Is it worth it?

[T2710]

I've been reading threads in this board for the last week as I'm considering going into teaching.
A little background:
I'm a 'single mum' (though now in a serious relationship) and have a law degree. I currently work as a paralegal and have worked in law for 5 years but it's just not for me. Am now looking into either primary PGCE or School Direct starting Sept 16 (partly as I'm likely too late for this year and partly as DS will start reception then and I feel that will make things easier) but there seem to be so so many of you that hate their jobs and want out of teaching! Does anybody really enjoy it? I'm scaring myself reading the threads but I'm hopeful that there are some positive stories out there. If not, I guess it's better I know before I apply.
Also, does the workload mean I'm pretty much not going to see my son until the holidays?

How old is your son? Teaching, especially while training, is really full-on. If you're a single mum, is there someone else who can support him while you're very busy? I've been teaching for 12 years, and the workload during term-time has always been heavy, but at the moment it's ridiculous and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone with family commitments. Do you need to take your son to after-school activities etc? You would find that difficult to manage. There is of, course, the advantage of spending time with your children during the holidays. I sometimes wonder though if I would prefer to work a 9-5 job and not have the holidays, but be more relaxed around my children in the evenings and at weekends.

The people I know at the moment who seem to manage the workload best are single and childless, or older with grown-up families! If your son is a bit older, it might be easier to manage.

((Whispers....Don't do it))

I would say that it will be hard to do whilst your son is still little. I have been teaching since 1990 and agree the workload is becoming ridiculous. I also agree that the people who cope best with the amount of work either have no children or grown up children

Thanks for your replies. He sees his dad 3 days a week at the moment (twice overnight) so he will be supported by him although not sure how many overnights he will have once he starts school. I anticipate we will be living with DP in the next year so would also get help/support from him but I'd hate to think I wouldn't get to see DS before bedtime through the week. I know he'd spend at least one full day with his dad so I'd have that full day/night to do work as well as once he's in bed, is that realistic? He'd prob be at his dad's one evening through the week too.
I just feel like I need to sort my career out. I hate my current job and it's going nowhere. Wages are poor so I need to plan my next step

No, realistically that's not enough time. Not when you're training.

With a young DS you'd find yourself pulled in two directions too, which would add to the already immense stress of a training year.

You've got to give it a go. Teaching is just right for some people and it may be for you. It is a wonderful job and many teachers cope really well with the workload and love what they do. Take your chance to try it while you can.

I'm a single parent of 2 and I did it 3 years ago, without family support of any kind. I definitely had to compromise on domestic standards, but found the training quite do-able. Not sure how long I am going to stay in teaching in future, though.

Firstly, how much recent experience do you have in primary school(s)? You really need to make sure you understand what you are letting yourself in for before you commit to it - otherwise you are throwing the fees away if you find it is not what you are expecting. I am now leaving teaching and still have thousands to pay back.

However, my current PGCE student is a single parent and her child has health issues. She's extremely committed, enthusiastic and (somehow!) has boundless energy; so it can be done.

I would be wary of starting teaching when your child first starts school. You will miss every assembly, nativity, welcome party etc. that they seem to put on for reception kids. You may even miss taking them in on their first day at school. In a normal 9-5 job, you can normally arrange to go in late or leave early, or take some annual leave, but in teaching, your hours are very, very fixed, and even in good, supportive schools that I've worked in, we weren't allowed to take time off to see our children in their nativity or whatever.

I really appreciate all the replies. I'm arranging some work experience to hopefully start in the next few weeks. It'll only be a day a week initially but hopefully should give me a better idea.
It sounds like the general consensus is that it might not be worth it, not at the moment anyway?

I would be wary of starting teaching when your child first starts school. You will miss every assembly, nativity, welcome party etc. that they seem to put on for reception kids.
Totally agree with this as I had a friend on my course who thought it would be a good plan - holidays etc, and missed all of her DC reception year as a result. Luckily her DH worked form home and could do those. I always wanted to teach, finally trained when my DC were at secondary school - much easier as they don't need childcare, and don't want parents in an out the school for events. However it was still extremely hard, luckily DH picked up virtually all the 'childcare' eg food, washing, other stuff - they lived a lot on pizza! My training (secondary) was not as hard as those in primary. Really, really think hard before doing primary training! the kids are gorgeous, of course, but the planning and marking, reports etc is completely insane.
You say you pay is poor at the mo' - could you afford to be a primary TA for a while? This way you would see the reality of it and decide if you are happy with the work/life balance.

I work in secondary and I enjoy it. My school (or at least my department) are relatively laid back though, as long as we're on top of everything.

DD was in reception class while I was doing my PGCE and that was touch though. It's a lot easier now I'm better at managing time, but during training there were times I would be up until 2am planning and marking, and then be tired and grumpy in the little time I did have for family. It also meant that I missed a lot of her first school plays, etc.

I'd say go for it, but holding off for a year sounds like a good idea.

A year as a TA would be ideal but as I don't have any experience I'm not sure whether they would realistically be interested in me. You've def given me food for thought though. Think the plan will have to go on hold til 2017 at least.

Not sure how long I am going to stay in teaching in future, though.

I hear this over and over again :(

My husband is an assistant head and I'm head of a large faculty. A bit like the secret teacher in this week's guardian we've decided it can't be done around our family life any more and so I'm dropping my tlr and going down to 3 days a week from sept.

I love my job but it is all consuming.

I did my secondary PGCE four years ago. DS1 was in Y3 and DS2 was in Y1. I'm not a single mum but DH works away in the week and some weekends so similar.

It was hard. No weekends off for a year. Or the first year of teaching. The DC had to adapt from mum that was all about them (worked PT school hours) to mum who was buried in books. But I think that's a good role-model for them? My parents and my in-laws did help if DH was abroad for a while and I had wraparound school based childcare.

I think experience of work helps - I was organised and dedicated. No sitting around chatting. Worked every spare minute at school.

I love it. I know no different to the way it is now. Dropping down to 0.8 was an amazing relief though.

I think I'm going to know for sure whether I should go ahead once I've got some schools experience. I need to fill in my dbs form then should've able to start with that.
I do currently work in law so it's not an easy job but since having DS I'm part time and don't usually need to take work home. I would need to go back to full time next year if I wasn't doing a pgce though for financial reasons and would end up doing more work outside of office hours. I guess it's weighing it all up against the long term plan.
If I did finish pgce/school first and my nqt year what do you think the likelihood of being able to work part time are? Is this usually something that's only offered to longer serving members of staff? I will want another dc at some point I'm sure (though not in the next few years at least)
I'm so appreciative of the fact you've taken the time to tell me about you experiences.

Do it!

I'm an ex lawyer single mum who now teaches. It's perfect for me as I do a job which actually doesn't involve a lot of out of school work (they do exist), so I get evenings, weekends, and holidays free with my son.

I love it, wouldn't change it for the world and it's perfect if you're on your own with kids.

Have you got any teaching experience? Do you know if you'd like it?

If you've got childcare, I see no reason why the PGCE wouldn't be doable. You just have to be organised.

What teaching job do you do that leaves you your evenings and weekends free, sparing?

I was wondering the same thing noble! I'm guessing this is in comparison to being a lawyer. I wouldn't get your hopes up on having evenings and weekends free OP!

SEN noble.

At the very least, OP should be able to get home and do bedtime, even if you then crack the books at home once the kids are asleep.

I'm a single mum to 2 dc's - 1 in yr 3 and 1 in reception - and have been doing my school direct PGCE since September.

It's been hard! My first placement was hellish and I was ready to give it at Xmas. However, I stuck with it and now, since changing placements in Feb, I'm really enjoying it

Most weeks, I pick the dc's up from after school club at 6pm, get them back for tea/homework/bath/bed and then start work until about 10. I usually do a few hours on a Saturday but try to give myself Saturday afternoon through until Sunday evening off. The 2 evenings per week when dc's are with their dad, I usually stay at school working until about 7 and then have the rest of the evening off. There are occasions (when Uni assignments are due in) when I'm not able to have any time off for a couple of weeks. I've also needed to work during the holidays.

It is knackering but I'm glad I've done it. I used to work as a chartered surveyor and the pressures of teacher training are different, but not necessarily more difficult (in my, admittedly, limited experience).

Missing my DS's first day/ nativity/Mother's Day etc school things has been tough though

I'm lining up some schools experience at the moment. The head has said its fine so just need my DBS sorted. I might hate it yet