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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

If you had your time over again would you still become a teacher?

74 replies

Want4dayhelp · 21/10/2018 18:05

Seriously considered training to be a teacher after finishing my science degree. Decided not too and then dc/life got in the way. I now have a fairly stress free flexible job but it's not challenging at all. Every couple of months for the last few years I think about teaching again so I do some research and read the boards on here with all the posts about people wanting to leave teaching and it puts me off. I put it to the back of my mind again but it keeps coming back up.

If you are a teacher and could go back to before your training would you choose teaching again? Or something else?

OP posts:
LotsToThinkOf · 22/10/2018 08:14

I left 3 years ago after 10 years, I'd go back and do those years again but I wouldn't go back into teaching now. It's changed so much and is not the job I used to love.

Unfortunately, I'd say do something else.

parrotonmyshoulder · 22/10/2018 08:34

I would still be a teacher.

But I would have invested my first decade’s salary in therapy instead of gym membership.

AdventuringThroughLife · 22/10/2018 09:15

Ah yes. Id go back to teaching as it was 15 years ago for me as I loved it. What I dont like is teaching in English State Schools right now. Teaching iitself is fab.

haverhill · 22/10/2018 09:19

I don’t regret it at all, it’s a job that uses my strengths.
I teach in the independent sector though, which I realise probably makes a significant difference.

AdventuringThroughLife · 22/10/2018 10:02

I really think that does. I passed down the chance for a job in the independent sector twice due to various reasons and now wouldnt be a good contender. I do wonder if Id still be teaching in that case!

hels71 · 22/10/2018 18:42

No way. Currently trying to think of a way out after 22 years...

clowdyweewee · 22/10/2018 19:25

Not a chance. This is my 30th year and i have 8 years left. Definitely retiring at 60. I love the classroom stuff but all the unnecessary shite pisses me right off.

Woodenhillmum · 22/10/2018 19:57

Yes after 28 years, I still love my job, though I deliberately avoided SLT posts after I had my children .

BoneyBackJefferson · 22/10/2018 20:20

As someone that went into teaching after having a different job, I would have gone into teaching sooner.

theflesheatinggirl · 23/10/2018 09:33

I'm in my 25th year.
I'd do the first 15 years again like a shot, but wish wish wish I'd got out 10 years ago and done something else. I'm now in my 50s and find it hard thinking what else I could do. Lord knows how I'm going to keep going until me pension. The thought makes me weep.

CheesecakeAddict · 23/10/2018 21:04

Not sure to be honest.
I love working with the kids. They are the reason I still do it. But I'm bored of having to work every single weekend and evening, of certain parents, of unqualified teachers and having to pick up their slack because the school can't afford to hire experienced teachers. I'm fed up of being burnt out to the point of not being able to get out of bed. And then I see dh in a job he hates but gets paid more than double what I do, rocks up at 10am, leaves at 6pm and has never worked a weekend in his life. And I'm not sure if it's worth it.

Aryavinalaff · 23/10/2018 21:15

I was a class teacher for 18 years with gaps to have two children. Last year I left for good as I was just finding the endless target setting and pupil progress meetings so against everything I believed what childhood and education should be. I am now a Childminder and yes have taken a pay cut and am working more hours for less but it was honestly the best choice for me and my family, I wake up ready for the day not totally dreading it.

Zapho · 23/10/2018 21:16

I'm immensely proud of being a teacher and the very real difference I know I've made to a lot of kids' lives in a very tough area. It's hard to say I regret that.

But after 11 years I'm desperately trying to leave. I'm so tired of working evenings, weekends. I'm struggling to find the patience to deal with the kids (in a new area). The job just doesn't feel worthwhile anymore. I can't deal with the behaviour - the resilience I've had before is just... gone. I don't even feel like the holidays are worth it anymore.

Yumyumbananas · 23/10/2018 22:11

Something else!

luckybird07 · 24/10/2018 14:39

It depends when you ask me. Sometimes the job overwhelms and exhausts me but not all year long.
I enjoy it maybe 60-70% and spend the other 30% wondering if I can retrain.
I am in the US so no inspections, loads more freedom than I ever had in the UK- a 45 hour week and even in an inner city school, I feel the kids are more respectful than the inner city Croydon school I trained in where i actually felt threatened by the students....
I am also better paid here than in the uk, have an amazing pension if I can get another 17 years in BUT I still have days when I wish I had done something where I do not have to perform each day as it does leave you with little energy...but that may also be a middle aged thing.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 24/10/2018 19:54

This morning - yes.
This afternoon - no.

I think that's the problem - the highs are great, but the lows are getting lower.

MaisyPops · 24/10/2018 21:56

I’d choose teacher and choose the school carefully
This.
As a career change I nearly left teaching. Changing schools made the world of difference.

I'm glad I did something else first though. I think it gives a different perspective compared to many people who did school-university-teaching (nothing against that route by the way!) Most of the people who are still teaching from my course all had done something other than teaching first. Anecdotal but always something I think about.

Polarbearflavour · 25/10/2018 17:40

You can say it about any job though, it seems like every career has its major downsides these days!

I used to be a nurse? Would I recommend it, no. But some people love it.

I’m applying to do a PGCE, hopefully I’ll like it! I’ve tried nursing, Banking, Civil Service and boring admin jobs and nothing has really done it for me. Running out of career options!

Corneliawildthing · 25/10/2018 21:38

We actually had this discussion in the staff room today and none of us would choose teaching again. 36 years in and regret the 2 chances I had in my 20s to do something different. My mother harped on about the sacrifices they'd had to make to put me through college so I abandoned any ideas of doing anything else.

Unfortunately I live in an area where it's impossible to find anything else that pays as well so I'm stuck with it Sad

HarrySnotter · 25/10/2018 23:08

Something else.

PixieN · 26/10/2018 22:08

Something else I think. I’ve dedicated a decade to teaching & let other things slide that I wish I’d had the time and energy to focus on instead. I’ve sidelined friendships and family in the past which I now regret. There are days when I really love my job & feel fulfilled, but I don’t want it to define me and for it to be my main purpose in life.

wingingatlife · 27/10/2018 12:24

Teacher but only in private. State teaching is awful.

IWantChocolates · 27/10/2018 18:25

10 years in and I wished I'd done something else.

  • I racked up more student debt doing a PGCE and although I do get 13 weeks holiday and a fairly decent wage, I HATE all the stress and paperwork.
  • I am fed up of being observed through "learning walks"
  • fed up of things constantly changing/new initiatives
  • I hate the marking, especially when it's more or less been proved that marking doesn't actually = progress
  • some of the parents drive me insane with their don't-care attitude to their kids and their kids' behaviour
  • I hate having to be in the same place, day in, day out, hardly leaving the classroom
  • I'm fed up of not getting a proper lunch break (usually manage 15 mins out of 45, but I still eat sitting at my desk)
  • I hate the way there is pressure coming down from SLT with expectations that x, y, z will be done even though I'm teaching FULL TIME as well as running a phase and a core subject.

I am trying to leave, but tied to the salary at the moment (buying a house) but will reduce my hours soon and then leave in a couple of years. I am currently re-training in a different profession and I'm so excited to get that started, I can't wait!

Bearnecessity · 27/10/2018 21:36

Anything-else.

PixieN · 28/10/2018 07:16

What are you retraining in @IWantChocolates ? I need ideas lol Grin