Thinking of retraining as a teacher

[totoromama]

As title. We moved last year and I haven't been able to get a similar job. So I am thinking about retraining as a teacher. I've thought about it off and on for years since the girls were small. I taught EFL for 9 years abroad and in the UK before working in IT. I'm looking at Secondary Computer Science or Business studies. I would start in September 2017. Any advice would be great.

[LuluJakey1]

curley He is Deputy Head- new Y7 Tutor missing today, ill (doesn't bode well). He is the Guidance, Behaviour, Attendance, Safeguarding lead- amongst many other things. He loves his job but it is exhausting.

[MissClarke86]

If you really want to do it don't be put off.

I'm a primary teacher which is obviously very different, but also very heavy in terms of workload. I love my job though. Once you have a few years under your belt things become easier and you work more efficiently. I rarely bring work home in the evenings now (though I do half a day or so planning and prep at the weekend). I work in a tough inner city school with very high expectations.

You need to be very resilient (you are NEVER told everything is great, there is always something to improve). You need to be VERY organised. (If you don't have things done in good time, lessons don't happen. Simple.) You also need to be very disciplined - the only reason I don't bring much home is because I use every second of every day efficiently. I give myself 20 minutes at lunch for a quick bite to eat and a chat, and that is it. I don't wander around before or after school having a chat and I also don't really entertain others that do! I work every possible spare second to stay on top of things.

If you've got those skills, go for it. And also...notice I didn't mention anything about the actual children bit. That's the tip of the iceberg!!

[Anasnake]

I've been a teacher for nearly 2 decades and the job is unrecognisable to the one I first did. Run for the hills and don't look back.

[Anasnake]

Forgot to say I'm also secondary in an outstanding school.

[BackforGood]

curly - it is often another member of the SMT who is the Safeguarding Lead / DSP / whatever the title has changed to this year. Nothing odd about that.

[Acopyofacopy]

Well, after a week back and a delightful lesson with my Year 8s today, all I can say is: When you go into a school for a taster, make sure you see a bottom set and/or a "life skills" lesson as well as a top set.

Luckily all of my other classes make up for the devil's offspring spirited students that accumulated in my bottom set. and a to me for not shouting.

[clam]

Word of warning: I heard today of an NQT who has seriously asked to resign after two days!

[MrsGuyOfGisbo]

NQT who has seriously asked to resign after two days!

[clam]

Yep. No kidding. That's got to be some kind of record?

[chocoshopoholic]

I work in initial teacher training and would echo previous posters about the need for recent experience or shadowing in school.

Many providers have information days/evenings in the next few weeks before Ucas opens. They can give you more insight into their entry requirements and expectations and can often help you find shadowing experience. Most of them are listed on the get into teaching website.

[LuluJakey1]

At DH's school they have had an NQT resign at the end of the first week. Said it is just too much pressure and exhausting.

[LuluJakey1]

When I was teaching we had an NQT resign after first half term saying she had never expected it to be so hard and had planned just to do it for 2 years then be a Deputy Head! Don't know what planet she lived on.

[KittyVonCatsington]

The same planet a lot of people live on, who think because they went to school, it will be easy