Masters while teaching full time and being a single parent

[Moxiechick]

I've recently seen a masters course related to my job as well as an interest. It's something I'd love to learn more about.
My question is, is it crazy to think I could do this while teaching in primary full time as well as being a single parent to DD9?
I don't have any regular child free time when not at work as she's with me if not at school/work. All my family live in the UK but 5 hours away so I don't have family support nearby. She’s used to me having to do some work at home but obviously not on that scale.
It's a part time masters over 2 years but I can't find any information yet about how much weekly study I'd be required to do. It's been 14 years since I last wrote an assignment, so that's also a worry!
Have any of you done something in a similar position or have any advice?

Yes! I wouldn’t in your shoes. I’m a full time teacher with a v supportive DH and just don’t think this is feasible.

Unless your school will support it and give you time off ie one day a week to do it in then I think it's not going to be feasible. I did a full time MA while working part time and holding down a long distance relationship and it was full on and took me six months longer than intended. Working full time and having a child would have been impossible and very unfair on the child even if I'd done it over 2 years rather than 18 months. It wasn't that I found the MA difficult either - actually I found it easy! But finding the time for everything was exhausting and difficult.

Well, I tried and got half way through. I was working full time, but the msc was stressful. In the end I do my studying with coursera. Brilliant studying and got can go at your own pace, and often free

I'm doing a distance learning masters at the moment, working very FT (but do have a DH). It is bloomin hard work, and occupies all of my spare brain capacity and time. I'd estimate I spend at least 15 hours a week on it, but tbh feel like that is never enough. This course works for me because I don't have to go to anything fixed time, but the downside is there is no interaction with anyone else.

Is the course structured so you could take a break for a module if needed? The course I'm on is relentless (2 weeks a year off) and I got burnt out after 18 months and had the last 3 months off and back to the grind today! But I feel a lot better for that

I did a part time masters whilst teaching primary, with a feckless partner who did nothing around the house, but I didn’t have a child.

It was incredibly tough. Don’t underestimate the impact of eg a lecture at 6 meaning you absolutely have to leave work at a certain time, with no wiggle room, and you can’t even prep for the next day when home because you have uni.

I had a major wobble towards the end and the deputy head gave me an afternoon of cover so I could just reset and get my head down for a bit.

no.

In 10 years time maybe

but absolutely not now - there is just no way. That sort of course takes a huge sacrifice, and what is normally sacrificed is family time, so what you would be sacrificing effectively is your daughter

These educational masters are also of very dubious value

I'm feeling stressed just imagining attempting that. Two years just isn't feasable. The workload will be immense - reading alone!

No, it would be impossible. Don’t recommend. I did a masters part-time before I had kids, and was only working 8 hours a week, and that was stressful enough, I can’t imagine studying, working full time, AND having kids. I’d have a break down!

I did mine a while ago part time over 5 years. I actually enjoyed it and just studied in the holidays.

@stayingaliveisawayoflife , you were allowed to take 5 years to do a p-t masters? I might do another one if it’s 20% of full-time each year.

What proportion of the fees did they charge you annually?

@9Feb I did mine through distance learning at Middlesex University. I paid for each unit at a time and built up the credits. I took six months break in the middle and they were fine with that. I am hoping to do my doctorate in a similar way.

No. You will end up ill with stress.

Interesting, @stayingaliveisawayoflife , thank you. A bit like the OU used to be and may still be, perhaps?

I did a part-time Masters over two years while teaching full-time. My children had left home by then.

Fortunately I only had to attend in person for ?12 sessions a year, something like 2:30pm - 6:30pm 4 times a term. I did as little extra as possible in school term but worked hard in the holidays. Only you know if you could do that with DD9 at home.

I can’t remember how many continued with the course into the second year but at least some dropped out at that stage.

Well that's a resounding no! 😂
Thank you all for your time and advice.
I did forget to add it's a distance learning course so lectures would be recorded and could be accessed any time, however that would probably mean working late into the night, and being a teacher I'm often doing that already!
Perhaps it's something to look forward to once I have a grown up child as I imagine teen years could be as hard work as the toddler years!
Thanks again 😊

I did one but not as a single parent. Full time teaching, head of year, long commute. I used to get up at 3 to work. Some bits would be less intense than others though, I could have weeks of doing very little. The dissertation was the busiest bit. I loved doing it and loved the sense of achievement it brought. I think it has made me a better teacher.

I’m a single parent, my child has no contact with his dad. I work 50 hours a week and have nearly finished my MSc.

It’s been hard but doable. You just get no down time really.

One of the things that I found irritating was that submission time was 5pm (for a part time course for teachers) which meant, realistically, I had to submit the day before because I couldn’t submit from work, and didn’t want the stress of getting home in time. I realise that’s course specific, but it was bloody stupid.

Not feasible unless you neglect your DC, better to focus on your existing commitments especially your child.

Me too. I have a 9 year old and can’t even contemplate this amount of commitment! In a few years maybe.

I did MEd + very young kids, but only teaching 2 days a week and did it over 3 years not two.... and it was still a lot! Think you're getting some realistic warnings here

When I did my full time masters I worked about 25 hours a week alongside, no kids and I was 21 with a lot of energy. And it was intense. Can’t imagine doing it in your scenario unless work gives you a day off and you do it Part time

My DM did an MEd when I was 9 but she was working part-time.

Hi op… gonna go against the grain and say, this is me! I’m a single mum to a 9 year old, busy demanding job and doing a part time, distance Masters in a field related to the job. I’m knackered, I far from give it my best, but I’m managing. I would say find out more and go for it, if you can protect time a few evenings or early mornings to read.

I did a masters when my kids were small and I was a FT teacher but I did have a very supportive DH. I don't think I could have done it without him but that was just me.

I definitely think there is something in the saying "if you want something doing, ask a busy person"