Becoming a primary teacher

[greencats]

Hi everyone

I've been considering returning to study an undergraduate degree in primary Education which runs over 2 years and then do a PGCE. The degree costs £11K a year & I've recently found out I can't get funding for the first year due to having studied before... so it will mean paying from some savings which I'm worried about doing.I'm 36, recently divorced and have 3 children. I've read a few MN posts on this topic but none that are recent, does this sound like a bad idea?

If you’ve studied a degree before, can’t you just do a PGCE?

Sorry, pressed post by accident. Primary teaching is great but it’s hard going. It’s often very long hours in the early years of your career and there’s no flexibility at all about time off.

What’s making you want to do it?

I only completed the first year 😐

Would you consider working in a school as a TA first? If you're ambitious and work within a big chain, there is often scope to train for your HLTA qualification - this can enable you to lead classes of children and pays much better. You wouldn't have QTS but it would save you a hell of a lot of money. Good luck - I've been teaching for nearly 20 years and I love it. I hope you find the perfect way soon.

Single parent teacher. Id do it if i was you. Very hard work but amazing perks. Amazing in a school with decent management.

It is not a very family friendly job if you aren't lucky enough to teach in a school with decent management (few and far between).

Thank you for replying, I suppose I feel like I have worked in a number of roles up until now which are ok and have fit around my children but not hugely fulfilling so I feel quite driven to start a 'proper' career with purpose and which is rewarding. My mum was a teacher and I have witnessed her exhaustion and weekends spent marking so I know it will be hard work. I also have a child with SEN and have an interest in that field. I just feel unsure, probably because of the cost of the course and from reading a lot of "don't do it!" posts!

I agree it’s not a family friendly job. Lots of teachers work full time when they’re young and single, then when they have kids they switch to supply teaching because the hours and workload are less. I really don’t recommend it if you have three kids, you’ll literally never see them.

if you did 1 year then you should be entitled to another 3 years funding?
4 years total funding (Degree + gift year)

failing that just go straight to the pGCE if you had a full degree?

phone student finance for your actual status

There were TAs at my last school being put through a training programme to become teachers. I'd investigate that side, via being a TA.

If you have 3 kids you will need extended wraparound care and someone to cover any sick days they may have or holidays that don't coincide with yours. You'll never see a nativity play or anything like that. Start time is usually about 7.30am and it's not unusual to be there at 5.30 or 6pm.
I wouldn't do it in your position.

Thanks everyone, some food for thought.

Does the degree in Primary Education not come with QTS as standard? I know the one at the local uni to me does. Then you don't need the PGCE.

No, unfortunately not. I've seen that one at a another uni nearby but the course is full for this year.

As a balance, i walk my dog and don't get to work till 8.30 and we're kicked out at around 5pm unless management is staying on. However i spend time after work doing school stuff on the sofa every night. Great holidays but throughout the year plenty of parent consultations, meetings etc beyond school hours that would need additional childcare. I absolutely love it.

Don't get to work till 8.30am??? We start teaching then!

@Cyberworrier

There were TAs at my last school being put through a training programme to become teachers. I'd investigate that side, via being a TA.

You might find they already have a degree.

amazing perks

What are these?

Try shopping around for the degree? The Open University BA in Education Studies (primary) is £6336 per year (for three years), or you could do it part-time alongside working (eg as a TA) - which would obviously take longer, but might ease finances. You can also switch between full-time/part-time. It may be worth asking about credit transfer - you might be able to count some of your previous degree study, but it might depend what it was.

That Open University Education Studies doesn’t give you a teaching qualification though.

There is a perk (singular) of great holidays.
I’d like to know why a pp used the plural also!

@HopeClearwater

amazing perks

What are these?

That you can book an appointment generally any day of the week from 4pm onwards. That you get 12 weeks holiday a year. There is a decent pension, excellent job security.

Right yeah
So why do many, many teachers leave in the first five years?

Because you also get chairs thrown at you!

I’m not sure job security is always amazing in England. Do be careful when imagining that teaching is family friendly. It really isn’t as you will always be teaching when things are happening during the day in your child’s school. A solution is to teach in the same school as your children but that’s not for everyone. Be aware for the need for good, reliable wrap around care. You won’t be able to do drop off or pick up for your child.

Very hard work but amazing perks.

Which are....

Even holidays are actually unpaid leave.
I always laughed that I couldn't describe a perk...
company car...nope had to pay more to insure mine to be able to drive ill kids home,
long lunches, never not even on training courses, in fact not a free lunch either, we had to supply our own,
drinks...nope, we had to pay into the tea fund to buy our drinks, including the milk,
flexibility - no, I was sent a letter saying I had to find a nursery that would look after my children when they were ill or face a disciplinary for absence,
support my own children at their school events, no chance, supply cover too expensive,
gain skills that could be shared to educate my own children...possibly, except when I was full time I was so tired by the end of they day that I could hardly speak to my own children. Dark room needed. In fact I took the decision to move schools to a part time post after realising that planning to bath my kids at 5.30 and put them to bed, so that I could either rest or do more work, wasn't really appropriate.😂

Teaching is hard work but big demands on time and energy. Lacks flexibility in the working day.

Increasingly, teachers who manage the job are young and single and can devote all of their time to it.

Once they have their own children they reduce their hours, if possible and agreed by their school, to part time. Schools are not keen on this option as it makes communication, CPD, team work really difficult. Schools don't have to agree and only have to make a decision which puts the school needs first, not yours.

As a part time job it pays well, but don't expect part time responsibilities. I was part time (0.5) but still had full time subject/phase leader responsibility. In practice it meant I worked in school half days for half of my full wage , worked from home every afternoon but gained the flexibility to pick the kids up from school and not have to work during the weekend.