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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

New career as teacher?

124 replies

baconsandwich · 12/02/2012 19:02

Am thinking of retraining as primary school teacher. Am 45. Am I mad? Anyone else out there taken the plunge at this age? Do they even want mature teachers anyway?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Feenie · 13/02/2012 11:44

Am stealing ds's mini eggs, so nearly as good

rainbowinthesky · 13/02/2012 11:45

All I can do this morning is drink tea and mumsnet. It is so nice not having to "perform" for a week. That said I love my job but would struggle without frequent holidays.

ASByatt · 13/02/2012 11:47

Wondering how baconsandwich feels about teaching now? Wouldn't ever want to put someone off if they really want to do it, just think it's important to go into it aware of the issues, I guess.

Mini eggs. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Original poster

baconsandwich · 13/02/2012 22:33

Still here. Not put off (yet). It's v early days of the decision making process and am not going to take it lightly. Like partystress's multi-layered CV, in my time I have been a hospital manager (therefore well used to the stresses of the public sector and government interference), management consultant, singing teacher and started my my own business when my twins were 2. I'm not afraid of hard work. And of course I'm not thinking of teaching because my kids are at school - that would be insane. Anyway, why I'm justifying myself to you lot goodness knows! I knew I would get honest warts and all opinions here which is why I asked. Many thanks to y'all for your time.

OP posts:

MollyBroom · 13/02/2012 22:54

I agree that there are times when I feel as if I have had enough of my job , usually five weeks into a half term. It does not last though and if it were to ever remain pissed of for more than a week I would look for another job.

I do think , though , that teachers have a reputation as being wingers ( sp my iPad self corrected ?) and I do not want to add to that stereotype so I never moan to a non teacher or even in public about my job . Again, if I ever feel the need to have a prolonged moan I will leave the profession . Life is just too short and precious.

scottishmummy · 13/02/2012 23:01

pragmatically nqt jobs like hens teeth
how will you manage financially trying to get career established?
given nhs background and desire work with children what about SALT or OT

Dustinthewind · 13/02/2012 23:04

'And of course I'm not thinking of teaching because my kids are at school - that would be insane.'

Well, I thought it was a bit odd, but it was the only explanation you gave for your selection of teaching as a career.

EvilTwins · 13/02/2012 23:13

Fuck me, the doomsayers are out in force! I teach and I love it. I drop my kids at their school breakfast club at 8ish and drive 10 mins to my school and no one has ever suggested I need to be in earlier. The bit between 8.40 and 3 is incredibly intense, but it IS creative and I am in charge in my classroom. I leave any time between 3.05(every Friday- so I can pick my girls up from their classroom door when they finish at 3.15) and 5, depending on what day it is. I still get my children to 2 after school activities every week. Again, no one frowns on me (or colleagues) for leaving when we choose to. Obviously it's different when there are parents evenings or something similar. I do work most evenings, but then I'm pretty diligent and know the value of being well prepared. DH is not a teacher and he works 2-3 evenings per week too.

My girls are in yr1 and I went to both this and last year's Christmas plays. I have an excellent HT. She knows I work hard and therefore there is a bit of give and take. I am good at my job and go the extra mile for the school and the students again and again. I feel valued by the SLT (most of the time) and the students.

OP, if you want this, then go for it. It's hard work but it's absolutely worth it.

Original poster

baconsandwich · 13/02/2012 23:28

Hurrah, eviltwins!

OP posts:

mrz · 14/02/2012 08:16

and no one has ever suggested I need to be in earlier . I have an excellent HT. Again, no one frowns on me (or colleagues) for leaving when we choose to.

While I agree that teaching can be the best job in the world and I'm lucky to also work for an excellent headteacher who don't think he owns me body and soul I know many other teachers who are far less fortunate.
The head of a local school expects all staff to be there by 7.30 and then the car park gates are locked so no one can leave before her often around 8 pm ...

I love my job (and I've done others so can compare) but you need to be aware of the pluses and the minuses it isn't all doom and gloom but neither is it all rosie.

I think your biggest problem will be the shortage of vacancies. There are very few primary teaching jobs out there... supply has dried up. If you are certain teaching is what you want to do and can afford to take the risk then go for it. good luck

Dustinthewind · 14/02/2012 08:16

EvilTwins, are you still teaching secondary Performing Arts?
So the career advice here is obvious. Teach in Secondary OP.
Happier, shorter hours, clear opportunities to specialise in a subject you love and are confident in teaching. No weekly planning...
Go Secondary.

EvilTwins · 14/02/2012 08:46

Dustinthewind- yes I am. Perhaps you're right about secondary being more flexible. Dsis is primary though and so far she still has a life. I do think the two most important things in terms of being able to prevent it from taking over your life are having a decent HT (and I've taught in 3 schools over the last 14 yrs and all 3 were good) and being strong enough to stand up for yourself. It's ludicrous (and illegal) for HTs to do the locking the gates thing to prevent staff from leaving. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but I can say for sure that if I ever ended up in a school with that kind of culture, I would still be leaving at 3.30 on a Wednesday to get my children to their ballet class. HTs do not rule the world! Even those who think they do!

mrz · 14/02/2012 08:50

I think that is another difference between primary and secondary teachers (in general) primary accept a lot more rubbish

Dustinthewind · 14/02/2012 09:06

There seems to be a lot more low-level disruption from parents and SLT, more micro-managing. Every new initiative affects all primary teachers, whereas in secondary it might only be a section and there can be a whole team response. Better resources too, there's a lot more scavenging to provide appropriate materials in primary.
I suppose it's one of the consequences of teaching 32 children everything for a year, rather than one subject to many.

mrz · 14/02/2012 09:12

I agree in primary we see some parents on a daily basis rather than just at consultations (and they see us) and none of my secondary friends buy resources with their own money and think I'm crazy

lulurose · 14/02/2012 09:15

Morning OP, my neighbour is a similar age to you and has an 8 yearold DS, she has just deferred for 2 terms on her B Ed as she was finding the high level of coursework too demanding, not helped by the fact that the Uni switched its Ed department to another campus hard to get to by tube and too difficult to coordinate school drop offs and everything else involved. She said the mood and morale of her fellow trainees was pretty low due to the jobs climate. London used to be a hot spot for jobs, recruitment was booming in the early 90s when I qualified and good NQTs with a 2:1 had a pick of the best jobs. Not the case here, we have several excellent NQTs doing regular supply at my school as they havebeen unable to find permanant positions, certainly round here teachers are staying put, little movement and with the pensions issue not wanting to reduce their hours. I used to be a primary deputy head pre children and have now gone back into class so as to support my DH who is a Primary Head and be at home more, its tough out there. Having said all that, I love, love my job, its a priviledge working with children and when you find something you are "mean't" to do its the best feeling. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

EvilTwins · 14/02/2012 09:16

I buy resources. And there's not much available in terms of ready-made lesson plans etc for my subject. I don't have much marking but my planning takes hours- but it's also one of the most creative parts of the job and I love it.

You're right about parents though- sometimes I wish I saw MORE of them- I don't expect many primary teachers have the same wish!

lulurose · 14/02/2012 09:18

"meant to do" even!

mrz · 14/02/2012 09:19

exercise books, pens, pencils, gluesticks, paper, software, tables, chairs?

lulurose · 14/02/2012 09:27

Re the hours issue. I drop my DDs at their breakfast club at 7.45, am in my room by 8.10am and apart from Mondays when there is staff INSET (5.30 finish) I leave at 4.30 so I can collect DDs from after school club and get them home for Dinner at a reasonable time. I do bring at least an hours prep or marking home everyday but its doable, there is always a never ending to do list but I use my time efficiently and never feel overwhelmed. I actually love the planning side of the job as its an opportunity to be creative and really inspire.

Dustinthewind · 14/02/2012 09:33

'You're right about parents though- sometimes I wish I saw MORE of them- I don't expect many primary teachers have the same wish!'

I think that works the same way in both areas, you don't see the parents you need to and have far too much contact with others that is often unnecessary.

MollyBroom · 14/02/2012 10:42

I think teachers in both sectors buy resources. I must spend hundreds every year and I am in a school that is not in financial difficulty. Over the years I have bought paint, paper, pens, craft materials, furniture, text books and even provided a TV although it was one from home so I did not buy it.

Reading this thread has convinced me that I am pleased I chose secondary.

EvilTwins · 14/02/2012 11:00

So fa this year I've bought CDs, material for costumes, props, sheet music, pens, text books, play texts and scripts. I guess the difference is that I can take a lot of this with me when I move on. I've also taken a tv and a microwave into school, and regularly borrow DTD's toys for assessed performances (lots of teen drama involves babies, so the DTD's dolls get a lot of use!

DH thinks I'm mad. He claims expenses for everything. I wouldn't dream of claiming travel expenses for a course, for example- I can just imagine the quizzical look I'd get from the finance lady!

It's ludicrous that so many of us do it, but there we go. I'm sure others would argue that I could have managed perfectly well without the stuff i've paid for myself. My choice, I guess.

EvilTwins · 14/02/2012 11:00

Random in there- iPhone. Grrr. Not at all. Half term!

mrz · 14/02/2012 11:10

I've stopped taking my daughter into school during the holidays because she searches out all her things I've borrowed for school

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