If I knew then what I knew now PGCE

[Jaynenotjane]

After lots of musing and deep thinking, I wanted to write this in the hope that it could potentially be helpful, even if to only one person. 16 years ago I completed my PGCE and was advised in the strongest way to act morally and only apply for jobs in the state sector by our course tutor. I belive I would have thrived in the independent sector but as a young student who didn't want to rock any boats and do the right thing, I dutifully applied and was successful in a state school. I completed my NQT year and then left the teaching profession. I have been in and out of teaching jobs never settling for 16 years. I feel a great sense of loss of what I could have had and what I missed out on. I wish I had taken external advice and asked for guidance, I didn't have supportive parents. If you are out there and not sure about making big decisions I would recommend you seek advice from professional coaches, careers guidance and friends, follow your heart which ever direction it takes you and don't be afraid to do what is best for you.

It is always sensible to seek advice from people who know well you and/or the profession you work in. You obviously also need to bring your own critical faculties to bear before making any decisions.

From your post, however, you do give the impression that you are blaming this one course tutor for 16 years of unhappiness - or at least regret for what might have been - in your professional life. I don't understand that.

You see you had a successful NQT year - great! That is much easier to access in the state system (not all private schools offer that support) and you obviously coped well. However you then say you left the profession, just at the point that many independent school teachers would have transferred into the sector with their NQT year firmly under their belt. Did you consider private education at that point? If not, why not?

Having said you left the profession after a year, you then say you have been in and out of teaching jobs for 16 years - so, not left the profession? Were any of those jobs in the independent sector? If not, what has made you think about this now, and trace every decision you made about job applications over 16 years back to one bit of advice from one person?

I don’t think you can blame being told to get a job in state schools by a colleges tutor 16 years ago for you leaving the profession or never settling! Why didn’t you just apply for a job in a private school after your NQT year!?

I don’t disagree with your last statement!

But I will say I work in the independent sector and it’s certainly not all sunshine and roses. Different, yes. Easier, not necessarily. It’s also not too late for you to seek employment in a private school and give it a whirl. Are you primary or secondary?

My prep has specialist teachers who like to focus mainly on their own subject but want to work in primary and year 7 and 8. That’s a great opportunity.

Small class size (I teach reception and have 16 in the class) makes things easier but the pressure just changes. It’s high, parents are paying a fortune so it’s an interesting juggling act of the pushy parents verses those who want so much attention for their money verses some very over precious parents who’s child “could never go into a state school” verses regular parents. Thankfully the latter generally out numbers the former but when there’s money at stake and no waiting list because it’s getting harder to afford, it just shifts the pressure in a different direction.

In theory the work load is somewhat less because I’m preparing half the books and marking half the work and inputting the data....but it makes up for itself in other ways. Those “extras” that need to be thrown in - my class does a full stage production every term. ,My interventions program is through the roof.

There are pros. Our resources are much more significant and higher in quantity then the state school I was in. I can order twenty pritt-stick and they’ll arrive the next day, Thee are less children. The parents are generally much more involved (why wouldn’t you be for £15k a year).

I thankfully have a wonderfully supportive school which makes a huge difference.

So I don’t disagree, but the grass isn’t always greener, sometimes it is, but most importantly it’s also up to each person to aim for what they want and give it a try even if it goes against advice.

And I say this as someone who’s family don’t really respect my job. I get that,