Too old to be a new teacher?

[hardtostayfocused]

I'm having a mid-life crisis considering the next stage of my portfolio career, as I approach 40. Have really enjoyed volunteering at DD's infants school for the last 18 months and am considering applying for a PGCE. Should I?

I am not a teacher, but would not think you are too old. DD1's reception teacher was in her fifties and only had 6 years experience. A friend of mine has just completed her PGCE and she is 45. She has just got her first teaching job. I understand that the course is very pressured and full, and this is pretty deliberate to ensure those who qualify can cope with the job.

I am sure someone who actually knows what they are talking about will be along in a minute. I will look on with interest as I have considered teaching too.

Im doing my PGCE Primary now and I'm 43 ... and I'm not the oldest on my course.

Yes, it IS very full on and hugely demanding of your time and energy, but so's the real job. I am exhausted but having so much fun right now too. My classmates are the BEST people in the world.

The TES forums (fora?) are full of advice ... www.tes.co.uk/forums.aspx?navcode=14 It's just like here but without the swearing

I am 42...and qualified 2 years ago.

PGCE is very full-on, and teaching itself even more so, especially if you are juggling it with being the primary carer for children of your own. I was lucky enough to get a place on a part-time course, and have a not-quite-full-time job now so it is just about do-able - also DH no longer works for a company that expects 12-13 hour days at least 5 and often 6 days per week, as I do rely on him to do more of the childcare than he used to.

A thing to bear in mind is to REALLY research job prospects. If you are thinking of doing primary, job prospects are pretty dire in many places and employment rates from PGCE courses have really plummeted. Ask wherever you plan to do the course how many of their graduates got permanent full-time jobs last year ... and be prepared to travel when you are looking for a job (I do a 40 mile round trip daily).

On the upside, having entered teaching with a portfolio career is a REAL plus for teaching itself, for all sorts of other skills (from people management to data handling to website development) and also for dealing with parents etc who see the grey hair rather than the inexperience!

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful. I am actually quite worried that I wouldn't have the stamina - no illusions about how tiring it is. Mind you, that's what I thought about parenting...

Interesting *teacherwith2kids", my DH has similar workhours, things would have to change. Good tip about job prospects. I'm in London, don't know if that makes things easier or harder.

I have recently left primary teaching and, to be honest, think that you really need to think long and hard about the lifestyle aspects of teaching.

I found it fine in my twenties, was getting a bit worn down by the time I hit my early thirties and then more-or-less reached burnout by the time I went on maternity leave at 34. I also noticed that my colleagues of 50 + were getting few and far between.

I have posted on quite a few threads, there was a useful one a while back on the 'going back to work' section.

I abandoned my PGCE aged 30 because of the work load combined with the demands of my family. This was the most stressful time in my life and the decision should not be taken lightly. Good luck whatever you decide

Not too old at all
Best friend qualified last year age 43
Cousin training now age 36
Friends hubby training age 49

Never too old

Never too old. I would find out exactly what it entails though-it is is very hard and will take over your life.

According to the Tories you still have a good 28 years left in you!

It is a hard job though. Have a look into the GTP as well as PGCE.

Teaching is very different to volunteering. Have a chat to the Head and staff at the school.

Pressed send too soon!

GTP is 'on the job' training. You get paid on an unqualified teacher scale which softens the blow of all the hard work a little! I did a GTP and really enjoyed it, most stressful year of my life though. I love being a teacher, it's such a happy, rewarding job.

All the older teachers that I have known have gone down the GTP route.

Exotic - I did the PGCE route... but it's horses for courses. I'm the type of person who likes having a theoretical underpinning to what I am doing practically, and for me the balance of 'theory / practical' in the PGCE was great. However I'm a weird ex-academic type (and coming from a period as an unpaid SAHM so there was no issue of drop in salary) and I know that the 'on the job' nature of the GTP may well appeal to others.

not too old at all

I'm not saying that one is better than the other-just that I have come across quite a few GTP ones. I would talk to the Head at your DCs school and get advice-if she is the approachable sort.

Not too old at all - lots to bring, IMO!

We have 2 NQTs at dds school who are 40 or over 40, and they are two of the best we've ever had

I did a flexible PGCE which worked well with a family (mine were in junior school at the time). Slightly less pressured than the normal route. I did 4 terms rather than 3. It is a lot of work but as long as you are prepared to compromise it's fine.

Although I've no doubt that you could do it (there were several 'older' trainees on my PGCE course, and they all managed to successfully pass the year), do think about the impact that it will have on your family, particularly if your children are still so young. My mum did her PGCE at 40, and for the year that I was 13, and my sisters were 10 and 6, we barely saw her- she left before we got up for school, we went to our grandma's house (she lived round the corner) for tea, spent the evening there, then mum would pick us up on her way home, sisters went straight to bed, and I went to my bedroom to do my homework. Even at weekends she'd be in her room the whole time working on assignments. It was a tough year!

GTP in a supportive school is the way to go (IMHO!) It prepares you for the most important parts of the job - behaviour and classroom management - and allows you to run extended planning sessions to enable realistic assessment processes.

I did a PGCE and was ready for nothing - in all honesty, I've always felt like I'm doing catch-up.
PGCE really pissed me off when 25% of the women on my course treated it like a flower arranging evening class and either got pregnant or chose not to work at the end of the course. There was a feeling of non-commitment, that isn't possible on a GTP.

You are not too old, but it is really hard to manage with a family. In my 20s I never really thought about 7.30 starts when no childcare opens before 7.30 at the very earliest, or getting in at 6.30 with three hours of re-planning and marking to do, as well as feeding, bathing and settling children. Six hours sleep if you're lucky!

I don't want to out you off if it's something you really want to do, but it really isn't family friendly.

Sleep is for wimps and part-timers.
Some of the best and most motivated teachers I've worked with have been late entrants to teaching, and came through the GTP programme.
If you are in London, the job prospects are good, even if it is a succession of temporary contracts, and you will get London weighting as well.

I completed my bachelor of education ( Canadian version of PGCE) when I was 38. Dh completed his when he was 40.
The main problem we found was that it is very difficult to find full time work, and we had to move overseas to get off supply lists and get our own classrooms - and have no regrets!

I am 44 and in first term of GTP. Absolutely loving it. As for family friendly I am a lone parent and it's doable. In fact one of the tutors commented that lone parents do well on the course because of their 'resilience' so it was lovely to have some good press for once! There are times when I feel exhausted, but I don't imagine that's age related as younger collleagues are flagging equally if not more. I am not the oldest on my course by any means. I am fortunate to be in a school with a supportive and remarkable HT. I think that makes a lot of difference. My mentor is young enough to be my daughter.

I started a flexible PGCE whenI was 41and my sons were in years 2 and 4, over 18 months. It was hard work and, as a single parent I had to rely on family and friends during my school placements-my Mum literally moved in for 6 weeks! I studied during the day when they were at school and then in the evening when they were in bed, but weekends were tough! But I found that mature NQT's were actually valued by prospective schools, we were seen as having experience (of life if not education!) whilst still being cheap!