Not sure what to do with my work life anymore, currently a supply teacher thinking about PHD in Ed Psychology

[Se12345]

Going into my 5th year in teaching from September. The last 2 years I’ve been doing lots of different long and short term supply roles. I couldn’t deal with the workload of teaching, the politics and the people leading. Felt bullied for most of it because of my quiet nature. I’m not as outgoing as other teachers. I’m coming to the end of my MSc Psychology conversion masters. Don’t know what to do with it afterwards. I just don’t see myself teaching anymore, I started having anxiety already and I don’t go back until 3rd September. It may be because it’s like my 5th school in 5 years. I’m thinking of a PHD in Educational Psychology. But it’s about being able to afford the first year on a 16k bursary. What have any of you gone into after leaving teaching in the UK?

Will you get a bursary?

There are very few funded EdPsych courses and they are doctorate level with 3 years of on the job training afterwards.

I’m always a bit perplexed as to how it is such a long training period for such a low salary prospect. For that reason I wouldn’t do it. And it probably explains the massive shortage of edpsychs.

How about something like a dyslexia specialist assessor/teacher?

This isn't quite right. It is a 3 year doctorate and the first year is a 16k bursary, but after that most EPs are under an employment contract with their training placement, which gives a better salary.

Once you are qualified you are qualified.

We are underpaid compared with other psychology professionals, as a small specialist group we don't have much lobby power and our salary value has eroded a lot since 2010.

The main reasons for shortages are that there aren't enough training places, especially in the North, and that a lot of experienced people who would like to switch careers can't afford the salary drop over the bursary and training with a mortgage etc.

Also, the workload of Educational Psychologists employed by local authorities is not going to be light. They are severely overstretched. If you can go private client that might be more lucrative, but you have to do the hard yards of on the job training first in a public service setting.

There are other options using your psychology qualifications such as adult counselling and psychotherapy. I reckon this would be more lucrative and less stressful in the long run.

whichever path you choose, you are going to need to do some longer-term placements/ training and volunteer positions. If every single placement has been an issue, you may need to probe why that is. Learning to wave and smile/ rub along with people you despise is an essential skill in the workplace. Unfortunately.

Would academic research or HE or FE teaching roles appeal to you?

Completely agree- sorry if my words mangled things.

My point was, if I had a PhD, and had done six whole years of study for my job, and the effective cap on earnings in the public sector was around £65k, that would be a complete turnoff for me. You can earn more than that being a PA in the city working largely 9-5 with zero responsibility for a kid’s educational future.

If you’re unlucky enough to have done your first degree post 2012, even more so. Paying back student loans whilst also earning an EdPsych training salary and coping with that workload seems mad to me.

It’s £16200 ish first year, second year and third year is about 20k each ish all going well. The next 3 years after you have to work for the gov council jobs sort of and if you do part time then longer.

Dyou reckon you’d get on one of the funded uni places? There are only around 200 each year nationwide.

If money isn’t an acute concern going forward then of course do it, if it lights your fire.

if you’re a single earner household I would not recommend at all. The returns are not good.

I earn 67 k as mid management as an EP.
If you go into private practice or supplement with associate work helping LAs tackle the backlog of EHCPs, it can be pretty lucrative. I don't because I don't agree with assessing children online or within a local system I am not familiar with.