Retraining to become a primary school teacher

[Wheresmemum]

So I'm 51 and totally fed up with my current job in mental health. The pay is appalling and job opportunities not so great. I was a teaching assistant years ago and really enjoyed it. I'm thinking of retraining to become a primary school teacher but wondering am I too old at 51? Nearly 52. Would really love to hear about others' experiences including your routes into teaching 💕

Don't do it - especially if you want to have a life out of the classroom.
I'm not being ageist but as PP have said it's an exhausting job even for younger people. We had a woman who'd been a parent helper then decided to train as a teacher in her 50s. She gave up midway through her NQT year due to the stress.

Find a job without the stress and then volunteer with a children's club like brownies or beavers to get what you are looking for in terms of doing enjoyable activities with children and seeing them progress.

I'm 51 and love the job, wouldn't do anything else. But it's not the job it was when I started, and nor is the behaviour of the pupils, even in a naice leafy primary.

I've just had a nearly 50yo ex-TA student training on their placement who realised they couldn't do it as it was too much work.

Nope nope nope.
Don't do it.

The job will eat you up!
It's relentless and very consuming, mentally and physically.

I'm a TA in my early fifties. That job alone is exhausting.

Can you do something else in your current field?

Also, even TA jobs have changed massively over time.At my school, we cover for absent teachers, do lunch and break duties, are encouraged to become first aid trained ( with next to nothing additional pay) drive the minibus, do admin.. the list is endless.

Also, you can probably guess what the score is with the wage for a bog standard TA?

Seriously after reading all these messages from teachers and TA's (and thank you for all the messages), there is absolutely no way I'm going into teaching! I think I value my sanity too much! Teaching itself is very rewarding but it sounds like there is more behaviour management than actual teaching going on due to many issues. I really admire teachers and feel for them because of what they have to go through. 💐

What is your current role OP?

Don't do it. You'll hate it

You are spot on. The Head of Ofsted wants to reduce summer holidays. Does he know that support staff are not paid for their holidays?