To want to train as a teacher

[UnrealCity]

I am thinking about training as a primary school teacher, I already have a degree so I would be applying for a pgce or similar. I spoke to a teacher friend about it who told me she regrets becoming a teacher and advised me to rethink. Is teaching really that bad? AIBU to think I could enjoy it? I have thought about secondary as well but I've always preferred working with younger children. I would also consider working in a special schooI. I've worked as a support worker for children with special needs for 7 years so I have plenty of experience working with children, and I have volunteered in a primary school, but that's obviously quite different than being a teacher.

I used to be a teacher - there is a lot that I miss - kids are so fun, every day is different, when it's going well it's the best job in the world. But the conditions are extremely hard these days - it is not the job it used to be and I wouldn't recommend it.

Managing SEND in mainstream is very hard. Somehow you still have to get them to expected!

What about becoming a private tutor in a subject you enjoy? Home-education is at an all time high, and will likely get higher still.

That's an interesting idea, will bear it in mind thanks!

OP - what’s your uni subject? Ima secondary school teacher and think that in many ways it’s more manageable than primary. If you love your subject and choose your school carefully it can be fantastic. As a counter to all the doom and gloom on here I’m about to start my 31st year of teaching- 20 at the same school and absolutely love it. Looking forward to going back in September.

I was advised not to train 25 years ago. I didn't listen and, 25 years on, I'm glad I didn't. I enjoy my job (mostly) but you need the right department in the right school etc. Go for it.

I left teaching a few years ago after 20 years. I’d never go back.

Teacher of 26 years here. 25 in state secondary. The last I would say, 8-10 years have been incredibly tough for us all.

You do make a difference. Some students will remember you for ever and you really can change lives. It can be lots of fun, you learn loads, and work colleagues can become really good friends.

The workload is never ending, and the mental load can be incredibly heavy. Teaching skills, getting experienced, good subject knowledge and strong behaviour management are key. You will need good support systems in and out of school, and huge resilience to mitigate against it all. The holidays are when you crash and burn, and usually get ill...

I would say, do the training, see how you get on. You might love it, you might bear it for a while, you might really hate it, but you wont know unless you try.
As someone else upthread said, do not expect it to be for life, most young teachers leave within 5 years. You will gain bags of life experience and transferable skills though!

Good luck.

We do need good young teachers in schools!

Thanks that's good to hear. 😃 At uni I did joint honours in English Lit and Music. I really enjoyed both subjects, so I'd be happy to teach either one in theory. I'm only five feet tall, though, so I'm not sure about the idea of trying to control a class of teenagers twice my size! 😂 What do you teach, if you don't mind me asking?

I think you should give it a go if you’d like to! I don’t think there’s as much demand for primary teachers, so maybe check that for the area you live in. I’m a secondary teacher. I’ve had some horrendous experiences over the years, but I’ve been at a great school for a few years now and I love my job.

You do not need to be physically large to exert control! small and powerful does exist!

If you’re going in with your eyes open, are aware of the statistics in terms of drop out in the first few years, have good support - particularly that your partner is supportive and understands what it will mean for your household, why not? We don’t all give in after a few years, many of us love our jobs and reap the rewards with the time off! Even if you only do it for a few years and do it well, that’s something given the current crisis. Good teachers are harder and harder to come by - I got my current role on supply 10 years ago in a lovely independent and never left - prior to that they had advertised multiple times with a string of unsuitable applications and had had a string of unsuitable supply till I rocked up. I had left my previous role because I felt I could no longer do it…the right school, the right line manger can work miracles. Good luck!

I've just left after 22 years as a primary teacher. It's not a decision I took lightly. But I just can't do it any more, emotionally and physically.

You might enjoy teaching for a few years - if you're in the right school.
Your experience as a support worker for children with SEND will stand you in good stead. There are always vacancies for teachers in SEND schools.

I have been teaching 25 years and have worked in both mainstream secondary and SEN/SEMH. I returned to mainstream from SEN as, despite their being less planning, the mental drain is more. SLT were mainly useless (in both schools I worked in). They also tend to be trust based and prefer MPS or unqualified teachers - yet expect the same level
of work (this didn't sit well with me as younger unqualified staff were being exploited).
I love my job. It's both the best and the worst job in the world. Kids are much more easily distracted these days and cannot actually hold a conversation - they can speak but not listen. Staffrooms in many schools have been removed so it can be quite isolating. There is SO much paperwork and monitoring it is ridiculous.
One of the big changes is parental attitude. Teachers are seen as the lowest of the low by some - we are lefty, lazy folk who teach because it's all we could do and have loads of holidays and short days. Parents expect miracles and many seem incapable of doing basic parenting. Oh and many refuse to 'allow' you to sanction their precious babies!

As a subject mentor - of the last 5 I trained only 2 are still teaching.
That said I absolutely love it and over time have developed a way to win over even the nastiest of parents. I have never had the cynicism that some teachers get. Would I leave if I could afford? Yes I would, but for now I like being in the classroom with the kids.

DM was a teacher in the 1980s. I've never seen anyone be so stressed and so often be ill as her then. She had constant coughs, colds and flu and worked about 80 hours a week in term time. It can obviously be incredibly rewarding but OMG the downsides are pretty big.

Also depends if it’s in an academy. If so you have far less freedom to teach.

Aren't most schools academies now? Less freedom how? Thanks!

Mine is one that isn’t….. yet. Currently teachers can choose what they want to cover in history, class reading, geography etc .In academies all classes have to teach the same subjects at the same time apparently .

Ah ok thanks.

For example a teacher can decide that in history they will cover Scott of the Antarctic because they enjoy the subject. But in an academy it will be decided for you . From what I understand, far more schemes of work are used and that can sap your enthusiasm as you become a slide clicker.

I did it for 12 years. It wasn't all bad, but by the end, I'd had enough. I went back to working with grown-ups.

I am a qualified teacher but have for many reasons decided that being a TA is much better for me.

I would suggest spending some time in a school before making any decisions. Don’t rush into it.

Yes that really doesn't appeal! Do you think that would be different at special schools, most of the special schools as well as most of the mainstream where I live are academies afaik.

This is good advice, if you go into teaching it doesn't mean you are bound to it for the rest of your life! You can just give it a go!

It used to be a great job but I wouldn't recommend teaching (especially primary) to anyone any more.

I would recommend making sure your eyes are fully open and would suggest spending a few hours reading posts on the 'Life after Teaching: exit the classroom and thrive.' Facebook group and really pay attention to what people are saying. The group only started a few years back and now has over 175000 members. That says a lot about how people feel now about the profession.