QTS PGCE

[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?

You will be going from part time to seriously full time! Both the PGCE year and the EQT two year periods are really full on, make sure you have good child care and support in place, you will definitely need it!

I would advise you to think carefully about childcare. On the surface, teaching seems to fit in well with family life, but in reality it can get very complicated with the work that you do outside of the school hours, plus the problem of not being able to take annual leave for important family events. Do you have family who will help look after your children?

I would second that starting teaching with such young children will be very difficult. Have you worked in a school and seen what teachers do? I teach and have done for 18 years. I get into school for 7:45 and 3 out of 5 days don’t leave until 6. One day I leave at 4 and 5th day I leave at 5. Yes the holidays are good but it’s a lot of working into the evenings after leaving school. It is very stressful. My husband earns more than me and does the drop offs and pick ups. Having said all that I do love the job. It is never boring and there is a lot of job satisfaction. My only warning is if you’re going into it because you think it’s an easy option you will get a shock.

I would strongly advise you against it. Teaching is not family- friendly. I have just left at 55 after 30 years. Im going to do something easier. I.just don't want to work so hard anymore.

Sorry I agree. It's the least family friendly job I ever did and training years with such young children will be very difficult.

Thank you all! I had been speaking with a teacher training advisor from get into teaching and she didn’t mention any of this (of course she wouldn’t). Currently my work hours work well with my husbands so we have childcare covered, however my mum (lives in London I’m in Coventry) did offer to come and stay with me and help with childcare if I end up getting into teaching.

That being said I wasn’t aware of the extra time teachers do outside of school hours. I have experience as a cover teacher in the past and working in a private nursery but this was 10 years ago, haven’t stepping into a classroom since due to relocating and having my kids xx

Teachers work, on average 52-54 hours a week during term time-according to a DoE survey in 2023, and it’s increasing!

PGCEs are hard, you go straight into 50% teaching for your first placement. Uni days are long, mine were 8.30-4.30 then assignment work on top. Placements can be gruelling depending on the school. By march you will be teaching 75-80% and still have some assignments to do.

As a teacher now, I do 7.30-4.30/5 most days. 1 night I have to do a. Club until 4.30 and 1 night is staff meeting until 4.30. It’s a lot of extra work in the evenings and weekends at the start. I’ve been teaching 9 years now and a lot of the work load is more balanced as I’ve gotten quicker and prioritise more. However there are times of the year (reports, parents evenings) that are a lot of extra hours on top of teaching every day.

It’s an incredibly rewarding job, you have to love it to do it else it simply isn’t worth it. I never wanted to turn into that teacher, but it is getting harder and with the amount of additional needs coming into mainstream who should be in a specialist setting it’s incredibly tough.

Hi OP. I seriously would advise you reconsider this. The fact you were unaware of how many extra hours teachers do is a concern.
Teaching is draining and involves loads of unpaid overtime. Early starts, late finishes and hours and hours of marking, planning, prepping, report writing, assessments, data, meetings etc etc. With 3 young DC just don’t go there. You’re looking at 10-12 hour days plus weekend work.

You need to pass the maths and english tests ... do that first.

I've just finished my PGCE (primary). On some of our uni days we didn't finish until 6.15 pm. It took a lot of students by surprise when the timetables were issued. Those with kids in nursery found it really hard to juggle. Placements can also be long days, you are usually expected to be in school the same hours as your mentor, and typically won't leave much before 5. The workload is intense, you have planning, assignments and completing a portfolio to evidence your practice against the Teachers Standards. You will work most evenings. I could only complete my course with the full support of my husband who has flexibility with his job to do all the school runs and keeping on top of the house. You also need that emotional support of someone in your corner.

Despite all that, it was one of the best years of my life. I've made friends for life and found a career I love with a permanent job in a wonderful, supportive school.

I'm 56 just about to go into college teaching....will definitely miss the money and free time .... But don't teachers get school holidays? So looking forward to a career change

Anyone done a PGCE in their 50+ ? For further education, I KNOW you don't need a PGCE but I want too... Or I settle for a cert Ed ....

I can’t understand how you didn’t know about the work that teachers do out of school hours. Where did you think all of the meetings, the planning, the assessment, the sourcing resources happened? At my school everyone is antsy on Fridays as the caretaker locks up at five instead of six.

I stopped teaching until my youngest was in year five and she could walk home by herself.

I've stepped back from being a teacher due to the sheer amount of hours I had to work. On average I worked between 60 & 70 hours a week. At school by 7/7.15 am. Didn't leave until 6/7pm in an attempt to take minimal work home. Plus some evening work and working 1 day at the weekend.

I struggled as an empty nester. There is no way I could have coped with teaching when I had young children.

Having said that, I LOVED being in front of a class. It really was my vocation and I found it very satisfying. But the workload is insane.