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.

It depends, do you think you would want a career that you work 8 am to 6:30 every day in the office and then have to bring home reports to look at in the evening for another 2 - 3 hours most nights? And are you prepared to sacrifice your Sundays from now on to doing office work at home? Are you mentally strong enough to constantly be being monitored and criticized when you are trying your best, and from living in constant fear of being complained about or lied about and not being in enough of a position of power where you are able to defend yourself? If so, go for it!

The reality is that most teachers don't last much beyond 40 in the profession nowadays so starting at 44, I don't know its tough even for people in their 20's. I started my teacher training when I was 27, it was so stressful I got an autoimmune disease when I was 29 and I finally hemorrhaged out of the profession when I was 31. So many people told me not to go into teaching and honestly my thinking was, how bad can it really be, teachers only think its bad because they have never worked in a proper job and don't know what real life is like, but it is bad. Teaching should be a lovely job, and I'm sure it was 20 years ago, but it isn't now. I now work in admin for minimum wage and I've got my life back.

You have to be in it because you absolutely love it and be prepared for a lot of long hours. My partner retrained as a teacher a few years back and left after only 3 years. It worked out that he was on less than minimum wage when you add up the additional hours spent planning, marking, report writing etc. He could never switch off apart from a few weeks in the summer holidays- even then I think he spent most of the holidays feeing anxious about going back to school. The school holidays was a benefit - but bear in mind you will still spend a lot of hours in the holidays preparing and planning. I think peoples experiences vary massively depending on the school but unfortunately I personally know of more teachers who have left teaching due to stress and workload than those who have stayed in teaching. It’s not a job for the feint hearted.

Maybe drive to your local school
and see how many staff cars are there at 8am and 6pm, the answer here is very few if any🤷‍♀️

OP, if you want to, give it a go. You might be one of the people who can cope.

Tip - you have to be hard as nails. Set your hours eg 8 am to 6 in school and never take work home. Determinedly forget the place as you cross the carpark to your car. Never be available in weekends or holidays - don't fall for holding expected but unpaid 'revision sessions' in your holidays, and other such nonsense.

I taught from age 35 to 56. I left with a complete breakdown that put me in bed for several years and from which I am not yet fully recovered ten years later.

Look after yourself. Put yourself first. Good luck.

I was a teacher for 7 years in secondary schools. If you don't mind spending every working minute in the classroom and at home that's fine. It took over my whole life and for my own sanity I gave up and went back to a 9-5 where I could have some 'me time' although dropped salary considerably. I think teaching is a vocation, not just a job.

I retrained in my mid thirties and love it (paperwork and politics aside - that bit is rubbish). I think because I entered the workforce when it was already in a state of flux, I don't really have any comparison with the 'good old days', which might actually be helpful

@StopStartStop bloody hell. You poor thing.

What drove this breakdown?

And what do you do now?

Have you worked in a school before? If not get a TA job first to see how you like it

If your previous health issues involved your immune system, bladder, bowel or gynaecology issues, back or mental health problems I would not recommend teaching. You won’t have access to a toilet whenever you need it, you will be on your feet a lot, sitting on uncomfortable chairs, carrying heavy books around, exposed to every kind of infection imaginable and feeling stressed most of the time.

I know several teachers who had nervous breakdowns and another who lost a kidney due to not drinking enough. There’s a good reason why so many teachers leave well before retirement age!

Thank you for your sympathy. Much appreciated.
There are former colleagues on MN so it wouldn't be appropriate to comment further. 😉

That’s fantastic!

I’d try some TAing first if you can OP, but despite all the issues, I still think it’s a decent option, especially primary.

I should say that I am not a teacher but several family members and friends are. There’s no doubt it can be tough, but I do think many of the horror stories on here are at the more extreme end of the spectrum. The pay should be better though.

I think it depends on the school really. I'm in primary and our head is despite the government's efforts to keep introducing more and more pointless bits of work is keen for us to have as much of a work/life balance as possible and to make life as easy as possible. We have lots of shared resources, templates etc and none of us really take work home. I personally approach it as these are my hours and unless something is urgent/reports need doing I don't do anything at home. I used to don't get me wrong, but it comes with experience I suppose andnsomce having my own DC I realise it is just a job (albeit an important one). Having a balance makes me a better teacher as I'm not burnt out. This isn't saying any teachers who don't manage this are bad or its their fault, but just saying it depends on the school, the SLT, your experience etc.

I agree with a PP that although it absolutely isn't all peachy and there are many issues currently, you do tend to hear more of the negatives on here even though there are happy and content teachers out there who enjoy their jobs despite the shite. I think if you study when a bit older perhaps better at putting boundaries in from the start?

Thanks so much for everyone's replies etc. Got back to this post later than I'd anticipated, as the first weekend of the hols has been a tad full on.

So, I'm looking at getting placements for Secondary AND upper Primary during the year ahead . Drawn to both for different reasons, although Secondary English is my preference as have a lifelong love of literature and language (and studied it at York Uni many moons ago). And, I want to give both rural and town/city settings a go.

As well as experience during the next academic year (or 2, as I have to be mindful of my DC and the fact that I don't drive yet (booked for Autumn!)), I'm going to do a TA course via the local college. Thus, keeping options open.

It feels very exciting to even be able to consider teaching, as for so long I just thought I wasn't good enough. However, I think my life experience has helped bring me to a place where I CAN consider it. And, I actually believe I'd actually have a lot to offer.

My health issues are no longer an issue, thanks to surgery last year and a really good recovery. Emotionally and psychologically, I'm in a pretty good place and I'm a fan of therapy, should a future need arise.

I've got Primary aged DC, whom I do factor into any and all decisions I make. We have a very strong 'village' (as some on MN like to call it), buy I have to ensure anything I commit myself to works for us a trio (just me and 2 DC; Dad lives other side of the country).

So, lots to think about (and I've already been offered a TA role, but need to think carefully about it).

I definitely need to brush up on my English language/grammar etc (and attention to detail), as I'm definitely not as good as I was when I was younger!).

I guess it feels more like a vocation than a career choice, as I could get better money and conditions in another setting, but a lot has led me to feeling that I really want to go for it.

What do you mean by placements, OP?

Questions to seriously consider (that I wish I'd considered before becoming a teacher):

Are you an extravert or an introvert? If you gain your energy from being around people instead of being drained by it, that's a good start. Introverts struggle for obvious reasons.

How is your mental and physical health, really? Stress induced insomnia and teaching teenagers for a week non stop is not fun, trust me. I also have heavy periods and as you can imagine this was also not fun trapped in a classroom (highlight of career running to kids toilet in an emergency and having to tell off kids through the door while changing tampon 👍).

How much of a life do you want outside work? Some people aren't bothered about hobbies/friends/family etc which is totally fine, there have been periods in my life in which I've appreciated teaching to fill a void.

My overall instinct is to tell you to run, but everyone is different and some people do enjoy it. I will also say it led to teaching abroad which was a fantastic experience so doing it to travel isn't a bad reason, you just have to get through the uk crap first!

Just saw your update, definitely do a TA job for a year if you can afford it. My other thought for you is once you've trained you can go into SEN teaching which I found less pressured.

I have been teaching for 17 years (secondary) and lots of people train as career changers later in life so you wouldn’t be and aren’t alone.

if you look at the schools direct route you train in a school so get a much better idea of what you’re getting into, and some subjects offer a tax free bursary to train so it wouldn’t cost you anything.

@MistressIggi placements was probably the wrong word.

I'm looking for experience within different setting of several weeks' duration, rather than a few days, or a week here and there.

@Theseboobsweremadeforwalking

• I think I'm in the middle; I love being around other people, but relish a bit of 'me time' in the evening once DC are asleep.

• physical health is pretty darn good, all things being considered, and my mental health is pretty robust, I think. I'm not foolish enough to be blasé about either, so do what needs to be done after things are out of kilter.

• I've got youngish DC, so def can't avoid them (!) and my hobbies are quite boring (cycling, reading and yoga), which can be fitted around most things. I have only one other family member left alive and I care about friends, but happy to only see them once in a while.

@Theseboobsweremadeforwalking I definitely want to gain experience within SEN beyond lived experience (DC have SEN) and, if I do go down the Upper Primary route, I can 'specialise' in SEN.

I could be speaking out of turn, as my experience is north of the border, but I don't know anywhere that would take someone in just to observe for weeks at a time. It's hard enough finding placement schools for student teachers here.

@MistressIggi the idea is not to merely observe like a spare part, but to get stuck in, and 3 of the schools in the area definitely allow this (2 Primary and 1 Secondary).

It would be a tad pointless to just observe. I wouldn't learn anything and it would be a weird for staff and pupils, alike.

That's good! We wouldn't allow a volunteer to do that though, so I'm glad your area does.

@AmIinsane2023 whatever you decide to do, I’m glad to hear that your health has recovered.