Would you advise someone to go into teaching?

[scrappydappydoo]

DD is 14 and doing her options so we’re having lots of discussions about future careers. Amongst many others she’s considering teaching (primary). Having read a lot of threads on here by both teachers and parents I worry about this as a career choice. Do you think things are going to change or will it only get worse?

I would not recommend anyone to go into teaching. I've heard that secondary may be slightly better but definitely not primary.

You do need to be resilient but also to be lucky enough to be in a decent school. I've know several very resilient people be in awful schools and give up teaching, it's a real loss to the profession.

It’s a youngster’s game. Once she has a family of her own it’s impossible to jump through all of the hoops.

Never. It's ruined my family life and my mental health.

I really enjoy it , but have always chosen the schools I work in carefully. The one school I hated, I resigned within a term, went on supply and found a school I liked.
I worked in financial services for 10 years before training to be a teacher, and find the workload challenging, but not excessive.
I think that I would encourage her to spend a year doing something else though, because I think a lot of younger people go straight into teaching from not knowing what else is out there.
Maybe encourage her to do a general degree, and follow a post grad route? Much more flexible.

I’m curious here - as I’m considering training as a much older person (worked in business then have had long gap to have large family). Lots of you complain about the hours. What are your typical hours if you count all the marking and prep work needed?

If full time 70 hours a week

I work every evening after school apart from Friday eve when I collapse at 8pm and sleep until 10am the next day. I also work at weekends. Book marking, assessment marking, planning, answering emails...

I work 3 days a week in school and another 12 hours or so with marking/prep.

Just totalled up my hours for this week and it's 52. This was a light week, I'd add another three or so typically. I had a conversation at work with a teacher who used to be a graphic designer for fifteen years. She said that teaching is much more intense and that there is no "downtime" or quiet time during the day, even lunch is rushed and often spent working.

Surveys by TES show that primary teachers work more hours than secondary, on average. Both have their own challenges--behaviour can be tough in both. Pastoral responsibility is huge in both.

I've been teaching 12 years and now am employed as a higher level teaching assistant (HLTA), part time. My salary is tiny but I get to do the part of the job I love - actually teaching. I cover classes for the teachers. I couldn't do full time teaching now, even in the loveliest school.

Sorry, should've said just then that I am a filully qualified teacher. In fact all three candidates shortlisted for my post were actual teachers wanting to have a more manageable role.

I work 8-5 in school every day with no real breaks. Then 1-2 hours every evening plus around 4 hours at the weekend. That’s a normal week. Add in reports or assessments and it’s more. Primary.

I’m a secondary teacher and I love it. We are relatively well paid, and anyone who says the holidays aren’t great (especially when you have children) is lying.

Thanks everyone.
I guess I just have to try it. I used to work 9 to 7 in my old career (and only had 4 weeks holiday a year) but I was young and fit then....

I’m curious here - as I’m considering training as a much older person (worked in business then have had long gap to have large family). Lots of you complain about the hours. What are your typical hours if you count all the marking and prep work needed?

I’m in school 7.30-5.30/6 and then probably do another couple of hours in the evening and a large chunk of Sunday.

I’m thinking of teaching but I currently work in a civil service job for £32k. Flexi time, 37 hours a week. I never work on a weekend or evenings and can’t imagine sacrificing my life for other people’s children.

Thought of being a TA but 12k a year isn’t appealing either!

I never work on a weekend or evenings and can’t imagine sacrificing my life for other people’s children.
And I can only dream of a job like that Currently waiting for the kettle to boil before I go back to laptop and do a few hours more work...