44 and training to be a teacher?!

[AmIinsane2023]

Name changed for this, as a bit different to my normal posts.

I'm 44, currently unemployed, and - after health problems and being a SAHM - I want to get my life back in track and start contributing again.

I've been looking at PGCEs (Secondary English) or Primary 7-11.

A few people said I'm insane to be considering it a) because of my age and b) the way things are in schools these days.

AIBU to be considering this?!

Would love to hear people's experiences/opinions, both positive and negative.

I was also going to mention Now Teach. Before you do anything, read the book by one of its founders: Lucy Kellaway.

https://nowteach.org.uk/advice-and-insight/our-stories/from-ft-columnist-to-trainee-teacher-lucy-kellaway/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B092C8J7J2/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1

Despite what the media say and all the musmmset trolls, teaching is effing hard work. As many have said it’s not the pay that’s the issue it’s the crushing workload, the emotional and mental toll that is unrelenting. Yes it can be rewarding but it’s a LOT

My friend has just done it at the same age. She started as a TA and has now qualified as a teacher. She loves it, and she’s a fabulous teacher.

A large part of how it is depends on the school. I worked in a school for over a decade which ended in special measures, really difficult area, all sorts of societal issues, hugely bullying SLT and Head - after a decade I was broken.
Started a new place- the people are reasonable and normal. They think I'm good at my job. They understand we have lives outside of school

As an English ECT, you might be able to be picky.

BUT it is a lot. You have to be so resilient. The days are full of shit, there are always more lows than highs. But the highs are amazing. The kids are brilliant.

Primary maybe - but I wouldn’t go near secondary personally! I taught secondary for ten years and left to be a sahm, and honestly never wanted to teach again. I’ve recently gone back, teaching 6th form, which I love. High school is utterly soul destroying tho

I don't mean this to offend anyone but I'm a secondary teacher - it seems to me teaching in secondary school, whilst still challenging at times, is not as hard as primary teaching. I also find it's easier teaching in a private school!!

I also think secondary must be easier than primary.

Will reply to individual comments later.

Had a lot of experience working with children in different settings, but have already applied to local schools (primary and secondary) for this Autumn. Worked with a lot of children from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with complex needs and/or SEN.

Physically healthier than I have been in over 5 years. I do a lot of cycling and walking and I've always been an high energy person.

There are so many things that draw me to it, but I'll check back in later to read all the comments properly and reply/write some more.

Eg I have at least one hour free per day, often two for preparation and marking, I have gcse classes of 10-14 rather than 25+ which really helps with marking. There is obviously high expectations of results which brings its own pressures but I can genuinely say I love my job, look forward to every September etc

But what attracted me was love of my subject - and I'm still in love with it 16 years on - you need that for secondary school

Could you afford to do a year as a TA first? You'll walk into a job and it will give you a proper idea of what Schools are like.

My friend (in Ireland) just finished this week after a few years training. She has loved every minute of it and feels her life has a whole new purpose. She is turning 47 next month so was 43 probably when starting out. Go for it!!!

Not sure if anyone has commented anything similar, but your job satisfaction in teaching depends almost entirely on the school you take a post at, rather than the job itself.
At a good, supportive school where teachers have agency, are treated with professional respect, along with reasonable expectations in terms of workload - it can be the best job in the world!
A poorly managed school with an SLT who last taught several decades ago and therefore have no idea of the realities and the implications of their demands - it can be actual hell on earth.

This applies to the entire spectrum of schools out there btw, doesn't matter if its a classic Mumsnet 'leafy suburb' school, or a struggling school in a deprived area. The quality of the SLT make or break your experience.

So yes - go for it! No reason why you couldn't end up working in an excellently run setting. Just choose your posts EXTREMELY carefully once you qualify. Talk to everyone you possibly can who has any experience of the schools you're looking at.
It really is the difference between a fantastic experience and one that will break you.

Good luck!

I was a teacher for 20 years (left 3 years ago). It's tough but there are great parts to it. I'd say, like others have, spend as much time in a school setting as you can just to see if you like being around teenagers. They can be tricky but are never dull! Take the time to talk to any many teachers as possible to get a realistic view of the role.

Agree that choosing your school carefully is vital. I started teaching in my 40s at a really nice school.After a few years for various reasons the intake changed and behavioural problems and SEN increased. I left teaching a few years later, but suspect I would have continued if I had gone to the private sector.

I looked up Lucy Kellaway, she very quickly stopped teaching Maths and changed to Economics part time, presumably to sixth formers.

i know someone who retrained as a teacher in their forties.

Came from a very high stress commercial background, long commutes, long hours, time away from home etc.

Absolutely loves it, happiest he's ever been. Now only works 4 days a week locally. He said it was tough while he was training but once he was in a job and knew the kids, he's found it really easy and fulfilling compared to his previous roles in the private sector. He also loves the long holidays and importantly the school love him, so he's really landed on his feet.

I think the only way to find out is to try. As I have a friend who went into teaching not long after uni and found it all too much to cope with.

I am am not asking to know what they are but
Think about your health issues will how they affect you in a very demanding job.
Even if you coast through the training you may not like it.
You have to end up in the right school for you or it will break you.

Consider the amount of time that it will take away from your own child/ren, I know quite a few teachers that leave because they have no quality time at home with their own kids.

Where are you based OP?

Makes a massive difference. Ive worked in England, Scotland and N.Ireland. Its been like three different jobs.

England workload is v difficult, Scotland is managable and N.Ireland is a much much lighter workload. I currently teach in N.Ireland and find myself working significantly less hours than when teaching in England yet have a middle leader role here. (N.I is currently on work to rule but even before this most staff did 8.45-4ish and took no work home).

I taught secondary English as a second career in a fairly tough school, for 14 years. It was always gruelling and exhausting, although often rewarding and sometimes even fun. But, and it was a very big but, there are limits to endurance and capacity in middle age: I ended with burnout, and a very long list of antibiotics consumed for the endless student-borne ENT infections. I left. On the plus side, I didn't need childcare because I worked roughly the same hours as my DC, and I understood how schools worked. (I returned to my original field for 10 happy, fulfilling years!)

Sod that. I have experience of primary school teaching....no thanks.

What is it about NI that means the workload is less? I wonder if that should be looked at for sharing some good practice?!

Go for it. My mum did it and she was a single mum with four kids. She was 42!!

I can’t understand why people would mention your age, you’ve got 24 years until retirement, perhaps they’re older and think you can retire much earlier?! A year for a pace is nothing although aren’t there other routes in where you can work and get QTS?

wow not my experience of teaching at secondary! I had GCSE classes of around 20 and I got 2/3 frees a week not a day! State school, not sure if that is the reason tho.