Thinking/wanting to start a qts pgce next year sept

[CleverKhakiBear]

first post on here i believe so bare with not sure if it’s in the correct topic! So I am thinking to leave my part time job and
pursue a career in teaching next year. What things do I need to take into account before pursuing this? I am a mum of 3 currently 7 4 and 19m

any advice would be greatly appreciated, what am I in for what should I expect? How can I make it easier?

Have a look at the staffroom page, lots of info on there about PGCE etc. We have a newly qualified teacher in my school, she's very good. She told me that of her PGCE cohort of over 150 people only 70 completed the course and not all of that 70 have actually gone into teaching. Of newly qualified teachers who do start about a third drop out of teaching in the first five years. Resilience is key, as is a thick skin for ignoring all of the people who tell you what an easy job it is. I'm sure they'll quickly appear on this thread too...

What age/phase? What route into teaching? Are you thinking of getting a bursary or being a salaried trainee? Or the old-fashioned route of a uni-based PGCE? I only say old-fashioned because SCITTs etc came in after I trained. The staffroom part of Mumsnet is definitely the best place to ask for advice, as @Philandbill has said. Personally, I still love teaching. I am passionate about the kids and MFL in that order. It was lovely to see the kids again at results day today. Good luck with your future career!

If you think it's going to be a family friendly job, then it's not. You'll be expected to come in early, stay late, and do various evenings throughout the year. You will also have a lot of work to do in evenings and at weekends. You wouldn't get time off to attend things that your kids are taking part in

You will need cast iron childcare in place. A PGCE is much more time consuming than most UG degrees and it will be very hard to take time off if you or one of the kids is unwell.

Have you looked at QTS rather than a PGCE. I believe you can do it PT over 2 years as well as FT. I looked at it some years ago so the qualification route may have changed, but as it is school based you can ascertain very early on if you hate it and you won’t incur debts for a course you may leave if you do hate it!

If you have supportive family for childcare it could work, otherwise I think it will be a massive struggle with 3 kids those ages.

Yes, tbh I would wait until the youngest has started school full time and look to start training in 2-3 years but to get TA experience in the short term-term?

I did a PGCE via SCITT and it was easily 50hrs pw. We were onsite before 8 and didn’t leave before 5, then more work at home. As has been said you will need bombproof childcare- including for holidays which you will need for coursework etc Good luck.