Teach until 67- Possible?

[Hopthegoodgod]

I am 60 and work full time as a yr 6 teacher. I think I do a pretty good job and although I am tired at the end of the day, I keep going.
I plan to work full-time in this role until I am 67 and able to claim both state and Teachers pension. I simply cannot afford not to . My question is this - has anyone worked full-time as a teacher in the state system well into their mid 60s and what did it look/feel like? I am in good health and reasonably fit. Were there many obstacles or pitfalls I should watch out for?

I work in a secondary school (admin not teaching). I don't know if it is harder to keep going than at a primary but it's unusual to make it to state retirement age there. Though one teacher only started teaching in late 50s and is early 60s now and is doing great.

If it's working for you at the moment, then no reason not to keep going. But IME very little stands still in schools - changes in teaching practices, changes in senior management are things I found hard to adjust to as a younger teacher and I think as as an older one they might just prove a dealbreaker

At my school.there are 2 teachers working 3 days a week who are past 60. Im nearly 56. Im.going. Can't keep up the pace. No wad of money tucked away. Need to do it. Do it till it suits you. If u want to leave earlier, look at all ur options. Can you downsize? Think has your health or energy deteriorated from 50 to 60? Another 7yrs how will you be? Good luck to you OP.

I take my hat off to you OP! I’m 46 and planning to do something else at 55 (secondary)

Hello!
Have you claimed your teacher pension yet?
This pension isn't actually a pot of money, but more of a promise.
Speaking as a 61 year old teacher at a secondary school, I found that I should have claimed on my 60th birthday, which means I've been losing out and could have reduced my working week as my pension could have supplemented my pay.
Claiming your final salary pension now would give you an opportunity to reduce your working days. You would also be able to continue contributing to your Career Average pension until you retired at 67.

This probably sounds very confusing. It did to me too!

Please begin by downloading your benefit statement from the Teachers Pension site and then join a wonderful Facebook group that will be able to advise you on your next steps.

Good luck!

An unexpected (menopausal?) Issue for me is memory loss and decline coupled with struggling with fatigue and sleepiness. One needs a lot of mental as well as physical energy as a teacher, so for everyone's safety, l will be bowing out in the next year or two. I will be 58 then.

I'm 52 and planning on retiring at 60 (secondary). The biggest issue I can see is the constant room changing through the day. It's exhausting battling through the crowds, from one end of the school to the other.

@user1469569516is correct! You should perhaps take phased retirement. You’re entitled to your Final Salary pension now (assuming you are in that scheme and started teaching before 2006). There’s an amazing group on Facebook about Teachers Pensions and they can help advise you. It’s called Teacher Pensions - Teacher to Teacher UK.

Sorry I see the PP already posted that group!

Unfortunately I did not start paying into my pension scheme until 2013 as I came to teaching late. I need to work until 67 as otherwise the amount is too low to live off. I will join the Facebook group you mentioned though as interested to know about changes etc. Thanks fir your response.

Unfortunately didn't start teachers pension until 2013 so not really got enough in the pot yet. However thanks for your response.

Sorry to hear that OP. Hopefully you will be ok if you feel in good health etc.

Just to say don't just accept this. I had a health check via work, turned out although in the normal range I was low in iron. One week on feroglobin and the symptoms you have were gone. I was feeling close to burnout at work, but not now.

I'm 56 an 6 months. Been teaching since 1996 in primary fulltime until 18 months ago when I dropped a day.
I had breast cancer in 2021 and decided I just couldn't carry on until I was 60. The kids, parents,SLT, Ofsted etc just make what was a great job just unbearable. I'm leaving a lovely school where I've taught for 24 years but I've totally had enough.

Going to do some supply in the short time to top up my pension, just 2-3 days and see what happens.

My SIL is a Primary School Teacher. She is retiring this summer (aged 66). The last two years have been a struggle (difficult Head) so she is pleased to be leaving. She is very fit but the physical demands have taken a toll, leading to aches, pains, and some health issues. She has said that she should have prioritised her own self-care more. Financially, like you, she couldn’t retire any earlier. She does still enjoy teaching and will miss the children (the admin and Management not at all). Good Luck.