Whether to go into teaching??

[Coastalgirl]

Hello - I have been reading this thread, really interesting tips for how to survive the PGCE. I am thinking of applying for the PGCE again this year (having been unsuccessful last year, got as far as interview tho!) but have quite a good little part time job at the mo which means I can attend all the school events e.g. Sports Day, Carol service etc. If I take up teaching all those little things will go out the window and it means a lot to me to be there for the kids, as my parents didn't come to many of my school events, even including prize day when I was getting a prize - and I always remember being a bit sad that other kids had their mum or dad there. Anyway, I'm not looking for sympathy, just wondering if perhaps bumbling along in my part time job is the better way forward?? But then I like the idea of having a career and also some more income! Any thoughts?! I know it's up to me to make the decision but it's always interesting to hear from others in the thick of it...!

mmm. 10 days into NQT year, I have just seen my kids' school is introducing open afternoon once a month. I won't be able to go and it does seem ironic that teaching is a job where your own children don't ever get you there for them. plus i was at school from 8am to 5.45, then have done an hour and a half this evening (less than is usual at the mo cos need an early night because being observed tomorrow), plus did all day Saturday... sorry, feel very sorry for myself at the moment and would just say think long and hard

Sorry, the thread I said I'd been reading was one about how to cope with doing PGCE and being a mum....I meant to start a new thread..(I'm new at this chatting online )...would love to hear from anyone who's been there!

Thank you for your honesty partystress! Hope it gets better...! If it's any consolation one of the teachers at my kids' school has her own kids at the school as well, so she can join in on some of the events e.g. carol service. I know it's hard to get a job anywhere these days and she admits she lucked out with that job, but maybe, just maybe that could happen for you too....? Best of luck with it

I am not doing a PGCE (chose a degree with the full plan of combining it with a pgce) because as a LP I cannot see how I will even get through that year, let alone NQT year.

I am planning on trying to get some work teaching at FE level part-time so that I can be around for my DD and I don't need the PGCE straight away. I can then study for it part time. I'm not sure if that's going to work out but it's my best bet.

Could you qualify and work as supply? Would that work for you?

Why do you want to do teaching. Are you wanting term time work or do you really have a passion to teach.

Having time off in the middle of the term is impossible if you work in a school. Where i work almost requires a death certificate before allowing paid absence during term time.

Teachers work ridculously long hours. You would not get to get to see your child's christmas play and you would work a lot of evenings with parents' evenings and school events.

Schools are quite rigid about taking holiday. I am not a teacher but I am IT technican and I do three days a week. It can be real nightmare even in my little job when a child sick. For a teacher its even worse.

There are other rewarding careers other than teaching. What is it that attracts you to teaching?

I think that a career as a speech and language theraphist would be more family friendly than a teacher.

partystress, I don't see how teaching can be a job 'where your own children don't ever get you there for them'. I KNOW everyone says this about teachers, but you do at least get holidays at (hopefully, roughly) the same time as your children, and a lot more holiday than most people in office jobs get as annual leave. If you were in a standard office job you would be working 8am til 6 anyway, and only get 28 days leave a year, to cover everything.

Start of term is v. busy, and also it is more work when you've just qualified because you're figuring everything out and have to plan more. It will get better!

It's doable and teaching can be a good job with children (I'm part-time though!) but honestly, you've got to REALLY want to do it. PGCE was the hardest year of my life and that was before DCs!

You will have to work your arse off and if you are not totally passionate about becoming a teacher it just won't work. Sorry if I'm getting the wrong end of the stick but your post didn't come across like you were desperate to teach!

I so don't want to be negative though. Good luck with whatever you decide

Speech and language theraphist can work time term as well. They can also have more freedom on when they take annual leave.

Teachers I work with do a 50 to 60 hour week. It is lesson preparation, marking, report writing, parents' evenings, detentions that take up time. Its an extremely stressful job. Children en mass can be pretty vile and parents aren't much better. You are performing about 5 or 6 times a day.

Unlike many jobs its never ending. Lesson preparation can fill your life.

You are are doing teaching, just because you think it will be family friendly then you will never survive the PGCE.

A lot of people think they know about teaching just because they have been to school. Trust me, that working in a school is nothing like going to school.

Thank you so much for your messages. It's really interesting that more than one person has asked if I really actually have a passion for it! Hmmm to be very honest, I'm not sure. I have spent a fair amount of time volunteering at my kid's school over last year and did feel enthusiastic. I'm also a parent governor there tho and we are going thru OFSTED reinspection and that involves quite a lot of work as a governor and I am beginning to realise it's not all fluffy fun....! Thank you for your comments, they will definitely help me clarify my mind!!

Consider part time. My job-share partner and I swap days so we can take days out in term time. As long as we do the right amount of days overall, the head is happy and so are we - it makes a huge difference to our morale. Having said that, the PGCE is a long grind, as is the NQT year. And do look at the job situation for your age range/subject - there is a huge over-supply of primary teachers in my neck of the woods.

Why don't you look for a job as a TA? It would give you a favour of what teaching is like and stand you in good stead if you do want to be a teacher.

Yep I think the primary sector is saturated here too - at least I was told that for the PGCE course here last year there were 500 applicants for 130 places! I'm beginning to think more and more I should just let it go for now and just enjoy my kids, have time to actually do the governor work (and still have time to chat online!) and admit to the fact that I am someone with a low stress threshold!!

Hi Really tired - I did exactly that - applied for 4 TA posts - didnt get a single interview - managed to get feedback from one school who said they had 65 applicants for one TA post! They said there was nothing wrong with my application, but I was up against others who had lots more relevant experience, they said ever since the recession the numbers of applicants for jobs has been nuts

What about exam invigilation? Secondary school teachers do not do exam invigilation any more so secondary schools have to employ casual staff to do the work. When I did it I got £7 an hour for watching kids doing their public exams. Its boring, but fairly easy money.

Secondary and special schools find it tougher to fill their TA posts. Working with a fifteen year old who has a tenancy to bite when he doesn't get his way is not as popular as getting paid to listen to five year olds read.