hate reading. You never get that with say, German, or Physics. Go with a non core subject like History. You will still find work.

Original poster
Whattodo182 · 17/12/2022 16:02

This is all really useful thank you everyone for taking the time to respond.

Sorry I can't reply to individual PPs but I've read every comment carefully and have some new avenues/thoughts to explore now. Thanks all

OP posts:
VioletLemon · 17/12/2022 16:06

Consider college work or even a post grad in something else, counselling, therapy?

If you're in England teaching is a really tough call. I'd avoid it like the plague but I really wish I wasn't saying that.

LovelyRachel · 17/12/2022 16:11

Fizbosshoes · 17/12/2022 13:08

Most of the teachers on MN seem very unhappy with teaching and that it negatively impacts on most of their life.

I know lots of teachers in RL that (seem to) have a work-life balance similar to other friends. A good friend of mine is a teacher at a private school (she has also worked in state school) and she doesn't often seem unhappy about her job.

I guess it might depend what the area or school is like but I think most replies will say don't do it

Just came here to say this.

I also enquired about becoming a teacher. The salary is amazing compared to what I have. And I currently work in a life or death role. Which is 10 x pressure than that of a teacher and very basic holiday entitlement.

(E.g One mistake and someone could be dead)

I say go for it @Whattodo182 - I've been volunteering in a secondary recently and love it.

BCBird · 17/12/2022 16:13

🤣hobby.

Happtimescoming · 17/12/2022 16:15

This is all really interesting…I have a 1 year old and a 4 year old, and an English Lit degree along with a love of the subject/books/reading. Currently have a corporate career with an opportunity to take a large redundancy package potentially soon. I considered teaching as a) would be teaching something interesting - my courage job is boring and doesn’t inspire me. B) we have no grandparents or outside help so not having to sort childcare for the holidays for my 4 year old now she’s at school would be HUGE. It’s a struggle at the moment and I feel so guilty having to put her into holiday clubs. Also 1 year old could gonterm time hours at nursery which would save us a huge amount of money . Is it that bad??? And what would the starting salary be for an in demand subject like English? With my currenT job I often end up working evenings to get on top of things so am used to hard hours…that would be ok if I got holidays off? Talk me down!!! Haha

teacher45646 · 17/12/2022 16:18

I am a primary school teacher in England and I could not discourage you enough from entering into the profession. There is a reason we are voting to strike.

upfucked · 17/12/2022 16:23

alittlelifex · 17/12/2022 14:40

This isn’t the reality. I honestly would say I have a good work life balance and I love my job - and I really care about the children, and I don’t do the bare minimum. I don’t think that 7:30-6pm work days are excessive in any way, shape or form personally.

But… I’ve only been teaching three years, so take this with a pinch of salt, OP! I also don’t have children, and live 5 minutes away from work. Two big factors. Also, I work with my best friend and met him through work, and as a large and young staff we all socialise a lot and that makes my specific school really nice.

Teaching is very full on, but I’m not really sure how it compares to other careers because I’ve never done anything else except for when I was a teenager.

Show quote history

Do you have children?

SleeplessWB · 17/12/2022 16:23

The key is all about finding the right school for you. I love my job, the kids, the sense of community in the school and wouldn't change it for the world. I get to spend all the holidays with my children which is worth so much.

Samjamm · 17/12/2022 16:23

I'm a teacher and I absolutely love my job and I don't see me doing anything else.

However, my current school is absolutely fantastic. Centrally planned lessons, strict routines, excellent behaviour and a fantastic head teacher. This is very rare for an inner city school. Our catchment is the whole city. We have students coming from everywhere.

My old school was the complete opposite. Inner city school, but the SLT were crap. Behaviour was appalling and the workload was ridiculous. I was HOD here and I moved to being a teacher again despite losing my TLR.

You need to visit a whole host of schools to make a proper judgement.

upfucked · 17/12/2022 16:24

Happtimescoming · 17/12/2022 16:15

This is all really interesting…I have a 1 year old and a 4 year old, and an English Lit degree along with a love of the subject/books/reading. Currently have a corporate career with an opportunity to take a large redundancy package potentially soon. I considered teaching as a) would be teaching something interesting - my courage job is boring and doesn’t inspire me. B) we have no grandparents or outside help so not having to sort childcare for the holidays for my 4 year old now she’s at school would be HUGE. It’s a struggle at the moment and I feel so guilty having to put her into holiday clubs. Also 1 year old could gonterm time hours at nursery which would save us a huge amount of money . Is it that bad??? And what would the starting salary be for an in demand subject like English? With my currenT job I often end up working evenings to get on top of things so am used to hard hours…that would be ok if I got holidays off? Talk me down!!! Haha

You can google teaching salary. You would start on M1.

ConnieTucker · 17/12/2022 16:30

Happtimescoming · 17/12/2022 16:15

This is all really interesting…I have a 1 year old and a 4 year old, and an English Lit degree along with a love of the subject/books/reading. Currently have a corporate career with an opportunity to take a large redundancy package potentially soon. I considered teaching as a) would be teaching something interesting - my courage job is boring and doesn’t inspire me. B) we have no grandparents or outside help so not having to sort childcare for the holidays for my 4 year old now she’s at school would be HUGE. It’s a struggle at the moment and I feel so guilty having to put her into holiday clubs. Also 1 year old could gonterm time hours at nursery which would save us a huge amount of money . Is it that bad??? And what would the starting salary be for an in demand subject like English? With my currenT job I often end up working evenings to get on top of things so am used to hard hours…that would be ok if I got holidays off? Talk me down!!! Haha

Your starting salary would be £28k. After 20 years you will be at the top of the teacher payscale having reached the dizzy heights of £43685. The only pay rises then are cost of living ones. You will however be expected to have taken on much more responsibility.

with English you will be marking well into the night during the week and also all day one day of each weekend. Youd be better off doing maths.

Samjamm · 17/12/2022 16:31

How do you expect to be a Science or Maths teacher without the relevant degree?

Many non specialist teachers are found to be teaching Science and Maths, but it's only because there aren't enough of us.

It isn't fair on the kids.

Also I don't know what university or school (if you go down school direct route) would accept you onto a course without a relevant degree.

Do you have a level Maths? That's the only way I could see someone teaching secondary Maths who didn't have a degree.

tobee · 17/12/2022 16:32

So what would make the job better teachers ?

We need teachers so how can we stop the deluge leaving?

I get the impression the fabric is totally broken.

DuchessofSandwich · 17/12/2022 16:33

My teacher friends all love their jobs but prefer to work part time because it's very full on and long days. Working part time helps against the energy drain because it's very doable to work a long hard day if you're off the next day or day after. So go for it if it appeals to you but consider part time to keep your energy levels up.

tobee · 17/12/2022 16:33

tobee · 17/12/2022 16:32

So what would make the job better teachers ?

We need teachers so how can we stop the deluge leaving?

I get the impression the fabric is totally broken.

That should say the job better FOR teachers!!!!

Lostinalibrary · 17/12/2022 16:34

No don’t - I’m an ECT, I don’t know one person from my PGCE who is staying. We aren’t pension trapped.

LovelyRachel · 17/12/2022 16:36

SleeplessWB · 17/12/2022 16:23

The key is all about finding the right school for you. I love my job, the kids, the sense of community in the school and wouldn't change it for the world. I get to spend all the holidays with my children which is worth so much.

Yes this is exactly what my teacher friends say!

ConnieTucker · 17/12/2022 16:36

Happtimescoming · 17/12/2022 16:15

This is all really interesting…I have a 1 year old and a 4 year old, and an English Lit degree along with a love of the subject/books/reading. Currently have a corporate career with an opportunity to take a large redundancy package potentially soon. I considered teaching as a) would be teaching something interesting - my courage job is boring and doesn’t inspire me. B) we have no grandparents or outside help so not having to sort childcare for the holidays for my 4 year old now she’s at school would be HUGE. It’s a struggle at the moment and I feel so guilty having to put her into holiday clubs. Also 1 year old could gonterm time hours at nursery which would save us a huge amount of money . Is it that bad??? And what would the starting salary be for an in demand subject like English? With my currenT job I often end up working evenings to get on top of things so am used to hard hours…that would be ok if I got holidays off? Talk me down!!! Haha

The main thing here is this would be a live for the holidays mentality. Wishing your life away. It is how most teachers i know live.

the problem with this is the amount of after school commitments and whether you have a solid husband. There are weekly (at least) after school meetings, parents evenings until 7 or 8 for every year group, open evening until 9pm, awards evening, random events you have to supervise, residentials. Fine if part of a couple. Difficult if a single parent as not much childcare available until the evening.

ConnieTucker · 17/12/2022 16:39

Lostinalibrary · 17/12/2022 16:34

No don’t - I’m an ECT, I don’t know one person from my PGCE who is staying. We aren’t pension trapped.

We have two trainees atm. I dont see one making the year. And has already skipped the uni day more than once. Cannot cope with the workload, and the workload for them at this stage is relatively tiny. The other has already started enquiring about other roles. Not even finished one term.

Philandbill · 17/12/2022 16:42

@Orangepink5 genuinely interested to know why you aren't still teaching.
@tobee OFSTED are like the sword of Damocles hanging over our heads. And they do not offer any decent support post inspection. Recruitment/ retention is very difficult so teachers at the chalk face are often covering multiple areas and those who are middle and senior leaders are also trying to paper over the cracks. It is exhausting.

Confusedteacher · 17/12/2022 16:42

I retrained as a teacher 5 years ago in a shortage subject.
pros- decent salary (compared to what I was on before at least!) holidays off with the kids, colleagues are generally lovely (teaching attracts nice people!) working with kids can be very rewarding etc etc
cons- term time is exhausting, you have to be very resilient as someone is always trying to tell you how to improve, massive workload, behaviour in every school I have worked in so far, and in every other school I hear about is really going downhill at the moment.

If you do it, go part time as soon as you can! It’s the only way to make it work, full time nearly broke me!

LovelyRachel · 17/12/2022 16:45

@Whattodo182 thanks for the thread. It's really pushed me into making a decision to retrain (and be part time asap)

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