Get into teaching- what's the catch?

[DragonOnFire]

So I went to a get into teaching event last night as I'm a long term post-doc researcher thinking of moving to a career where I can still teach but have a bit of job security.
I was impressed with all the funding & support available and can see there is a huge effort to recruit new teachers. Felt like there was quite a hard sell from all the different training providers and I was getting all the positives about the profession.
The only question I wanted to ask but wasn't sure I'd get a genuine response was- why are we do desperate as a nation to recruit teachers? Why are people leaving the profession- is there a huge exodus of unhappy/burnt out teachers that requires a constant recruitment drive to bring new teachers in?
I'd really appreciate some honest insight from teachers about workload, management, and satisfaction? Anyone got lots of positives?
I'm looking at applying to start training in sept 2020 and would be leaving a happy career in academia because I just can't see myself progressing into a tenured role.

Hey Dragon, I'm not in pharma, so probably a bit different. Researchers In Schools seemed to have brilliant terms especially if you're in a science subject. Not sure how you'd continue your research on the extra day, though if you need a lab etc.

Thanks @moodlighting
I still haven't had chance to look up researchers in schools yet.
I'm not sure I'd be bothered to keep up research for 1 day/week though. It's not enough, especially for a lab- based researcher.
I'd want to just focus on teaching if I was going to career jump... Still weighing up my thoughts & feelings about it all.

The accountability is ridiculous. I’m my school we can’t progress in pay without reaching unreachable goals. However in my school you won’t lose pay either so I ignore the goals. I know I’m doing the best job I can. So that’s what I do. The school would find it very to replace me (I’m STEM) so I’m not going to be sacked. Oh and I’m not full time so I can cope with the pressure. So I’m not paid much but that’s just fine for me. Shrug off the pressure and if you can do that you might well enjoy the job.

*difficult to replace me

I agree with every word said. I'll probably die younger than I might from the constant stress. I still love the job. I would choose no other.

It's going to be my plan C I think.

Don't do it. Teaching should be plan A or nothing. It is a wonderful job if you are right for it and terrible if not.

I know I do not cope with micromanagement and extensive overtime in any career

You aren't micromanaged at all schools but you will always do very, very long hours at some times of year.

The only question I wanted to ask but wasn't sure I'd get a genuine response was- why are we do desperate as a nation to recruit teachers? Why are people leaving the profession- is there a huge exodus of unhappy/burnt out teachers that requires a constant recruitment drive to bring new teachers in?

You've hit the nail on the head in the first post. Don't the figures show that 1/2 of new starters leave within 5 years or something similar ?

I have to say if you left a previous job due to 'constantly moving goalposts' , then teaching definitely isn't for you

The pay is actually awful for the stress entailed and the amount of work you do. I’m amazed anyone goes into teaching anymore.

Lots of teachers I know want to get out, but don’t know what else to do!

Don't do it. The training is horrendous and the NQT year even worse, I wish I'd never done it. Constant hoop jumping and stress and not being there for your own family.

I constantly wish I’d trained in something else. I don’t know how to jump into something else.

Luck you don. I am constantly micromanaged!!

Love my job but signed off right now. It just can't all be done but the expectation is that it should - and better than last year - regardless of circumstances and the different cohort.

I moved from research into teaching. I did 3 years in the UK. Then moved to Australia. There are loads of UK teachers here. LOADS. The pay is good. In an independent school I get just about £50k a year as a band 2 teacher. I entered on that level, if I bothered to some hoop jump my salary would go up by another 5k, but I am happy. The work is intense as it is still teaching and the parents have high expectations. But NOTHING like what the PPs are saying.

In short, train in the UK and move abroad.

My sister has just sent me a very sad message to say she is taking a week off work because her mental health is at an all time low, she doesn't know who she is any more, she is surviving and not living. She teaches primary in a supportive school and mentally is pretty resilient in general and comes from a teaching family so knew what she was getting into. I honestly wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I work for a company in another European country that study the chemistry of plants and make products which are evidence-based. That company is not pulling funding, it's an in-house role and not going anywhere. I'm sure it's not the only one out there. There must be a million options using chemistry in the private sector without going into teaching. Please have a good old look outside the box before you do this to yourself!!!

That was me last year. I had two weeks signed off by the doctor after I considered crashing my car on purpose on the way to work. I had a complete panic attack and there was nothing happening that day that I was worried about. It was just a normal day.

This year, my class are so much worse. Every day is a battle against myself to go into work and I’ve cried many times so far. It’s not worth it.

I teach in an independent school.

The minuses: the days and weeks are long, especially if you are a boarding tutor as well. I am part-time and still go in six days a week (core subject).

The pluses: the kids in my school are lovely. Absolutely lovely.No-one is micro-managing what I do - no-one checks my lesson planner or asks to see lesson plans except when I am being formally appraised. I am held accountable for my results to an extent, but it is not linked to pay in any way. We have some protection from the crazy whims of whichever Education Secretary is incumbent because we can access IGCSEs.

Luck you don. I am constantly micromanaged!

I said you can find a school which doesn't, not that it's easy :-(

My school is awful for it, but they leave me alone. I literally haven't been observed in years. Mock Ofsted this week and they just pretend I don't exist. :-)

Well, yes I am ignore these days , mainly because they have shoved me in a metaphorical corner (actually, a fairly literal one!!)

But we have things like not being able to manage your own parents' evening appointments, for example...

I would say the mina thing that might annoy you as an academic OP is being patronised, is having your intelligence being seen a s a threat to SLT, and being infantilised.

My cousin is a biochem teacher but in at regional college rather than a secondary school. I’m sure it’s still has its drawbacks but somewhere like that. Ought be more in line with your experience in the Uni to date?

On the other hand I know a few primary and secondary teachers. Some have it hard some are doing well. Probably depends a lot on the school, management and funding.

If you don’t cope with extensive micro management, moving goalposts and extensive overtime, teaching really really isn’t the career for you!

This. With a million bells on.

If you are happy to work in a job where children make comments for your performance appraisal then go into teaching,

I would say the mina thing that might annoy you as an academic OP is being patronised, is having your intelligence being seen a s a threat to SLT, and being infantilised.

THIS^^

I used to be a research chemist and my biggest regret in life is not looking a lot harder for jobs in the private sector. It's always hard to get a job in the private sector. Most people I know who work in the private sector applied for hundreds and hundreds of jobs and/or had to take a lower grade (non-graduate) job, just to get their foot in the door. I wish I'd done that now - they're all sitting pretty now having very quickly moved up the ranks once they got on the ladder. Unfortunately, I panicked and thought I was never going to get a good job, so applied to do teacher training.

As for my views on teaching: it's OK, but I've managed to find a really nice school (on the 6th attempt!). I'm only still teaching because of the school holidays and the money, if I'm honest.

Thanks for all your moments everyone.
I'm really sad that teaching sounds like such a dire career choice,i really thought it would be a rewarding career in terms of teaching the kids. The bureaucracy and management sounds horrendous.
I've got friends and family who are teachers and I've had lots of advice from them. I wonder how much is regional variation,as my friends that as teachers near me seem to be surviving ok.
so sorry to hear you're all having such terrible experiences. I'm shocked by some of your stories!