Is it really such a terrible time to go into teaching?

[paperdreams16]

Hi all,

Looking for some honest advice and hoping it's okay to post this here! Since I was very little I have always wanted to teach. I was set on doing my degree in Primary Education until the last minute when my English teacher convinced me to do English Language and Literature (I now hold a 2.1 in the subject from fairly well respected university)

Towards the end of my degree I set about applying for PGCEs and was accepted onto one for primary education last year, which was meant to start at the beginning of last September. For various reasons, I decided to postpone the year and now currently work as a TA in a special school. I fully intended to reapply for PGCE courses starting this September and have completed my application, but haven't sent it yet. I'm seriously considering giving up on the idea of teaching at all. All I seem to read or hear these days is 'don't go into teaching, it's a mess' and all the teachers in the school I work in say that the hours they are putting in is absurd.

I have always wanted to purse a career in education, but working in a school has opened my eyes to the politics of it all. The children at our school are fantastic and I care deeply for them, and I and the other TAs are so excited when they make progress. The teacher, higher leadership etc however only seem interested in the children meeting their targets and getting it down on paper. I don't know if I want to work in an environment where the actual teaching comes second to the endless paperwork, policies etc.

So, is it worth doing a PGCE or should I abandon it entirely? I am still receiving emails about completely my application but assume I am running out of time to make a decision. I'm young (21) and have only recently achieved my BA so am looking at potentially applying to graduate schemes come September instead of looking at QTS. I've had my heart set on teaching forever but it doesn't look like something worth going into at this time. Are there any perks, or is it really so awful now?

Thank you, this turned out a lot longer than expected

Its a pretty useless qual outside teaching and the skills are not seen as transferable (they are of course but its hard to convince new employers) so in a sense as a short term job it makes no sense at all. Long term, eventually you will become too expensive.at this point you will be bullied out of your job, leaving you needing another year off to recover from the mental breakdown. The international option is amazing so if you fancy travel, go for it!

Yes I'd love to know what my PGCE is good for outside of teaching... So far, it's about as useful as a scrap piece of paper.

True, BUT, it can be used for supply which doesn't pay too badly while you look into other things :)

There is very little supply work around here at the moment as the market is saturated with supply teachers-the one u spoke to last week's aid she was having to move back in with her parents as she wasn't getting enough work to pay the rent. Agencies were also trying to get her to work for CS rates or even free! They'd told her that head teachers wanted her there on a day trial (unpaid) to see if she was any good!! She did it as she's that desperate for a permanent post.

Apologies for spelling there-fat fingers

The one I spoke to last week said

That should read!

There's some bad agencies to be sure but there is work out there and one day a week is more than JSA

Just to say, supply is also really thin on the ground round here because schools budgets are at an all time low and schools are using LSA's and in-house PPA covering teachers as much as they can.

Depends where you are. I negotiated with some local schools directly which pay me better than the agencies, but they pay less than they would to an agency, so win-win, and they usually pre-book too which is preferable. I am still registered with agencies, but now more choosy and turn down agency work if too far, or if they try to pull wool over my eyes re 'school want a 'free trial day' - errr - no!

I think it comes down to the school you are in - especially now many are academies. I love my school, I am a HoD of RE and it is fantastic. I have taught long enough to be at the top of UPS and I have in no way feel bullied or that the school is trying to get rid of me, and I know that no one else does either.

However, I have friends in other schools who tell a completely different story. I was considering pastures new recently in a promoted position. Fortunately my current school did want to let me go so offered me the promotion I was looking for and a clear route to becoming SLT. The issue of course is you school is only as strong as the Head and if you have a bad / incompetent / slightly bizarre / any other adjective you want here, one then the school is not going to be a great place to work.

Not only do I love teaching, I have recently decided I want to become a Head Teacher. It is a tough job, but one that a lot of people love.

I was on a PGCE up until very recently and I really wish I had someone to tell me how it really was before I applied, because if I knew then what I now know I would never have dreamed of going through with it.

It's hard, extremely hard but despite how hard it was I was good at it and regarded very well by my mentors and university tutors. No, what destroyed me was the work hours and the fact that you have NO LIFE. My life consisted of the following:

Awake by 6:00 AM and getting ready for work.

In school by 7:00 AM and then preparing my lessons for the day.

Children arrive for Early Birds at 8:40 AM.

Teach all day until 3:15 PM. Then go to meetings and mark books until 5:45 PM.

Go home and have dinner.

Working at home from 7:00 PM onwards - plans, assessment, evaluating ,marking, making/finding resources/updating SBT and PDR folders.

10:00 - 10:30 PM - finally finish working.

10:30 - 11:00 PM - chill out time.

11:00 - go to bed.
Rinse and repeat Mon-Fri.

Weekends - planning all of Saturday and most of Sunday.

All you do is work, there is always more work, it's never ending, it doesn't stop, EVER. You work in work, you work at home, you're always working.

It actually made me depressed, made me depressed because I never saw my friends and family, because I was neglecting my house and myself - there was no enjoyment in life, no time for exercise or hobbies or socializing; you even work in the holidays.

It's awful and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Seriously no one in their right mind would work 80+ hours a week for 22k a year, and you don't even get paid for the PGCE, you pay them!

Honestly, I left 2 weeks ago and the change in me is unbelievable. I've rejoined the gym, I've been out in the sun and now even have some colour, I get to spend time with my friends and my family and everyone comments on how I smile and look better now.

Teaching was all I ever wanted to do since I was 12. I pretty much hate it now. Don't do it. I wish I were qualified to do something else.

I moved into teaching 3 years ago after being in a different career for 15 years, so am still a newbie.

I love it! Yes, it's stressful, but so are many of the other jobs I have had. I work fewer hours than I did, and often the "over time" (marking, prep etc) is done in my own time which I much prefer to being stuck in an office.

The holidays are fab. In my previous job I'd just get more and more stressed and tired but there was no outlet. In teaching there is always half term when you can catch up on yourself.

I don't recognise the horror stories people share on here, but then, as I say, I am relatively new so perhaps it's not as good as the halcyon days of yore.

heron98
Most people in teaching have never done another job.
Like you I cam e to teaching after another career, where also the demands were relentless and there were lots of pressures.
And short holidays! Which you had to cover with notes before you went, calls during, and catch up when you returned. Not so relaxing.
But I think most in teaching have not experienced that, have only ever know 'school holidays' so take for granted, and compare with their parents teaching in the 1970s/80s when was an easy gig.

I think, as with all jobs, it depends on the individual workplace or school. Perhaps you have been lucky heron.

I have worked in other jobs carrying a lot of responsibility (all of which paid more than teaching -I'm on M6 so not 'easy' jobs). I have also taught overseas in two other countries.

Working at my last school was by far the most stressful and time consuming job I have ever had. It was the time-wasting on ridiculous things that didn't help the students in any way that I found most stressful. Time that I should have been spending with my own children.

My teacher friends at other schools say the same kind of things so I don't think it is isolated to that school.

The tens of thousands of teachers leaving would also suggest it's more than teacher's moaning because they don't know any different. I don't see many flocking back once they've worked in the 'real world'.

MrsGuy - I thought you taught supply? If so, you are not making a fair comparison.

Teach at an indy. Smaller sizes, usually better behaviour, pay, holidays etc and not as subject to government whims

Yep - for every person who says that the move from 'the real world' into teaching has been a relief, I've heard umpteen say the opposite - both those who have made that move and regretted it, and those who moved out of teaching to another job and regained their life and sanity.

It's probably true to some extent that people who have only just gone into teaching feel differently about it because they never knew the job as it was in the good old days. On the other hand, I've seen alarming figures about how many NQTs quit teaching after a year or two, so maybe not.

Teaching is never going to be that easy a gig because of dealing with big classes full of potentially difficult pupils. There is no need for it to be like it is at the moment though. It's not just the heavy workload that pisses people off - it's the fact that much of the workload is unnecessary and pointless and driven by incessant government interference and demands for data. There have always been many many teachers willing to put in crazy hours of work to benefit their pupils. Nobody wants to put in crazy hours on stuff which is of no benefit to bloody anybody.

Absolutely, roarfeckinroar. I worked in in one for years. It was like a totally different job. Barely any private schools in my current area of the country unfortunately.

JellyFrizz I do teach supply after a career in industry. I love it, all the classroom stuff and no pointless meetings or data. if I want a day off, or a week off - no problem. And see all types of schools - fascinating.
I would not do a FT teaching job because the expectations are ridiculous, and despair that FT teachers suck it up. But I also see that they get the holidays that industry people don't get, and have a skewed idea of how 'easy' the outside world is.
The working world has changed for everyone - but like it has always been - is how you deal with it. In France, today, by burning police cars. Mostly though, Is adapting.

MrsGuyOfGisbo I worked in a different career before teaching, it was based in London and was a long hours high pressure type environment. It was also significantly better paid than being a teacher. I then worked for well over 10 years as a teacher, and by the end, it was unbearable. I resigned with no job to go to, and have been very lucky to step back to my previous career, although not at the same level. Teaching became such a stressful and crazy environment that it just wasn't worth it. I am now doing a 9 to 5 job with much less holiday, but it seems like a dream compared to teaching! I don't do a single thing outside of the office, and don't think much about work when I'm not there. I've actually been able to relax and enjoy the holidays that I have taken, as I've not had to take marking or prep with me! Or worry about anything.

I can't think of much that would persuade me to go back to teaching.

(And tomorrow am in an Indy school which is like an oasis. There will be no fights, swearing, defiance, phone out. Learning will happen - for a whole hour, every hour...)

I'm doing supply too (some subject-specific but mostly just as a cover supervisor ). Completely different job. Certainly easy in terms of flexibility, lack of workload and responsibility, but essentially it's glorified babysitting. No job satisfaction in it as far as I'm concerned, but it's better than the alternative.

MrsGuy - what choice do DT teachers have but to 'suck it up'? Or vote with their feet, as many are doing.

SpeakNoWords
My old pre-teaching boss contacts me occasionally to ask me when I am coming back.
When supply dries up, I will, no question.
Absolutely will not do FT teaching.
But supply is fun, like teaching should be. So will do supply for now.

Absolutely will not do FT teaching.

Then please stop saying how easy and less stressful teaching is compared to your old job without qualifying that you are talking about supply teaching. It's not very helpful for the OP.

I've taught for ten years and absolutely hate it now. Looking forward to handing in my notice soon. It's the constant feeling of being scrutinised and that nothing you ever do being good enough. You get no praise or thanks for the sacrifices you make to your family life. Don't do it OP.

'Absolutely will not do FT teaching.

Then please stop saying how easy and less stressful teaching is compared to your old job without qualifying that you are talking about supply teaching. It's not very helpful for the OP.'

I agree, I was a FT class teacher for decades and found it so stressful and time-consuming that I left and went on supply.
Which is completely different, everyone is pleased to see you, no planning or in-depth complicated marking, no PP meetings, observations or politics. The only downside is the pay.
Mrs Guy, IIRC you haven't done an NQT year either, so you are indeed talking from a different place.