could i have a realistic view of what primary teachings like please?

[RoystonVaseySmegHead]

Hiya, not entirely sure where to post this but here goes I'm at college studying to be a primary school teacher (preferably KS1) and I was just wondering what its actually like? I'm on work placement in Y1 I think its great but it'd be nice to read proper teachers opinions on the job, like what are the difficult things about it and what's the 'afterschool' work like eg marking. I'm more interested to hear about the bad things to be honest so i can try prepare for them though :) Thanks

[MrsUltra]

I originally entered the profession thinking that it was a perfect career for a working mummy. How wrong I was
So many people think that way until hey have tried it! Often see people on here thinking it might be an easy option whilst the kids are little

[Snazarooney]

Exactly what Redlocks said, with the bits about long and protracted staff meetings, clubs, PTA events, parents' eve, reports, subject leadership etc added on.

It's relentless and must be some sort of endurance test. You could work 24/7 and still not even scrape the surface of all of the jobs you've got to do.

You need to have a 'that's good enough' or 'that's enough work for today, the rest can wait until tomorrow' approach to enable you to have some sort of semblance of a life as well.

Teaching is a lot of work for relatively little money. You get your pay packet each month and think 'all that work for that?!'

The bit with the children is only a small part of your working day unfortunately. The paper work is ridiculous and unsustainable. Things change so often that it's impossible to keep up!

I also agree that the highs are high but the lows are very low.

I would actively discourage anyone I know from becoming a teacher too.

[Lara2]

I've been teaching KS1 for about 30 years - if I could afford to I'd be running for the hills along with all the other teachers. We were all out on Friday night for an end of term/retirement meal and all the teachers who had been in the job a few years said they too would leave if they could and we were all so sad because we never thought we'd say that. It's a job we used to love and now we just all hate it. The good bits no longer out way the utter shite.

[MrsBenWyatt]

I have never been graded as less than 'outstanding', but I think this is going to be my last year in the profession (my 9th).

I love the job, but I hate it. I really resent having a job where it is impossible to do all the work that has to be done (not even the nice resources/exciting plans/ fancy displays) in anywhere near the hours that I am paid for. I am doing 11-hour-days and not seeing my own children. Enough is enough.

[AnonyMusty]

Redlocks is, sadly, spot on. I love the 'pen pal with 30 children' (3-4 times a day) analogy.
However, I'd not let that discourage you. I'm glad that I went into teaching (KS2). Although it completely wiped me out (I developed glandular fever in my 30s and have never had the stamina since), I really loved my job and was very good at it. I was able to side-step into a teaching-related career that, although is still a compromise, suits my family life far better than a FT teaching post would have done.
I originally entered the profession thinking that it was a perfect career for a working mummy. How wrong I was!
So, my advice would be not to go into teaching thinking that it's a long-term 'forever career' for family life. It's perhaps better for singletons or those without young children / other caring responsibilities.
I worked through every break time and lunch break. Then I worked after school until at least 10pm (often very much later) and at weekends, too. On reflection, being a primary school teacher isn't the job of ONE person. It's more like a three-person job. I tried to do those 'three jobs' single-handedly and perfectly.
I wish I'd known how unrealistic and hard on myself I was being.

[EarlyNewDawn]

Sorry, I just meant that I can only think of negatives at the moment (such as listed in the other thread)- which would normally have me labelled as cynical. (As in 'don't be so negative and cynical - look at the positives').

Is that making more sense? (I can see how my post can be interpreted in different ways).

[rollonthesummer]

I know-I just clicked on it. I just don't understand the comment?

[sylviassecrets]

It is a link to a different thread on the same issues

[rollonthesummer]

What do you mean by, 'call me cynical'? EarlyNewDawn?

[HannahHobbins]

Exactly what Redlocks said with massive bells on.

[sylviassecrets]

I just quit ITT after half a term for all the reasons outlined in this thread. I decided to get out before I even started!

[EarlyNewDawn]

call me cynical

[dogwalker75]

I qualified as a primary teacher in July and I, like many others on my degree, have fled for the hills!

I really regret spending £27,000 in tuition fees alone, but there's no sodding way I'd do the job for even just one term!

Red's post was spot on from my POV. I've met many disheartened teachers who can't wait to get out. I've met teachers who say the job has cost them their marriage/ relationship with their kids etc. As a student, I'd spend 9.5-10hrs in school each day. I'd do 3-4 hours of work at home (making resources, preparing things for the IWB, completing lesson evaluations, preparing bloody phonics games, researching the rules for volley ball/hockey/football or researching an artist which we all of a sudden have to do a week long topic on for 'art week' etc.) and I'd easily spend 7-10 hours completing planning at the weekend. The only time I had to myself was a few hours on a Friday evening - and all I ever did was climb into bed early!

[calzone]

My sister trained as a primary school teacher and quit after 2 years.

Awful job, she said.

Workload was ridiculous, HT off sick, interim put in and they are a breed of their own.....

[rollonthesummer]

She is not allowed to take books home to mark, apparently that is not going to be allowed from next year.

What! Says who!?

[Fannyupcrutch]

My sister is doing her ITT in primary at the moment. We are both qualified as TAs and it seemed a natural progression to her. She says that she is astounded at the way she is being taught to teach. She must start her hand writing on the line and it must be perfect every time. It seems that they are more concerned with mass producing teachers that can tick boxes than they are interested in nurturing a dynamic teacher that can actually engage and teach. She is not allowed to take books home to mark, apparently that is not going to be allowed from next year. All marking must be done at school and be returned to students the following day. She has spent most of the half term planning lessons and to be honest I am worried about her work load. It seems the hoops she has to jump through are overwhelming and exhausting.

[SarfEast1cated]

Rollon I want to work with Primary children (as long as I can rally my old grey matter to pass the numeracy test!)!

[ticolac]

Absolutely what Redlocks said.

[calzone]

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

[amysmummy12345]

What redlocks said

[Seryph]

Thanks! I'll admit it's pretty nerve racking reading how bad it is for some teachers.

[rollonthesummer]

Ah, good luck with it :)

[Seryph]

Primary. I already work as a nanny, love kids, love helping them learn things. I have plenty of friends who teach secondary and honestly they seem to have a very easy life compared to what I read about teaching primary but I just don't think I could do their job.

I have wanted to teach for seven years.

[rollonthesummer]

Noooo-SarfEast1cated and Seryph---don't do it!!

Are you applying for primary or secondary?

[Seryph]

And here's me having just submitted my PGCE applications!