After reading a thread warning against teaching as a career!!

[SunsetOnTheHorizon]

I'm due to complete my degree and I am applying for a QTS+PGCE course for September 2026.

I am aware the teaching sector is a nightmare to work in right now (going by the recent thread).

But my main aspirations are to 1) work as a supply (once I've completed my ECT years) and 2) to work abroad 3) work in specialist schools not mainstream. Considering these 3 factors is it still a stupid idea to go into teaching? Thankfully my dh brings in the bulk of the income, this is something of a dream that I am looking to fulfill. Always wanted to teach, and didn't get round to it as I ended up raising a family. I currently work as a TA in a special school - that's why I am more inclined to work in one once I'm qualified.

AIBU to continue pursuing my dream considering the current climate?

I have been in teaching for about 25 years and for the most part I have enjoyed it. The holidays are a massive bonus. I work very efficiently and have developed ways to make sure I never have to work in them.

I think secondary is better than primary. Primary teaching does attract more martyrs who are hard to work with. You also have to spend the entire day with the same class which I wouldn't like. In secondary, when your GCSE and A Level students go on study leave, you can do all your planning for the following year which frees up your summer. If you teach maths, science or English, you can earn a lot from tutoring. There is also exam marking, if you can face doing more marking.

However, there are quite a few downsides. If you don't have the personality for it, working hard won't turn you into a good teacher. It can be extremely stressful compared to jobs on equivalent pay (that is why you have to value/want the holidays).

Ultimately it comes down to the school you work in and how suited you are to the job. I think the right special school with a friendly, supportive staff body could be nice. You never have to wonder what the point is and you never feel like you are wasting your life. For the most part it isn't boring.

I would avoid supply teaching unless it is with a school you work regularly in and know well.

That's been my experience as a contractor in schools. SEN schools are fabulous to work in, mainstreams are an absolute nightmare.
What I would do is have a look at whether there are a lot of teaching roles going in special schools. My guess is, they are far and few between.

I agree with this. It is so important to find the right school.

Teaching is what you make of it.

Personally I love my teaching job that I'vebeen doing for over 10 years. Yes there are frustrating aspects to it, but I get to work with teenagers who are never dull, and get 13 weeks holiday. I do work part time (4 days a week) though so I can also have quality time with my kids too.

You just need thick skin and don't take things personally. Behind every rude and uncooperative teenager is usually something not right at home. Some parents think their little angels can do no wrong. Fight back against poor management decisions (the school I work at is pretty good).

Teaching isn't for everyone. Same with most careers.

I think you should go for it. You're already in that environment so you know what it's like. The only sad thing about your post (although I say this with no judgement as I've also worked in schools so I get it) is that your focus is on supply, abroad and specialist schools. This highlights the true issue.

There are people who want to teach but no longer in the main classroom. I see so many people opting for supply and whilst it's great for them, it's not great for the kids (unless it's long term). I supplied as a TA and loved it but I'm put off the full teacher route because of the paperwork.
Good luck in September 😁

I think working in a special school, working abroad and doing supply will make your work life very different from that of full-time teachers in secondary schools. The problems teachers complain about are very real and many of them are pretty much universal in secondary schools, not just confined to a few bad schools, despite what some MNers think.

Of your 3 teaching aims, supply is the only one where I have experience. It has its advantages - no responsibility for results, no marking or planning, so workload is low. I found it unsatisfying and tedious, and the behaviour can be a nightmare unless you're in a school with really good kids.

Teaching seems pretty bad, but i've never read a thread anywhere about any career that says 'come on in, the water's lovely! We're in ecstasy all day, the pay is great, there's so many progression options, no worries about AI, lots of investment and no scrutiny!'

If there is one can someone point me to it because i'm open to options 🤣

The right school makes a difference and that's about personalities and support systems not OFSTED gradings (although not having OFSTED breathing down your back in a school with issues does help)

It sounds like you're going in with eyes wide open and not expecting a cushy 9-3 filled with the joy of feeding enthusiastic young minds, and cushy school holidays.

I was being warned off teaching about 25 years ago. I'm back in schools working in a pupil-facing support role and making the use of my PGCE and years teaching. There is a lot more variation of support roles in schools now and while my teaching background isn't essential, it's very helpful in many ways.

In mainstream school, I'm finding that the social skills (linking into behaviour) has declined, and the external support for struggling pupils has diminished. The range of pupils is recognisable. The proportion of those struggling or being challenging has increased. I still love working with young people and there are lovely young people in every class.

I don't want the workload of a classroom teacher as it's not compatible with the needs of my family life.

We need teachers in society. I just wish that at school and government policy levels that conditions were healthier for work/life balance and staff retention.

Long term beyond classrooms, a PGCE and teaching experience displays many transferable attributes to other occupations if teaching isn't the right path.

Exactly. You’re not going into it blind.
Best of luck!

Supply is not a good way to develop your skills and can be a lonely existence for an ECT. Many special schools in my LA don't use supply as it's expensive and disruptive for the children, they juggle internally.

Supply definitely is not top of my list when thinking about future roles - and like a previous poster said, I am basing my options on the how the teaching culture has evolved. I really don't want to be another statistic and have teaching ruin my mental health. I want it as a part time role, which is why my PGCe is part time - I get to experience school envirronment as a teacher half of a week.

I really think teaching fulltime is a two man job excluding the TA's duties. All jobs are demanding but the range of expectations a teacher is meant to achieve in a day is mind blowing. Ultimately the reason I want to teach is because I want make a difference to a childs life. My best teachers from my childhood are the reason why I want to dive into teaching. (It's a bit dreamy!)

I actually wanted to study to become a children's counsellor before I enrolled onto my degree. The SENCO option is also something I want to explore, I do lean a lot towards pastoral roles. Teaching will only work if I am placed in a supportive school - and that is a gamble I am apprehensive to take.

I’ve been teaching 18 years in primary mainstream. Yes, there are bad days and negatives but there are also lots of great moments too. Don’t let what you read put you off - let’s be honest, no one comes on to post about the positives. I also think the pay is pretty good 🤷‍♀️ and I live in the Home Counties 25 mins train from London, work part time (4 days a week - I use my day off to plan, prep etc and really minimise what I do outside of this but also work in a 2 form entry school so planning is shared and we use a lot schemes) and think having the holidays to spend with my child and husband (also works in education) is so great. Good luck.

It's a good career when you are young, have lots of energy, even better if you aren't the main breadwinner and have money in the bank... But it's hell if you are getting older, have family commitments like children or elderly parents, are the main or only breadwinner, have no savings or inheritance looming, and are perhaps struggling with your own health concerns... It's a lovely job for someone with time, no commitments and creativity, but it's not a job to be doing for the sake of a necessary pay cheque.

In my central London school all the female teachers were online dating and looking for a canary wharf banker type. Once they found him they were pregnant pretty quickly in their mid 30s and never returned. The similarly aged males were exhausted in early 40s and looking for a way out from senior management roles on 40k to 50k. No one was over 50. The days of the old guard who had a 30 to 40 year 'career' is long gone, and getting shorter by the day when schools can swap 1 experienced staff member for 2 nqt's in financial terms..

It's a great job for a time of your life, it's hopeless for a long term future - for example the term of a 30 year mortgage. Teachers have to adapt these days, try other careers, or their health will end their time in teaching long before their P45...

Ive been teaching for 23 yrs and am a teaching mentor. I would not on it. Ive wangled myself a good part time number with lovely kids and mentees but I would not want to train now. If the school has poor behaviour definitely do not do it. Slt need to have the staffs backs and often dont.

My DD is in her first year of teaching Primary and she loves it.

Her youth and enthusiasm and optimism help a lot.

She is in a deprived area with a very challenging class but feels like she is making a difference and is very happy.
She works long hours and is shattered but really does love it.

I think teacher training is a good idea, good people still need to do this job. I currently teach and I have found it demanding and exhausting but I presently love it. I would do it again, but I'd start in one of the creative arts. Don't worry - you should do it.

My experience: I did a PGCE in 1998/1999. Been teaching since then.

It’s never been an easy job but once league tables became significant, pressure for results has been pushed onto teachers and off the shoulders of children. This has meant there is a lot more data analysis/ deep dives/scrutiny than at the start of my career.

Added to this, expectations on teachers to repair all of society’s ills has just gone nuts.

For me, the classroom teaching is still by far the best thing about the job. I still get excited by planning lessons (alone or with colleagues) but the number of interventions I am expected to deliver, the amount of paper work to complete just to prove I am doing my job is soul destroying .

I now work in an indie and don’t have half as much paper-work as state colleagues and there are no behaviour issues like state school either but the job is still hard.

OP, education needs good new teachers so please go for it but do have secure boundaries to prevent the job taking over your life.

I took a redundancy deal a few years ago and it lasted until early retirement..i taught A levels and btec and had appx 17 happy years in an FE college...some awful students but a lot worse was several really nasty vile bullying managers who were totally incompetent...a lot of good staff left because of them but i stuck it out and they all eventually moved on...I never experienced such nasty people ever in all my different jobs and the bullies were totally protected and nothing was ever done about them.

Just be aware that most of the things people complain about are not part of the TA role. So pressure from senior leadership, parents, paperwork etc.

I don’t think the pressure was pushed off children.

I frequently had year 11’s in tears at the pressure they were under.

I was talking to a teacher (Secondary, mainstream) at a Xmas gathering. She said she loved it. Been doing it quite a while too.

I've been a teacher for 21 years and being in the classroom still gives me a buzz. Being a TA you already know the challenges teachers face. There have been several times I have thought about giving it up but it's the kids I teach which draw me back. Finding the right school for you is important and it's not always those on paper which are the best for you. I've been at my current school for 5 years and it's great! I have a Headteacher who respects me and listens to me and colleagues who I can vent with and are dependable. And that is the reason I'm happy in my current post. During my career I've worked up to middle management and I'm happy staying there for the foreseeable future and I also work for an exam board. I have a family with 2 primary age children and me being a teacher can be tough on them. But between myself and my very supportive DH we make it work. It's a tough career in a variety of different ways, and definitely not for everyone (but which career is?)but extremely rewarding!

I'm a teacher and have been for 13 years. I absolutely love my job and genuinely look forward to going to work 99% of the time. I have four children and now work part time (3 days) 😁

It sounds like you have a goal which is a great idea. And a passion, which you need to survive!
You are probably already aware of how tiring it can be, being with kids all day. This, plus hours on top for all the other jobs.
Prepare for not having any time or life during PGCE
Make sure your OH /family knows they need to pick up ALL the slack.
Remember you are only one person and the to do list never ends. Set your boundaries early on.
Wish you luck OP. I had to walk away but managed 3 decades.

I was advised not to go into teaching 26 years ago. 26 years later, I'm glad I ignored that advice.