To think about secondary school teacher training?

[Janefromgreenlane]

Asking for opinions—especially from current or former secondary teachers.
I'm seriously considering training to become a secondary school teacher. For the past 12 years, I’ve been running a translation business, but with the rise of AI, there’s noticeably less work, and I expect the decline to continue. Alongside this, I’ve been teaching languages in adult education and tutoring GCSE and A-Level students privately.
Now that my youngest child is in secondary school, I don’t need to be at home as much. Before running my business, I worked in a corporate environment. I feel ready for a new challenge in my career and have been exploring different options.
I’ve been job-hunting since September, submitted over 150 applications, and had a few interviews—but so far, I haven’t secured a position (or only received offers with a graduate-level salary). The job market is extremely competitive right now, and I suspect that, as a slightly unconventional candidate, I’m finding it harder to land something. It’s been a disheartening process and has taken a lot of time and energy.
That’s why I’m now seriously thinking about training as a secondary school teacher. I’m fluent in three languages that are taught in schools, and I already have seven years of part-time teaching experience. I love my subject and would enjoy sharing it with young people. I’m energetic, enthusiastic, and can see myself enjoying this role.
What worries me: lower income—especially in the first few years—stress, and the famously heavy workload. I’m also in my mid-forties and, while I’m fit now, I do wonder how sustainable the physical and mental demands will be in 10-15 years’ time.

My Dh retrained as a teacher at a similar age. He loves it. Yes the first couple of years are really intense, I had to basically take over everything at home so he could work. But now we're in year 4 and things are on a much more even keel. He does work a little bit most evenings and a bit at weekends.

I think if you're a people person it's a really rewarding job. He certainly finds it much more satisfying even if the pay is not as good as his old career. He would recommend the SCITT route, you're in a classroom from day 1, based in a single school so you get to know the kids and staff really well.

Why not try, have a look at bursaries, work the numbers and see if it's viable.

I’m doing this. Starting a PGCE in September, in my mid-50s. It would make even more sense to do so in your situation since you’d teach a shortage subject that has a large bursary.

Now Teach (nowteach.org.uk) is good for the support and the sense of being part of a cohort of career changers.

That's not how it works. New teachers are cheap and just as sought after in grammars and indies. They also tend to have lots of enthusiasm and are keen try new things. You don't have to "serve your time" in a sink school first. Be proactive, apply for any job that's viable.

Not necessarily. Grammar schools and many independent schools are on tight budgets too. They don't only hire experienced teachers, because experienced = expensive.

I've been an MFL teacher for 30 years. The job has changed almost beyond recognition in that time (particularly in terms of workload). I've taught in schools with difficult behaviour and, frankly, I hate it and am no longer prepared to do it. I now teach in a lovely girls' grammar school. I enjoy the teaching, but the workload is pretty brutal.

Feel free to ask any questions about the realities of being an MFL teacher!

I retrained as a languages teacher when I was 48. I'm not still teaching but I would say go for it. I got a bursary to do my PGCE as languages were a shortage subject. The course I did was excellent. I then taught for 3 years but decided to go back to my former pre-kids career in the end. I did enjoy it though even though it was stressful at times.

The training is intense though- I kind of loved it and hated it at the same time. I don't regret doing it even though I'm not teaching now.

As a former secondary teacher I'd say you're mad! I'd stick to tutoring and some translation.

I trained to teach at 49. I was planning on it being my final career until I retired. I didn’t go into it blind, as I’d worked as a TA for two years. However, nothing prepares you for teaching. I was working 70 hour weeks, even more when marking exams. To be honest, it wasn’t just the workload, although that was never ending, it was the constant micromanagement and scrutiny. Then on the other side, the behaviour on the students and even sometimes the parents. Barely a day went by that I wasn’t swore at, about once a week I’d have something thrown at me. All schools place stress on teachers, if it isn’t behaviour, it’s demanding parents or even more demanding SLT. I was also juggling my kids as well and the guilt of not being able to get time off to see their assemblies and plays.
I left after 3 years and I’ve never been happier. A lot of teachers move to the civil service, local government, a role allied to teaching, or the charity sector. I went to local government, and moved up a grade band a year later. So your starting salary is not permanent.

Teacher of mfl in a state school for 30 years. I would say no. Teachers are leaving for a reason. Friend teaches in an independent school. Languages are valued by pupils- lots of different nationalities there. . Fewer discipline issues but the hours are even longer than in state schools. Usually longer days and some Saturday work.

My favourite lessons were with an excellent German language teacher. She could engage the most badly behaved students, she made lessons fun, different. Always brought in treat foods, has us standing on desks singing German language songs

Private schools take ECTs as well. Don’t rule them out. I have a lower teaching load but a much higher co-curricular load and would never return to the state sector. I want to teach not behaviour manage.

I can't think of any secondary school where the teachers spend most of their time sitting.

Oh and I love it. The training year was tough but it has gotten easier each year. I’ve blue been teaching for 8 years and part of the furniture for the kids and behaviour management has become so much easier.