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The staffroom

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

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Original poster

Is being a teacher so bad

72 replies

renniks · 13/11/2019 10:06

I was considering getting onto the teaching path as a career choice. Primary school age not secondary. Is it as bad as it seems? I've just posted in AIBU for traffic and a lot of people there are saying it's harder work than people think (like me).

It's work and a lot of patience but I'm so determined to make something of my life I'm a little disappointed people haven't got many positive things to say about being a teacher.

OP posts:

Pinkblueberry · 14/11/2019 12:46

I love teaching by the way - but I kind of did it step by step, so my A Levels and degree, then didn’t really know what I wanted to do, had I feeling I’d like teaching so worked in a school as a TA for two years (decided I’d go for TT after one year, but applications start almost a year before the course begins). Then did my PGCE which took a year. Would I now start from scratch with A Levels to do what I do now if I had to? I’m not so sure.

Pinkblueberry · 14/11/2019 12:47

I was not a mum when I did all that btw. So on second thought, as a mum of young children, definitely not.

theendoftheendoftheend · 14/11/2019 13:10

I did my training with 4 young children and it was fine BUT I did have excellent family support.
None of it was as difficult as I'd expected it to be.
I only did a small amount of volunteering in schools prior to applying, but I did already have a degree.
I really think if you want to do it, don't be put off, try it. I was put off for years and in hindsight it probably would have been easier to do it when I first wanted to if I'd only had the confidence to pursue it then.

dottiedodah · 14/11/2019 13:24

Some of my family are teachers and friends too.I think they have all been "burnt out " at some time though! The actual teaching is not so bad but all the politics and extra work loaded on them has been difficult .

CatAndFiddle · 14/11/2019 19:20

I enjoy the teaching. I prefer it to my previous corporate career. The profession is on a dire state, however. Retention is shocking. Mental health and well being of teachers is at an all time low.
I do think it is a good time to train, though. I think things have reached rock bottom and there's only one way to go from here.
I am moving to a private school at Christmas.

MaybeDoctor · 14/11/2019 19:36

If you really, really want to teach then go for it! You will need all that commitment later on when it becomes much, much harder.

I was a TA for a while before doing my PGCE. The very first morning I was introduced to one of the teachers I would be supporting (quite a brusque, experienced teacher in her 40s)and she greeted me with 'Don't come into teaching with any idea that it will be compatible with having a family, because it's not.'

At the time I just thought she was being negative and a bit bitchy (what a way to greet someone!), but to be honest she was probably right!

When I was teaching I generally worked 7.45 to 6pm in school every day of the week, tried to do 60-90 minutes at home most evenings and then worked all day Sunday. I never, ever got it all done!

My honest advice to you is not to waste time being a TA. It's a different job. Go down to your local college and register for a City & Guilds Award in Education and Training. It is a basic teaching course, taught over about 10 weeks and introduces you to all the key concepts of teaching: planning, providing for different abilities, inclusion, equalities...If you still think that you want to do it at the end of the course you will have great material for teaching interviews, but you won't have wasted years of your life studying.

leopardprintlara · 14/11/2019 20:18

It's a great job, hugely rewarding and I love working with children. I only work part time and struggle as we have no family to help with childcare is very difficult to juggle when children are ill and inset days etc. Training is hard, long hours and work at home. I did PGDE and was tough, with kids I imagine would be even harder. Working full time was too much for me but part time is great. Good luck op

Glitterkitten24 · 14/11/2019 21:25

I’m an NQT and last year during my PGDE studies was the toughest year of my life. I have similar ages children, but my husband has a degree of flexibility in his working hours, which is just as well cos he’s had to take days off when the kids were sick/ doctors appointments/ nursery drop offs when I had breakfast meetings in school/ collect kids when I had parents evenings etc.
I’d have really struggled if he wasn’t so awesome.

I am loving the job, but be aware that it’s a tough slog and not as family friendly as it’s portrayed. I mean, I’m sure eventually I will get my evenings and weekends back, but currently I’m still planning/ marking constantly because I’m inexperienced.

I love working with the kids, I love their chat and curiosity and enthusiasm... but it’s harder than I anticipated.

fedup21 · 14/11/2019 21:46

I do think it is a good time to train, though. I think things have reached rock bottom and there's only one way to go from here

I disagree sadly. I think it’s a rubbish time to train as it’ll cost bloody thousands and there are no teachers with any time to support trainees.

I agree that teaching is near rock bottom, but strongly suspect it will get worse. At the moment we have ‘some’ TAs left in primary and we have mainly qualified teachers in local schools and we still have ‘some’ children whose EHC plans come with funding attached. Those things could stop-then things will get much worse.

Then, I suspect (under another Tory government) they will just stay like that.

cdtaylornats · 14/11/2019 21:55

Under a Labour government you wont be able to afford a car and if you are in Scotland the SNP will want you to pay £500 per year for a parking space.

fedup21 · 14/11/2019 22:04

Under a Labour government you wont be able to afford a car

Can you link please?

Sewingbea · 14/11/2019 22:46

I enjoy the actual teaching but the hours are long. I was at work at 7.30 this morning, left at 5 pm as I had to collect DD (half hour lunch as usual). Have done two hours more paperwork this evening on the laptop. So about 11 hours today. I'd say a nine to ten hour day is usual, and it's full on whilst at school. No chance for a pause/ coffee/ loo break mid morning. But the kids are great and my colleagues supportive. But it's hard work, you have to really want to do it.

Biggobyboo · 15/11/2019 09:38

I half enjoy it but I work part time.

MaybeDoctor · 15/11/2019 12:44

Is it the half when you are not teaching that you enjoy?

On another note, I wonder if I should present a much more positive view of teaching, otherwise future governments might introduce conscription to get anyone with QTS back in the classroom again!

fedup21 · 15/11/2019 13:57

On another note, I wonder if I should present a much more positive view of teaching, otherwise future governments might introduce conscription to get anyone with QTS back in the classroom again!

That has occurred to me before!

There is by no means a shortage of qualified teachers in the country!

MaybeDoctor · 15/11/2019 14:08

Bizarrely, about six months after I had left, I was phoned by someone from DfE doing a survey about qualified teachers who were no longer teaching.

My immediate reason for leaving was being refused part-time working, so I spoke about that and talked about workload, but I wish that I had had more notice of that phone call!

Phineyj · 15/11/2019 19:43

That City & Guilds tip is great! Do that and see how you feel.

I'm happy in teaching but only because I took a massive pay cut and work a 0.5 contract.

I had support from my DH and DM when training and a reasonable amount of savings. We also paid for year-round childcare as sadly you need to work some of the holidays, especially when you are starting out.

CallmeAngelina · 15/11/2019 20:35

Can you qualify what you mean by having done an online course in Literacy in Year 11?
I'm pretty sure you need GCSEs in English, Maths and Science to be considered for teaching.

BackforGood · 15/11/2019 23:41

There dad works hard all day 5 days a week 9-5 sometimes earlier sometimes later.

I think this is an interesting comment. (Setting aside the fact that you have used 'there' instead of 'their' - I would never normally comment on a person's spelling or grammar on an internet thread, but it is relevant if you want to teach English to Primary aged pupils).
However, the interesting thing is that the implication here, is that you think working 9 - 5 for 5 days a week, is so hard, it is worthy of a mention.
I really think you would benefit from doing some shadowing, and getting to know some of the staff, and asking them what hours they actually work each week.

Original poster

renniks · 16/11/2019 10:05

@CallmeAngelina read my OP! I have GCSE's in maths English and science all grade C! Some people on here are so critical if I didn't have a brain I wouldn't want to do such a difficult and challenging job

OP posts:

Original poster

renniks · 16/11/2019 10:08

@CallmeAngelina the literacy course was an additional GCSE! I have business studies BTEC, Travel and Tourism BTEC oh and I must of missed out the Geography BTEC.

If I didn't feel capable of doing this I wouldn't of posted on MN asking for advice.

OP posts:

CallmeAngelina · 16/11/2019 10:18

TarquinGyrfalcon · 16/11/2019 10:21

CallmeAngelina

OP. You may have given this a lot of thought but I think you would probably find the reality of teaching very different to your perception.

fedup21 · 16/11/2019 10:37

Me too. It’s frightening.

Piggywaspushed · 16/11/2019 10:39

OP, have you had a previous job before children?

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