Retraining as a teacher.

[WhiteCat1704]

I'm a qualified professional with years of experience in my industry. I have a job that pays well and, at the moment, is flexibile. Unfortunately my business is getting sold and there will be a round of voluntary redundancies. I'm considering taking it and training to be a chemistry teacher (worked as industrial chemist for several years and my diploma is over 50% chemistry).

The 26/28k tax free bursary makes retraining an attractive prospect.

I have a young child and if I stay in my industry and want to mantain my level of pay I will have to travel extensively. 10-15 weeks of travel within a year used to be my pre-child average.

I don't want to do that. My child will start school in couple of years and I want to be there. Prospect of long holidays at the same time as DC makes it very attractive too.

My question is..would you do it?
I would be looking at over 40% pay cut and that's really putting me off..On the other hand the salary would likely build up so it could be temporary..

I have read a range of opinions..some people say it's long hours and not a family friendly career but coming from a job where so much travel is required I find it hard to believe..

If as a chemist you need to do physics and biology too I would rather teach maths...But given apparent significant shortages in all of those subjects I'm suprised schools could make demands like that.

I’m really surprised you didn’t know that teaching general science is totally normal and expected at (pretty much) every single school in the country.

The key thing you need to do is get into schools and see if you like it. It’s a bloody hard job and you can’t do it half-heartedly. You might decide that working part time in a better paid industry role for the same money is a better option.

I have a degree and PhD in Biology, I'm still expected to teach Chemistry and Physics in addition to Biology. There are very few schools where you will teach just within your specialism and you're being very naive to think you would.

Also saying you will try to observe some lesson before you apply is a bit naive too. It will most of the time be a requirement of being accepted onto the course that you have spent a good amount of time in a school observing lessons before you apply.

To be honest like most people you're not going into this for the right reasons by the sounds of it. I doubt you'd get past the first few years. Most people don't when they are in it for the bursary and the holidays 🙄

SLT can put any subject on your timetable. RE is the only exception to this. You will then be judged on your ability to teach the new subject.

You woul also be paid less and taxed in the first few years of teaching compared to your training year.

OP have you been into a school recently?

If as a chemist you need to do physics and biology too I would rather teach maths...
Generally teachers are members of the science department or the maths department; they wouldn’t teach across both, but would be expected to teach the whole range of subjects/levels within their department.

*But given apparent significant shortages in all of those subjects I'm suprised schools could make demands like that
How would you expect it to work then? To chose what you teach? Nah, doesn’t work like that. You’re employed as ‘a teacher’ and the person who does the timetable will deploy you as they see fit. If you’re a maths / English / science teacher then you’ll usually teach exclusively within your department. If you teach humanities or other subjects you might find some rather random classes on your timetable where gaps are being filled.

With kindness, it doesn’t sound like you really understand what teaching involves. Like others have said, watch School (not the ‘Edicating...’ programmes; they are less realistic) and arrange to spend some proper time in s local comp. Then decide. It can be a great career but it’s not for everyone.

Just don’t. It’s heinous.

😂 you don't want to teach biology and physics! Well you'd better look at FE then rather than secondary teaching.

I am so sick of trainees thinking they can just teach biology and then complaining they have to do physics and chemistry, even to KS3 llevel.A total ignoranceof how schools work is becoming the norm. And the lack of basic knowledge is astounding, no idea about forces, basic atomic structures, cell organelles, really, really basic stuff.

If you want to be a science teacher in a secondary school I recommend you book a few days observations. My friend did this and was totally put off by the fact she would have to deal with pupil behaviour I would also recommend you buy some revision guides or textbooks and familiarise yourself with the curriculum/GCSE specifications for all science subjects.

You might have a huge amount of experience in industry, you might have an excellent degree and post graduate qualifications, but being a teacher is a vocation, even for cynical old timers like me. I couldn't do it if it was just a job, you have to be motivated beyond the pay cheque and the holidays.

The best advice is get into couple.of schools! This will be expected when you apply. You need to observe lessons with kids of all ages, see the reality of teaching the different Sciences, and talk to people in the job.

I love teaching and am in my 22nd year, however, I am in a supportive school with a trusting head who values staff well being. I have a very thick skin and dont let the relentlessness of disinterested kids get to me. Same for work/book looks and observations. I know many teachers (mainly in huge MATs) who are suffering with their mental health due to ever changing policies and scrutiny from above.

Hi, I'm currently training to be a biology/science teacher and just wanted to back up what others are saying about having to teach all three sciences. At my uni at least it's expected we teach all sciences to ks4 while training and in my last placement I was actually teaching more hours of chemistry than biology as I had two ks3 classes doing a chemistry topic as well as teaching biology and chemistry to year 10. It seems like a lot of schools follow a system of rotating ks3 classes between the sciences, keeping the same teachers, so you will teach the same class biology, chemistry and physics.

We are given support at uni with teaching our non specialist subjects but we are also judged on them - last placement my uni tutor came to watch me teach year 10 chemistry!

Private schools are better in terms of only teaching your own science BUT do be aware that this appeals to lots of science teachers so the competition is quite high! Also do be aware that some private schools demand a lot in terms of extra curricular activities (e.g. You're expected to run clubs at lunch and after school) as well as attending a lot of events. The pay isn't always better either (as I understand it, it can be worse because it can be pro-rata to the longer holidays).

Finally, as no one has mentioned it yet I'll just add in that the training year is hard work. You're in school full time (although not teaching a full timetable) but you have uni assignments and admin on top, so eg planning a lesson takes me longer as I have to put everything in the uni format and I also have to write lesson evaluations and weekly evaluations and upload the notes from my mentor meetings in school and so on. None of these things alone are very time consuming but they do add up!

Personally, I find the teaching itself really rewarding and I like working with young people, so it's worth it for me and I do think the job has lots of practical upsides BUT you definitely need to know what you are getting into!

In addtion to 'having' to teach other sciences, I suspect you might not also like the prospect of teaching PSHE, being a form tutor, teaching something like the nebuloulsy titled 'study skills' or 'independent study' etc etc. You really need to know what the job involves! I do think your latest contribution does smack of that 'arrogance' I alluded to previously, as if you feel schools should be so grateful to have you that thye will accede to your every command. One of the things teachers find most stressful (I read yesterday) is lack of control and autonomy : we are not necessarily treated like intelligent, sentient adults!

My DH teaches in a private school. The grass is not greener. They are expected to contribute extensively to 'co curriculum' which in his case means giving up many Saturdays managing a football team. Every single teacheer is expected to make this level of contribution. Worth noting is that independent school days are usually longer, too, with the pay off of longer holidays, admittedly.

I would also like to let you know that many of our maths teachers don't just teach maths! They are frequently called upon to teach physics , IT, computer science.

Hmm...the bursary and holidays are what are attracting you? Not a desire to work with young people? A need to make some kind of difference?

It is a tough job and really not family friendly. Before doing anything at all, you need time in a school. Take a week off work and shadow a teacher in an average comprehensive near you. If that doesn’t put you off, you will probably need to look at SKE courses for physics/biology but any school you spend time in will be able to advise. Equally, a PGCE provider would advise and your local in-school teaching group of schools will also help (see banners displayed on the fences of schools locally for who to contact).

That you don’t understand why you can’t just teach chemistry made me smile. You are qualified to teach and increasingly, non-specialists are teaching across the board. In the current climate, I can’t see a way that will improve. Some schools value specialisms and will do everything they can to give you classes to teach in your specialism but it’s rarely possible for a full timetable in a secondary school - it’s just not cost effective and anyway, it’s ‘science’ at KS3. I say that as a linguist who is a French specialist with a French degree who previously worked in a Spanish-only school. You may want to consider a 6th form or FE college and teach only at A Level but that does seriously restrict employment options.

The situation in our schools is at breaking point. People are leaving in droves. Pay portability and automatic pay increases have gone. You can languish at the bottom of the scale for sometime, even if successful. Behaviour is poor, even in good schools, and if managed badly, can massive,y impact on your own mental health. Some schools are better than others. Outstanding schools are not necessarily good places to work but then neither are schools in RI or worse, special measures. You are expected to get the results - not the students. And the students know it.

I’m Maths. I’ve also actively taught, over 25 years or so:
KS3 Science (all 3)
ICT/Computing
Psychology A level (research modules)
Critical Thinking (AS/A level)

I’ve “taught” (as in delivered pretty much pre prepared lessons in)
PSHE/Citizenship
RE
D&T

I was a late entrant to teaching after a very varied previous life, and very much enjoyed teaching (and getting good results in) the range of subjects I was asked to deliver. I started off part time, which I think is why the diversity crept in as I moved to full time. Very few teachers teach only their degree subject though, I would have thought this was common knowledge.

I think this may be caused by the severe teaching shortage. People with good qualifications see that the country is desperate for teachers and think that they will be welcomed with grateful open arms to teach the subject that they are expert in.

My school certainly has science and other subject teachers occasionally teaching maths.

Excellent PPs here just wanted to add I think working in the independent sector is probably the only way you'll get to just do chemistry (and your industry experience will probably be more valued in that sector too). Although you might be surprised if you do get into it, I'm biology qualified but the chemistry units are by far my favourite to teach so you never know!

As a manager in the science department over the years I've also had to teach PSHE as a form tutor, graphics (?!), and yr7 nurture group covering bits of all subjects within a themed curriculum until someone realised that was a stupid idea.

My degree is History but I've also taught RE, Geography, ICT, English, PSHE and Business.

Also. We've had interviewees make it quite clear that they only expected to teach 'their' subject. They were shown the door pretty sharpish.

noblegiraffe To be honest that's what I thought...

I think this may be caused by the severe teaching shortage. People with good qualifications see that the country is desperate for teachers and think that they will be welcomed with grateful open arms to teach the subject that they are expert in.

I assumed that as there is a significant money thrown to attract career changers the culture in schools would be more welcoming and understanding. Clearly I was naive about it too.

@WhiteCat1704

At least you’ve realised that now. You sound sensible-don’t do it!

I assumed that as there is a significant money thrown to attract career changers the culture in schools would be more welcoming and understanding. Clearly I was naive about it too.

That would be lovely. It would also be lovely if schools - and government policy - worked hard to ensure that those teachers already in schools were treated well so that they didn’t all want to leave.

It would also be lovely if schools - and government policy - worked hard to ensure that those teachers already in schools were treated well so that they didn’t all want to leave.
Agreed. It sounds like the op would be one of those expecting a red carpet rolled out for her, despite having no experience actually teaching.

I assumed that as there is a significant money thrown to attract career changers the culture in schools would be more welcoming and understanding.

Yes it’s not just a recruitment crisis, it’s a retention crisis. Actually if conditions were good then there wouldn’t be a crisis at all, as all the well-qualified expert staff that schools already had wouldn’t be quitting in huge numbers.

Unfortunately the DfE’s tactic is to throw more and more money at recruitment and do nothing to plug the leaky bucket (which is now entirely missing its bottom).

It's not about being welcoming and understanding. We aren't there for you, OP. You are there for the children. The profession wants people who would like to do the job. There is something wrong in our society- a long long list of reasons- that means we don't have enough of those, and those that exist are leaving. But I have no truck at all with people who come into teaching thinking they are gracing us with their presence. I am aware that sounds blunt.

You really need to think about how a school with 1,000 pupils, 30 to a class, a need to fulfill the requirements of the National Curriculum and teach ‘science’ (and all the other subjects), a number of teachers who work full and part time with different specialisms, and a need to set pupils according to ability actually manages to put a timetable together. To have students on a carousel of different teachers for specialisms requires children being taught at the same time so teachers are able to rotate about them. That’s more complex than your science teachers teaching science. If you want to only teach chemistry you may have a couple of GCSE classes in years 10 and 11 and then be needed for, say, a term a year for years 7,8 and 9 if they are equally taught the three sciences. That’s not a full timetable - the average school has 30 lessons a week and a teacher with no additional responsibility would likely be expected to teach for 26 of those. 3 lessons of chemistry at GCSE a week per class for 2 classes in each year is only 12 of those. What would you do whilst you are waiting to do chemistry at KS3? It’s simply not cost effective for people to teach their specialisms all of the time.

I assumed that as there is a significant money thrown to attract career changers

The significant money is given to anyone who trains. It’s not about attracting career changers. It’s about getting bums on seats.