Early years/primary PGCE next year - good idea?

[teachingintheuk]

I've applied to commence a PGCE in primary education in September, (Northamptonshire). Just wondering if there were any teachers out there on whether they enjoy their jobs, downsides etc.
I posted this morning about RSHE statutory guidance in the UK regarding teaching controversial topics such as transgenderism to children, (I don't agree with this), and some of the replies have worried me. Is it rife in schools or still uncommon?
Parents - are you happy with the education your child is receiving/happy with teaching staff? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I did the PGDE (Scottish equivalent) what I will say is the course nowhere prepared me for the actual job. Yes the course is full on with studying and doing some teaching but it’s not the same really. you have some time before the course starts so I’d suggest trying to get more classroom experience and chatting to local teachers.

The course was a year for me and it was a year that I couldn’t focus on anything else. It had my full attention and I know many people dropped out due to have other commitments.

I love teaching but in the only 8 years I’ve been teaching the job has changed so much.
You teach to the curriculum, whatever the curriculum states then you teach it and your personal opinions on the matter are put to the side.

Sexual health teaching has changed massively since I’ve started. In my school, Parents are made aware of what is going to be taught and sign permission slips to dah they understand. If they are not happy with it then they can remove their child from the lesson however we can’t guarantee that other children will discuss it in the playground.

My job is all consuming. I have a young family and balancing at the moment is hard. There’s far more paperwork than anyone would assume. The teaching with the children 9-3 is the best part and the reason I do my job. The work before and after those hours can be horrendous depending on the time of the year. You will always have people telling you your holidays are great and yes they are but I work at the start and end of summer preparing for my class.
I work during Christmas holidays doing my forward plan. I work during Spring break doing my reports but this is all my choice.

It really all depends on how much you enjoy teaching.
Ive had really lovely classes but I’ve also had horrendous classes that have made me reconsider.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you - I appreciate you replying. I seem to hear similar responses - love teaching, hate everything else. I don't have children, but would like to one day, so am anxious I might be one of those who start but then leave within the first five years. I guess without trying, I'll never know, but when I hear of others talk of stress and breakdowns, I wonder whether I'm letting myself in for a few years of pain. You don't have any plans to leave teaching?

Not currently, I love teaching, being with the children makes me feel like I’m making a difference. However, so much has changed and the paper work, planning, constant meetings have made it all exhausting. You need it all to teach but since I’ve started it’s definitely got worse.

@Hiddenvoice I've heard AI is beginning to reduce the workload in terms of planning - has that been your experience?

Sadly not, AI is an interesting tool to use in my school but cannot be used to substitute for teaching or planning as it isn’t always reliable or correct information.

AI and gender teaching have next to no impact on my job.

Teaching used to be a lovely job, sadly it is not the case any more. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone unfortunately.

My dd recently started as a primary teacher and although she would bever admit it, absololutely loves the job.She has a very supportive SLT and mentor and they all actively try to reduce teacher workload.she is only 21 and the kids (y6) all think she is really cool, so she can do her ckassroom management being very calm.i guess when sats and report writing time comes round the workload will be higher.