Anyone switched subject at secondary? Any Food Tech teachers here - what's it like?

[IHeartKingThistle]

Hi, I'm just mulling over some long term ideas and wondered if anyone had changed the subject they teach.

I taught English for 11 years then left a couple of years ago to focus on the kids. I now teach a few hours a week in Adult Education - English, Literacy and Cookery. The cooking lessons are sort of community learning - cooking with parents and kids, meals on a budget, that sort of thing. I cook a lot at home and it's a real interest of mine, although I have no formal food qualifications except my food hygiene certificate!

I am really happy doing what I'm doing at the moment as it's flexible and I really enjoy working with adults. But unless I get a LOT more hours it's not particularly financially viable in the long term as I'm paid by the hour and am not paid during the holidays.

Sooooo...would it be crazy at some point to go back but teach Food Tech? I love English but the workload and marking is crippling - I'm not under the illusion that any subject is an 'easy option', but the marking load would certainly be less and I am loving teaching cookery.

Do you think I would need to do a course to retrain? What are the good/bad bits about teaching Food Tech? Any advice welcome!

Bump?

Bump for you. Nothing useful to add I'm afraid except to say I loved Food Tech at school and to hijack your thread a tiny bit to ask how you got into adult education? Very interesting!

Thanks for the bump!

I looked online at adult education courses in my county and there was an email address for tutors, so I sent them my details and they called me for interview - I got my first Literacy class that way. Once I was 'on the books' I started to get more offers of work. Luck and timing largely I think! I really enjoy it but zero hours contract so no guarantee of work.

No idea about food tech but, without outing myself..I am on my third major subject change at secondary..I chose after the first to do a part-time OU course for the subject knowledge but was under no obligation and this time, following a career break, am teaching something different again and learning as I go. It is hard but a good teacher can teach anything. Without being "full of it" my track record allowed my school to take a chance on me swapping. Not sure about changing into a practical subject thought qualifications wise. I started in PE and then moved to two classroom based ones. Good luck!

Thank you! Yes I'm concerned about the practical subject thing too, though I suppose if I can do a bit more cookery teaching in my current job it might help. I am having to get used to needing masses of 'stuff' for a lesson instead of just books and pens! Great your school let you change - are you happiest in the subject you teach now?

Completely agree that an experienced teacher can teach anything. As a supply teacher I have taught Food Tech many times, and it is the best subject because the kids love the practical side, and behave impeccably even in the theory classes as you have the ultimate sanction of not letting them cook! The syllabus is not onerous or technical, and there is always a technician to do the slog. If jobs in Food Tech were not as scarce as hens teeth would specialise in Food Tech at the drop of a hat. If you have a school that knows you and where you could move into Food Tech go for it!

Hens' teeth is about right!

I am really enjoying it yes, I loved PE too but there comes a time when freezing in the dark at a late fixture, having begged kids to play, loses its appeal! Enjoy now very much. Worth the hard work of learning new stuff.

I'm a food teacher and it's a great job! You might want to contact data (design and technology association) or join the food teachers centre Facebook group as both are great sources of information and will be able to tell you if you'd need to do any courses.
It's hard work physically and be prepared to do a lot of cleaning (even if you have the best kids and a technician) but there are so many great courses out there to teach at the moment- food technology, food and nutrition, catering.

Thanks so much! Lovely to hear positivity like that . Taught some mums how to make soup and cheese scones today who had never baked before and didn't know how to chop an onion. Loved it.

Going back to 30 12 year olds in a room though? Needs some thought! But I love the idea of teaching GCSE to kids who have CHOSEN my subject - you never get that in English!