Currently a TA about to finish my OU degree, should I do a PGCE?

[MagnaCharge]

Hi,

I have recently returned to work as a TA, next week I finsh my OU degree. The plan always was to finish it work for a year then do a PGCE. I know what is involved in the course, I watched both my siblings qualify that way and saw how intense it was, I also understand what is expected from teachers and that it is not an easy family friendly career.

I need more money than I can earn as a TA though.

I am currently weighing up my options whether to stay as I am and hope DH gets a promotion/payrise (which is unlikely). Look into becoming a HLTA (if this is still an option) or to stick to my original plan and apply for a PGCE (whivh my dad would fund if i didn't get a bursary as he paid for my siblings training).

Has anyone ever been in a similar position, what did you do? Do you wish you had made another choice? Or does anyone have any other thoughts?

I TA'd for a year when my son was in year 2 and then did my PGCE when he was in year 3. Much as I dislike some aspects of the job (working all day yesterday and not being out in the sunshine, for example) I love being with the children and for me it was definitely the right thing. I always doubted if it would have been possible with more than 1 child.

Could you afford to be a TA for a year, applying for a course to start in September 2015? Or would you need to make a late application to start this year?

What about working full time for a year or 2 to get some experience under your belt and then looking for a part time post? Mind you, that was always my plan...

I can afford to apply for September 2015 we saved to make sure I could gain recent experience (I have 4 years from before the children) I think it is what I want to do but I worry about the low morale and ever increasing pressure on teachers.

Do you have children yourself?

Yes I have two. A 7 year old and a 4 year old. I know teaching is not child friendly really (both my parents did it) that is another consideration. DH is able to book time off work to go to school events so they will not be missing a parent watching sports days and plays.

In the end I went for it and did the pgce because I didn't want to look back and regret not giving it a go. I decided I was happier with the idea of trying and failing (or deciding it wasn't right for us) than I was with the idea of not trying. I heard that on their death beds people don't regret the things they did, they regret the things they didn't.