Teacher training?

[Thecontinualgardener]

Looking for honest opinions (brutal if required)
I'm 45 yo contemplating embarking on postgrad in primary education. Wouldn't be until next year ( as need to get maths nat 5 in the bag) so potentially looking at qualifying in summer of 2019 when I'll be 47.
Am I too old?
Happy for comments/advice ( in Scotland if that changes things).
Thankyou !

Don't feel too old TBH

Hi Thecontinual I don't think you're too old at all. How much work experience have you done in schools? Have you shadowed other teachers? Primary school teaching is relentless and requires a lot of energy and serious time commitments. I worked 15-17 hours a day in my training and NQT years and this is very much the norm. Being in your 40s doesn't mean you can't do this but be prepared for the workload! It's a great job and I love it. Good luck xx

I work full time as a nurse currently so I'm not doing anything extra in schools. I have been a parent helper in the past and also organised the school choir a few years ago. It's a lifelng ambition of mine and only recently have found myself in a financial position to be able to embark on study. Do you think I should try to get some more experience which may help with my application (demand is high for the course)Would be totally prepared for the commitment and hard work.
Thankyou for your positive comments chilli X

Without recent experience you won't be successful at getting a place so that's a really important thing to organise.

You're not too old, more life experience is great for teaching but it is exhausting and really full on.

Not sure what the completion is like for teacher training courses in Scotland, but previous post dyers are right. Teacher training courses are v. competitive. You would need a minimum of 2 weeks experience in a school but preferably much more.

On your original point, I don't think you're too old but be prepared to work long, long hours. I'm worn out and qualified in my late 20s and I'm only in my mid 30s now

There were plenty of mature students when I trained. Getting a bit of experience will be easy enough and the fact that you have a huge amount of life experience will help you get Brough an interview process where you may be against 30 odd people with exactly the same experience.
It's a hard career, but you're used to that with nursing. But it's great fun. I've been doing it for 14 years and still love it. Just don't go into it thinking it's easy (which I doubt you will)

I'm 52 and start teacher training (secondary) in September, I currently work very long hours, my current job is exceedingly relentless, requires a ridiculous level of energy, a huge commitment and it's also very stressful so I definitely don't feel to old to train to be a teacher. I'm not expecting it to be easy in fact I'm expecting as a colleague says "the same old shit just different walls". I guess I just want a change of walls.

You're not too old for the job, but doing a PGCE when you have a family (if you do) is v hard work. My DDs were 12&17 when I did mine 3 years ago- I was in early 40s. (D)H was completely useless so it was v stressful. I now work part time so I get to see my children.

Elfride makes a very valid point, I finished my degree in 2009 but have waited till my children have grown up and are at uni before contemplating the training. I've met lots of mums with small children (primary age) who talk about school runs and teacher training in the same breath or others with young teens who talk about helping with homework, running children to swimming clubs etc (we live in the countryside) and teacher training at the same time. IMO unless they have not only very supportive partners/families but also one who are available (my DH is supportive but works very long hours) or excellent childcare then I couldn't help but think they're going to struggle.
I've no idea what the drop out rate for teacher training is, does anyone know?

Not too old! I trained at 53 after another very full-on career, and after a couple of years in supply ( my choice) now happily FT in core secondary subject (not the one I trained in!) . Life experience in the real world is valued by many HTs, and so you can negotiate on play and conditions.