Contemplating a science based pgce...advice appreciated!!

[whenitsover]

I graduated with a degree in chemistry and am thinking of taking up a pgce this September. It’s a big change in my career I know, but feel that it’s returning back to what I know and am good at. I am still researching this and want to spend a few days in a secondary school
To see whether it’s truly the right thing. I also feel that becoming a teacher would be incredibly rewarding (I am aware of the pitfalls - over worked/ under paid, bureaucy, kids are maybe more entitled etc - some of which is easier to understand given my current job). I remember my chemistry teacher and he had a long lasting impact on me.

I could focus on a science pgce that would also a bursary or scholarship which would be beneficial, but not necessary. I would quit my job and pursue a year long pgce.

I would be a mature student (am approaching 40) and this would be a change in career as I have spent the last 15+ years as a chartered accountant in middle / senior mgmt roles. I think my experience would help in being organised and prepared for the pgce.

I would like to know peoples experiences of taking on a pgce later in life, following a change in career. I also have two small DCs, so would appreciate knowing how this would impact day to day life.

Hi OP.

It might be worth asking MNHQ to move this to staffroom where you might get a few more teachers browsing!

The only thing I'd say is that you need to spend more than a f ew days in a secondary school. Do you have any experience (recent) of working with young people?

You'll be aware that there are nurseries to support science graduates qualifying as teachers. Shortage area.

Lack of classroom experience is not necessarily a barrier to applying at the moment, as providers know this has not been possible really for the past year.

My husband is doing a science pgce at the minute, similar age to you after 15 years working in industry. It's going really well. And actually your age is a help in terms of errr, gravitas in the classroom shall we say?!

Do investigate the bursary options, as with a tax free bursary you may not have a massive pay cut, obviously it depends what you earn at the minute but most people could cover their bills with £26k. And a loan for your fees as well.

I attempted this. Although at a younger age (late 20's) and absolutely hated it. Other teachers treated me like an imbecile and the dynamics were awful. The best part of the job was actually teaching the kids- and no one seemed to let you get on with that- instead I had one narcissist asking me to plan down to the minute "33 mins after the start, ask XYZ". I was also a chemistry speciality, based in a school 80% of the time, with specific uni days/weeks throughout the year.
If you go ahead, GOOD LUCK

@Piggywaspushed fair point, do you have an insight into how this would work given that schools are currently closed and when they do reopen, it will be with a different operation. Is it ok to contact schools directly? I’ll move this post too :)

@DalryPlace yes I’m aware - I’m in the process of applying to the royal society of chemistry for a scholarship, thank you

@AOwlAOwlAOwl yes, it’s a shame the funding isn’t available for other courses too (i understand they were scaled back), but it’s helpful for me. Is it possible to get a student loan too?

@Dalooah that does not sound fun - sorry you had a tough time with it. Does a lot of it depend on where you are placed (school) abs the associated environment and culture? I live in a city with lots of grammar schools, so was thinking of applying there - but as a comprehensive student myself I’m
Not sure whether that would be a good thing or not. Do you mind me asking what you do now for a living? In that did other options open up for you post pgce other than teaching?

Thank you all :)

Hi OP
You will be able to get a place on a Chemistry PGCE which still attracts the £24000 bursary for the year, paid in 10 equal instalments, tax free. If you are a UK citizen/have access to public funds you will be able to apply for a student load to cover your tuition fees (£9250) and then pay that back once earning at about £100/200 per month.

Have you considered the ‘school direst’ route? You are straight in a classroom (after a week long summer school which covers the basics) then in school 4 days a week and in ‘core training’ one day a week.

Remember you can also go part time - and take eg five terms to complete your course (1 year and two thirds).
Anything goes!

Be prepared to work during your holidays or evenings during the pgce year as the pgce part is quite demanding. Two masters level assignments with all the reading that goes with. Things get easier after that.

Good luck!
It’s a great job when you have your own kids!

Hi OP, it is tricky for sure. Contacting schools directly is best : or any organisation that works with young people. You might be surprised what you can get out of that : they are all after catch up tutors , for example, at the mo. I mentioned it not just for application reasons but because I think you need to see inside a school for more than a few days to see what they are like, warts and all (clue: they aren't like those nauseating ads on the telly!!)

Yes student loan is possible for a PGCE.

My husband did schools direct which in hindsight was absolutely the best route as he has now got way more classroom experience than others who only started their placements after half term.

I did a SCITT in my 30s and loved it, I felt part of the school I was placed in as I was there from the INSETs in September. There were also less assignments as we only got QTS, but if you are happy to stay in England this is fine. I didn't want to go back to uni to do a PGCE or PGDE as I'd already spent far too long at university (I have a PhD in chemistry). I got the bursary as part of my course, the amount was related to highest degree or degree class - whichever was better in the table they gave us.

The SCITT seemed the best of both worlds. In school from day one but not thrown in ar the deep-end, we mainly observed lessons and shadowed students for the first 6 weeks.

Here's a run-down on my teaching career, in case it helps:
I'm a chemistry specialist and did a PGCE in my 30s, with a baby. I did try to get on a 'learn on the job' route, but there weren't as many around then & ended up on the PGCE.

I really enjoyed it for the first 5 years, but needed to move schools due to relocating, ended up being the victim of horrendous work-place bullying which caused PTSD & I left teaching for a couple of years. Work place bullying is rife in teaching. I wasn't going to go back, but couldn't get a job back in my old field (pharmaceuticals) & anything else would have meant retraining AGAIN, & I couldn't face it.

So, in the end I started doing supply, mainly to test out schools, so I didn't end up in a bullying school again, and I eventually settled on the one I'm currently in, the other 3 I tried were awful in one way or another.

Although I'm settled & I'll stay at my current school, I can't say I'm particularly happy. I'm now 16 years down the line from retraining, and I bitterly regret it. I find the workloads too high & I find the teaching itself a bit boring TBH. I think I'm a bit weird because my favourite part of the job is exam marking - if I could get a job doing that all year round, or something similar, I would!
Also, when I was in my 20s/30s I was never interested in money, but now I'm in my late forties, all my friends & family seem to have overtaken us, & we're stuck really, so I really wish I'd opted for a higher paying career (like pharmaceuticals!). The other thing I detest is the lack of status - most of my in-laws are doctors & I'm definitely perceived as being of lower status, & I obviously earn a lot less money. This didn't happen when I was a research scientist in pharmaceuticals, even though I'm just the same person.

I wish I could get promoted - I'd love to do timetabling/data analysis within an education environment, but it seems to always be a deputy head job, and I had to step right back to classroom teacher after the bullying & I daren't ever move schools again.

Also for me, the workloads were doable when my kids were in nursery because I dropped them off at 7.30am, picked them up at 6pm, they'd been fed & just needed putting to bed BUT I found it a massive struggle when they got older & started wanting to do loads of after school activities. My older DD especially (now 16) still does a sport to quite a high level, so in non-COVID times we are still running her around all over the place. I can't wait for her to pass her driving test.

Sorry, I've rambled on for far too long!

@astuz I could have written your post, to the letter. Teaching Career is like a pit, easy to fall down and impossible to get out.

op I would say don’t do it. Really. You think it would work with kids, being term time only. But you just spend your time stressed in the evening and weekend trying to prepare for lessons, so don’t enjoy free time with them anyway.

When I took a break for a year my mum said how much nicer I was. No stress. I am 50 and feel stuck. Low pay, low status and bored of doing essentially the same thing for 15 years, albeit at different schools. I would love to leave tomorrow if I could find something.

astuz I do data & timetabling in a school trust and I'm not and never have been a teacher. I know a few ex teachers who do it. Quite a number of secondary schools now see it as a role in its own right rather than a DH job. You just need the right school.

AOwlAOwlAOwl I always thought it paid less though, when schools did that, as it came in under being an admin role.

I'm on 36k if that helps. It's not DH salary I know but it's not totally shit. Once you get to trust level there are some jobs paying 50k+. I don't have the right skill set for those (yet).

I am an ex-chemistry graduate and ex-chartered accountant and am currently in my NQT year as a chemistry teacher. I trained via Now Teach and suggest you get in touch with them, they specialise in getting career changers into teaching. Now Teach really just act as a broker between you and your training provider (whether that's uni route or school based route) but really importantly to me you do your PGCE year 4 days a week (and I am doing NQT 4 days a week). I would really struggle with 2 secondary age DC at home otherwise. Also you have a cohort of similar aged trainees to have a whinge with.

It's really hard work and rubbish pay (compared to my previous job) but I'm mostly enjoying it and glad that I did it.

I'm a science teacher. I regret it a lot. Love the teaching (most of the time) hate all the shit that comes with it and the feeling that no matter how much I've done there's still more I should have done

@NotaPenguin The thing is though, you're still an NQT. I thought it was fun (but very hard work) in my NQT year. It was all shiny and new & different, but I'm assuming the OP wants to stay in the career for many years.

I became jaded round about my 4th year in, & what hedgehogger1 says: the feeling that no matter how much I've done there's still more I should have done, really resonates. In my first few years, I assumed I'd eventually get to a point where I wouldn't feel like that, but it's always there.

The first 3 years were fun, so I would recommend the OP doing it, but making sure she doesn't burn bridges & can go straight back to her old role if things don't work out.

Thanks all :)

So helpful to read your experiences. I think for the time being I need to research this all in more detail by spending time
In schools whenever that is possible.

I was hoping to commence the pgce this September but actually it’s probably better to Delay this. My current job is ok, pays a lot more than teaching and is fairly flexible, so I have the luxury of time to commit to this decision.

I think delaying is wise. There is a glut this year because of various presumably Covid related reasons. It will be interesting to see how that pans out retention wise.

I would say, though, teaching is 'easier' when DCs are nursery age. Childcare is v expensive, of course, but nursery hours are good compared to school hours. A lot depends, also, on DP's job and whether you have supportive, and available, family nearby.