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?

Never heard of this once. Not ever. Certainly not in private schools that lead to jobs in other private schools overseas.

Utter rubbish

I'm not sure what you're saying is utter rubbish but in state schools, notice has to be given on or by 3 points in the year.

On or before 31st October to leave 31st December.

On or before 28/29th February to leave 30th April.

On or before 31st May to leave 31st August.

If you miss any of these resignation points, even by a day, it is entirely at the HT's discretion whether or not they will allow an early release.

Never heard of this once. Not ever.

Ever seen or read the Burgundy Book?

I've been teaching for nearly 30 years and every school I've worked in follows this.

@Diamond7272 she went back to her previous job as they hadn’t managed to find someone permanent to replace her , maybe you don’t know everything .

I have 2 really good friends who are teachers and they certainly don’t think the job is as bad as
its made out to be on here. It must depend on the school and the people! I think you definitely need to find out for yourself

There is a thread on here at the moment about people who love their jobs and there are a lot of teachers posting.

Some people thrive on being extremely busy and rushing around all day.
They are very energetic, they like to talk, they find children and young people great company, they get job satisfaction from helping people. They are good at explaining things and have a certain sort of charisma which makes building relationships with the pupils and classroom management easier. They weirdly think camping on the bronze dofe expedition / running a board game society / organising a charity bake off event is fun. They are mildly obsessed with history or physics or whatever subject they teach.

These sort of people (at a well run and organised school with a decent senior leadership team) have a great time working as teachers.

To other people, all of the above sounds like at utter nightmare, and teaching is best avoided.

I think you misunderstand the job of teaching.

All teachers like those things and possess those qualities. That’s why they are teaching.

But that’s 5 % of the job. It’s the SMT, targets, OFSTED, PM, behaviour, lack of cash, lack of support staff, academisation, micromanagement that make it hateful.

Youre talking about the best and smallest bit.

100% they have chipped away at all the good stuff and deskilled us. The last thing senior management want is great subject knowledge or intelligence.

They also don't want people with management, HR or workers/teachers rights knowledge.

Yes - very harsh and slightly biased. I am aware of some distance family friends, that both retrained as teachers in thier late 30's, juggle kids and bagged themselves a good job in Qatar. One is currently still working there - with no plan on returning.

Having ageist opinions will restrict me hugely. But thankfully, I don't concern myself with how old the Head or the deputy head will be once I'm qualified. It all depends on skill and experience. As a TA I am older than my deputy head at the school I'm at - and so are a few other TA's. It doesn't keep anyone up at night and it doesn't affect thier job in anyway. Actually it works to our favour, as he's more relaxed about certain situations, compared to older Heads that are really unapproachable at times.

Again, it's not a "career" I've never aspired to have a career - as my main role was always to raise the family and my dh was always the main earner bringing in the higher wage...and still is. This is something I want to explore on a part time basis. Study part time, work part time and lo and be-hold if I do bag myself work overseas, the lifestyle will more than make up for working fulltime. I have a friend that works as a EAL Teacher in the UAE - she compelted the TESOL, not the PGCE and she was highly sought after. I don't see the "fierce" competition - theses ppl that I know of, are hard working, passionate about thier work and determined.

As an ex teacher who escaped that post is 100% spot on.

Teaching is a young persons game. It’s too physically exhausting and demanding for an older person. Everyone l knew got out as soon as they got 55.

At 52 l had painful knees. I had to get down 5 flights of stairs in lesson changeover. There was no time allowed for changeover. Nightmare.

I packed it in at 59 because I was being treated like shit : timetable considerably bigger than others with same responsibility/grade, made to teach a course that no one else would with no proper resources, made to work/attend meetings in breaks, often went days without breaks, all frees/PPAs used up with meetings and covers, teaching in lots of different rooms across school, moaned at constantly. I am fit and care for my two horses as well as go running etc. one day (the day after a 10k fun run) my keys went missing and when I was looking for them my knee”went” and I said “ouch” and then I saw the head look at her friend/deputy head and raise eyebrows knowingly. It mattered not a jot that another teacher had picked my keys up by accident or that I’d never had knee trouble and never did again, my card was marked. They treated me worse than ever until when they’d backed me into a corner I left . Too expensive I guess .

I am one who had to leave because if the ever increasing stress and lack of support

BUT I say that as a warning so people like you can be self aware enough to make better decisions than I was able to

Teaching is bloody marvellous. Working in schools is not...

Well, I'm entering the profession, with a brand new set of eyes. I haven't worn by body down by long hours of teaching (yet).

If people base their opinions solely on veterans in that profession, I don’t see how anyone would be encouraged to join those industries.

But a raw and balanced view is always appreciated.

This won't apply to me. As I am going to be in a primary school. Not a secondary. Thanks for the insight anyway.

This won't apply to me. As I am going to be in a primary school. Not a secondary. Thanks for the insight anyway.

Primary teaching is exhausting as well! Everyone I know in EYFS/Year 1 has back or knee problems from years of floor sitting/bending over.

You’re on your feet most of the day, moving around the classroom, bending down to children’s level, carrying resources, setting up and clearing activities, playground duty, and often very little downtime.

Many HT don’t like teachers sitting at all any more, and in my last school, they threw all of the teacher desks/chairs out completely! Marking in a cold school on a tiny chair day after day can be brutal.

I honestly think it depends on your school. I’ve taught for over 10 years and I still don’t hate my job haha. There are days that are bloody tough (mainly behaviour), but I think there are challenges to every career. What is difficult about teaching is that you’re constantly trying to get young people to do things that they don’t want to do because if you don’t, you’re not doing your job.
The holidays are fantastic and if you have a good SLT and staff, you’ll be fine. Just make sure you are clear if you need support. Give it a go! It’s not all bad.

Why do you think primary will be easier?

They work longer hours than secondary.

Bending, twisting, kneeling, crawling over the sides. My sil is a primary teacher. New curriculum from scratch every year. Endless display demands.

The poster mentioned climbing 5 flights of stairs for a certain amount of years - everyday! That - does not happen in a primary school. They don't have that many flights of stairs (cue someone trying to convince me otherwise) .

This thread is getting quite comical. Especially the poster mentioning how the Head threw out all the teachers desks and chairs, and they all had to use a small chair. 😑

I was that poster. No it doesn’t happen in primary.

But neither does bending down to very low levels and sitting in too low furniture all which will affect muscskeleton disorders happen on secondary.

The subject of ergonomics exists for a reason.

I teach, I don’t think it’s awful at all. I’m not in the best school but I’ve built positive relationships with (most!) of my students - I’m secondary. Every day is different, I couldn’t stand working somewhere where the routine is the same and mind numbing. I laugh every day, I cry sometimes. I work smarter so marking and working at home isn’t too bad anymore (I’m 10 years qualified).

You have to be passionate about what you do - lots of teachers who leave have had it beaten out of them. I’m not dreading Monday - I’m not jumping up and down about it - but I am looking forward to seeing my students and colleagues, to get stuck into a new term. Go for it!!

Absolutely shocked by the number of positive posts on here to the point where I’m questioning their validity! The vocation bullshit makes my blood boil too!
Teaching is fucking awful at the moment and there’s a reason why you’re hearing the negative comments.
Anyone saying it’s just like any other career is sadly mistaken. I taught for 20 years and of those who started with me, the vast majority are no longer teaching. Of those who still are, most are looking to get out. It might be great for a few years but it is no longer a 30/40 year career it once was. If you get to that stage then you are at increased risk of being bullied out. The pension is now pretty shit too, not sure why someone else seems to believe otherwise. You’d have to have joined 20-30 years ago to get what was once classed as a decent pension. Of the many former teachers I know most have gone to the civil service, local authority, NHS etc and every single one says their new job is 100% better than teaching. Be very careful taking advice on here from people who have not taught in the last 5 years, they’ll be out of touch with how bad things are. Also be careful of taking advice from people who have been teaching 5 years or less, they are still relatively cheap and will not be under the same pressure as those who are on the upper pay scale.

According to MNers, my job (university Research) is a HellHole situation, everyone doing the job must hate it and resent every minute of it and be constantly unhappy yadayadayada.

I think my job is awesome & I enjoy 85% of it hugely. So flexible and interesting. I feel very well paid. I have lots colleagues that like their jobs & some will openly tell you how privileged we are to have our kind of work (wrt pay, terms, opportunities, etc). I can think of dozens of careers i would find awful and yet I read that others enjoy those exact jobs (which is great for them).

I'm not sure any life advice on MN is good, definitely I know there is poor career and job advice here.

Well I am an older bird and teach full time. Am moving on Monday (whoop) from a long term teacher at a PRU to a special Ed school.
Ignore the naysayers.
And I have a big family like you… three of the six are teachers and one abroad (Kuwait)
I still enjoy it :)
You know what you are doing. Have your boundaries and don’t be a martyr.

Ignore the naysayers.

I wouldn't ignore people who have done/are doing the job and are telling you what it's like now, no. I would listen carefully to everything people say.

I would do your research. Get on the 'Exit and classroom and thrive' Facebook group and spend a couple of hours reading the posts on there. There are about 187000 teachers on there-really listen to what is being said. Go into it with your eyes open.

I wouldn't plan 'supply' as a career plan though-it's a dying breed. Schools have no money so are using TAs to cover internally wherever they can and if they are forced to use a supply, they want one as cheap as possible.