Honest answers please

[namechangedyetagain]

I think I already know the answer but need it confirming so I can get the idea out of my head.

I'm thinking about doing a pgce / school based training for primary. Maybe in a year or so. I've been through 2 bereavements and am having counselling so I know I need to stronger mentally. I also started life at 21 training to be a teacher but had an unsupportive 3rd yr practice, and didn't cope well with the juggling of groups / work - was a mixed r/1/2 class in a village school. Because I gave up the qts I just have a normal maths/ed degree.

No one would even consider me would they?

I'm a totally different person now, and at 46 have life experience, children, work and am used to juggling!

Like I say I think I'm having a mid life crisis and maybe taking others comments that I should consider it too seriously. Maybe they were just being nice to me

So tell me I'm being daft and I need to get it out of my head.

Try it. What do you have to lose?

Not daft as in, you're not too old. I retrained as a teacher in my mid 40s.

I taught secondary rather than primary, I believe the workload for primary is greater (tho secondary is no easy ride).

Have you got any school experience? I would certainly set this up as a) it will be required and b) it will show you what it's like in the classroom.

I no longer teach BTW, I got fed up with swearing students and unsupportive SLT and having to spend every evening marking books, but many people manage it better than me and are just better at being a teacher, so don't let me put you off.

My friend did this similar age secondary languages

I do, I'm a ta in ks1, but have worked with intervention groups in ks2 also. Have been there 2 years so far so have seen the planning, the marking, the daft initiatives (!)

It was my teacher (and another) that said I should think about it. And three other teachers in tbe past. But then I lack confidence in myself so I think they're just being kind. And I'm not sure how I'll manage the feeling of never being good enough. Though I already feel that way as a TA so guess not much change there!

Could be summer holiday boredom setting in....

If you struggled before it’s important to consider that teaching involves even more juggling now than it was back then when you first tried. To be honest if you don’t need the extra money, being a TA is more enjoyable (I’m a teacher now and I love it - but I used to be a TA and if I won the lottery I would happily work as a TA for free.) I don’t think you’re too old at all though. It really just depends on what you want from life - teaching will be a lot busier, stressful (not in a negative way necessarily), and take up more of your time, but if you’re happy with that change in life and you’ve got that desire to be in charge in front of the class then look into it some more

You’ve got a maths education degree and think you’ll not be wanted as a primary teacher?

@noblegiraffe apart from the fact I graduated in 1998 and my degree has its uses it's all the other issues that are playing on my mind.

Like I say I've been through a lot recently and I need to make sure I'm considering it for the right reasons.

Do it! I’m 44 and I’ve just got my QTS through the School Direct programme. Had a brilliant year - hard but brilliant. If your school and colleagues are supportive it’s totally doable.

@PixieLumos please would you elaborate on how it involves more juggling? Just need to be completely aware.

I stupidly filled out a form on tinterweb and had a lovely chap phone me back giving me opening dates for applications

Just because 5 or 6 teachers have mentioned it, it doesn't mean it actually could be possible does it? I definitely need more ks2 experience as I'm quite 'nurturing'. Though if my y6 ds is anything to go by they need just as much care!

Anyway I'm waiting for an email from an assigned teacher to guide me through the process...

I so want to give it a go but my dh says I'm finding excuses to get out of it / put it off. He knows that it's not a family friendly job (I've been in during the hols already) but yet is still supportive.....

I'm dreading even mentioning it when I go back in September. How do I broach it? I don't even think I'm that good as a TA. Don't want anyone to think I've got ideas above my station

Senior schools are desperate for maths teachers imo you would be much better off considersing being a maths teacher than having to teach primary all subjects, less paperwork too.

I didn’t teach back then @namechangedyetagain but from what I’ve been told by colleagues who have (there aren’t many - I suppose that speaks for itself) accountability and scrutiny was a lot less intense, creating less workload in itself. Planning and marking was much simpler, data recording was less frequent and less complex and there wasn’t as much IT and technology involved, which although it was invented to make life easier appears to have just created more things for teachers to do and achieve. There were also more special schools - schools are now more inclusive so differentiation is more important and complex. Overall, standards are higher - what used to be ‘satisfactory’ now ‘requires improvement’. I’m not trying to put you off at all - I still really enjoy teaching - but issues with workload is often in the news and there is a reason for it, and some schools are better than others when it comes to managing it. Teacher retention is low and one reason for it I think is that’s PGCE students are unaware of how great the workload really is - the airy fairy ‘get in to teaching’ adverts don’t help in my opinion. Being aware of what’s expected will help you face those challenges.
I would speak to your colleagues again and ask them for further advice. I really don’t think they would tell you you would make a good teacher just to be nice - they know what it takes and clearly they’ve seen it in you. If you really want to do this my main advice would be to find your confidence- you say you’re a bit lacking in it but you will definitely need it. You will have to deal with a lot of scrutiny and criticism, and often ridiculous expectations during your training and beyond. You’ll need to be resilient and believe in yourself.

Thank you so much. Though I really love marking and thinking of things could push themn along

But you've mentioned the thing that worries me - we are subject to (even as tas) the observations, the learning walks, the data drops. Defending yourself if one of your intervention group hasn't made progress within the half term etc. I'm worried that (as I am at this minute) this might break me and I need to be tougher.

There's only so much you can do within the hours and I suppose that's the main thing - that teachers can't fix everything.

Though would that feeling be any different to any other teacher?

The nqt year is tricky, and this year I've been put with an nqt. Maybe that will help make up my mind. And like I say, I will be asking for me more experience in ks2 and with our nurture room.

As Pixie says, my biggest concern for you would be your confidence.

You don't get much positive feedback in teaching, from the kids or other adults. IME people who need a lot of reassurance that they are doing well/ right, or have a lot of worries about their own performance, find it the hardest to survive.

I think to be a happy teacher you need to be the sort of person who doesn't much care what other people think and can get pleasure from reflecting carefully on their own practice and finding both the positives and things to work on for themselves.

You need to be able to shrug your shoulders when some new keeno tells you your lesson wasn't good enough because you only mentioned the latest buzz word 5 times instead of 125- if you know the buzz is adding more to their CV than the kids' learning. You also need to be able to enjoy spending time at home unpicking why Billy didn't understand your explanation of common denominators and how you can help him to get it tomorrow, without anyone telling you to and without worrying that the reason he didn't get it is because you are a rubbish teacher.

Sometimes on difficult days I quietly congratulate myself just for turning up- because no other bugger is going to!

Given the current recruitment crisis they would not bat an eye. Go for it.

The recruitment crisis depends where you are- it's not a thing in the West country.

That's the thing - as a TA I go home and worry why Tom didn't get x y or a and think about how I could di that again tomorrow...
Or why Millie found the maths so easy and how could I extend her tomorrow.

But yes, I definitely think I need my confidence building in the next year or so. I've been placed with the nqt this year so we'll see how that goes.

I just know I need a change in my life somehow but I wouldn't want to leave school.

Of course they will consider you. Why wouldn’t they? A friend of mine is starting teaching in September, aged 57, also teaching maths.

I think you should go for it - if nothing else it will make you take the risk and see if you can manage. If you find it’s not for you after all, well then at least you had a good go. Another alternative would be doing private tutoring -this is really good for building confidence!

Oh gosh. I'm so not a risk taker. Generally I'd rather not do something than try and fail miserably. Though this policy has really had a negative affect on my life.
And now having two losses within such a short space of time I'm realising that life really is way too short to wonder 'what if?'

Honestly, if you’re a ta and still fancy teaching, I would go for it - I’ve been a ta for years and there is no way I would ever want to teach - it completely put me off as I saw all the worst bits!