Clothing

[Sofabitch]

So I'm about to start my teacher training (secondary science). I'm going to need to go shopping as I've always had jobs where I can wear jeans and trainers and have never had to dress to any code.

What sorts of things do people recommend I get as a starter capsual type wardrobe to add to?

When you say you have body jewellery that you won't negotiate on and how covering your tattoos is compromising your identity then it does sound like it's a fairly big concern, especially if you plan on ruling out places to work based on whether they'll let you have piercings and tattoos on show.

To put that into persepctive, that would rule out every secondary school in my LA and the neighbouring LA plus most other secondaries in my county.

I interview for teacher training and it is noted when people turn up not dressed professionally for school. When we discuss applications we make a note of things to be raised/reminded of later if they get a place. Dress code, tattoos and piercings are a day 1 of training reminder of professional expectations.

Anyone who is put off teaching because they have to follow a fairly simple dress code probably doesn't have the resilience to manage a career in teaching. If someone's commitment to a career are so flimsy that they would walk away over a dress code then when things actually get difficult I can't see them lasting.

it's probably representative of deeper issues within teaching
It's a dress code. There are many issues in teaching. Expecting staff to dress professionally isn't one of them
Esspecially if teachers are afraid to challenge the status quo and support fellow teachers
Teachers aren't afraid to challenge the status quo. We just know what to challenge and how/where to challenge. My 'things I care about in school amd would like to change' list has quite a few things on it. Dress code wouldn't be on it because it's a non issue.

I'm a career changer to teaching too so please take this as intended, as a career changer it can be tempting to go into teaching thinking 'but in my last line of work... i never had to do.. x y z is pointless because in my last job we...' There's huge benefits of having a career before teaching, but remember that you are just as new to the field as anyone else on your course and there's lots to learn. Deciding before starting that things are pointless and x y z are probably reasons people don't stay in a profession that you're not part of yet could (if expressed badly in schools) easily rub colleagues up the wrong way.

The wrong side of 35 and very confident about what she wants and how she sees the profession. Just starting training. Let’s hope she survives the course and has great mentors. And that her placement schools look beyond the superficial.

Easily done early on though sumer.

With career changes you can get the sense of 'I'm later to teaching so know best because of all my real world experience'. With fresh out of uni trainees you can get 'I'm going to save the world one child at a time. In training they told us X which is best for...' and it turns out X is a rehashed version of Y which was popular 5 years ago.

As long as that reflective nature and willingness to learn comes out neither have to be an issue. It's the bloody minded 'I know better than my mentor and school' that's the biggest irritation... in my experience anyway!

Why teaching and not Biomedical science and healthcare? How much would you compromise to get your PGCE? One school I worked at rejected two students as incompatible, are you prepared to face that possibility?

Oh Maisypops, in 35 years, I’ve seen so many rebranded strategies and initiatives in primary! The worst is when something goes tits up and there’s no analysis, just an oubliette and SLT with no memory of it and how keen they were.
I’m hoping OP is more tactful irl.

At no point did I say covering my tattoos was a no...what I said is I have tattoos that can not be covered. Slightly Different.

I'm willing to work with a dress code :-) hence this entire post.

I don't think I'm better blah blah blah and am 100% willing to learn and reflect. I'm pretty certain I'll be terrible at first. But I do have confidence that I could make a great teacher eventually.

I'm pretty sure I'm a little bit more tactful in actual conversation. I don't exactly plan on going up to the headteachrr in my first werk and pointing out all that is wrong.

But I also don't think its wrong to reflect on some of the reasons that teachers are leaving in droves, and which of those things might apply to me and reflect upon how I might overcome them.

A simple suggestion about clear plastic jewellery was the most sensible suggestion.

It might be as simple as that :-)

But it's great to kmow teachers on mumsnet are willing to jump on someone who might be having a bit of a wobble about life changes. Notes to not ask for teaching support on here again.

Sounds like you want everyone that enters teaching to think the system is perfect and that they are mere mortals that will never excell at anything.

If you read some of the threads on why teachers are leaving, it’s paperwork, unrealistic expectations by government and SLT, lack of autonomy, constantly changing targets and most of it is imposed on the chalkface workers who have little power to challenge or change.
You spend a lot of time in teaching being told what to do, often by people who know a lot less. How good are you at being obedient and following orders from above?

sumer
Hats off to you for that long!

Trousers or skirt of a reasonable length. No boobs or belly on show, or thong popping out. Portsmouth has a wide range of schools and is short of science teachers. May the odds be in your favour.

On supply for the last couple ofyears MaisyPops. All the fun, none of the paperwork and politics...half the pay! Trotting towards retirement with glee. Supply uniform; trousers, tunic tops, comfy shoes.

But it's great to kmow teachers on mumsnet are willing to jump on someone who might be having a bit of a wobble about life changes. Notes to not ask for teaching support on here again.
There's a wealth of support and guidance. You aren't being jumped on. When you say piercings are nonnegotiable and that teacher dress code are the reason people leave and are put off teaching, it's not that surprising that people will pick up on it.

Sounds like you want everyone that enters teaching to think the system is perfect and that they are mere mortals that will never excell at anything.
Nobody has said that!
And people have just outlined things they would change in the system.

But the attitude you've just shown there when people are giving advice sort of fits with some of the initial impressions.