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?

Really interesting to hear another single mums perspective tillyscoutsmum. Do you get much help from family or is it pretty much just you when Dc aren't in school clubs or with their dad?

I don't know what I'd do without my parents nearby and a DH that can work flexibly. In the last week alone, I've had two lots of parents' evenings until 7.30 and all my own children have been ill-one after the other involving a week where one of them has not been at school; any time I take off for a child's illness is unpaid so that really is a last resort.

I've left the house at 7.20 and not back till 6-plus working when the children have gone to bed.

Hi. It is pretty much just me. My mum can help out occasionally in emergencies (she had them during the day a couple of times when they were off sick and she's having them for a day over Easter because we've got different holidays ). It's mostly down to me, ex h and afterschool though. Ex is self employed and works from home so I've needed to take advantage of his flexibility a few times as well.

How about a flexible PGCE over 2 years?

www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/courses/early-years-and-primary-blended-dl-gtdpre6/

Many others available :-)

Thanks Emilymaud. That's the exact course I looked at when I first considered this a year ago. My only issue would be the funding, you miss out on a lot of help if you do it off time I think, otherwise it would be ideal. My salary just isn't enough to sustain me and pay fees etc. :0(

Tillyscoutsmum, my ex is also self employed so could hopefully help out a bit more than ordinary. Sadly my mum died a few years ago and my dad and stepmum both still work full time but if we were stuck in sure someone would step on, my family are pretty supportive, as are DPs. I had a long chat with him about stuff last night and said I'd really be relying on him for help with the house and DS if I did this. We don't live together at the mo but we would be by course start date of I went for it.

Also, what a nightmare about different holidays!

INSETS always hit me but I manage with help from friends. I always offer to help them in the holidays.

Re P/T - varies from school to school. My school has loads of PT staff. Primary may be different. Once you're in I should imagine it's easier to negotiate as you've proved yourself. I wouldn't have wanted to do my NQT year over two years though.

Yeah if I do do the course I think I will do both that and the nqt year full time. I know it will be a really hard slog but it will be over in half of the time.

The Northumbria course used to be available over 1 and 2 years but they have stopped people doing it over a year as so many were finding it tough (working too). I have a place on the course (bit miffed they changed it to 2 years though as no maintenance grant). I have a place on the post-16 PGCE too (I was going to stay working while I did this though). I have passed both skills tests.

I am changing career. My job has relocated and the hours are now 24/7 (NHS). As I am part time, it isn't worth it anymore. I have wanted to make the change a while now but waited for my children to get a little older. DS starts secondary this year and DD will be in year 3.

It is worrying me about funding though. I will only get £4K bursary but, possibly, a couple of hundred pounds of tax credits. A BIG drop from what I get now. Not good when you have 2 children to support and a mortgage.

So, unless I get something else (I withdrew the other application), I have to decided between the two. I may look at Teach First.

I am from a science background .

Make sure you gain experience in more than one school. I went to five schools in the end (a bit over the top). I spent a day a week, for a term, in a few and then 3 full weeks in another. Two would be enough though.

I plan on going full time .

Once qualified .

Are you from Newcastle? If I do a PGCE it will (hopefully) be at Northumbria, otherwise school direct.
The funding is a real issue when part time, given that the usual reason for doing it part time is children.
I am doing my initial classroom experience in a friends school. I'm hoping the once I have one school on my CV it will be easier to get others to let me in also looking at the reading scheme through save the children.