Classroom teachers aged 50+

[Chr1stmasCarole]

Just mulling over this after a conversation with a colleague.
I suddenly realised that at 48 I'm the oldest fully class based teacher in our school.
There are a couple of other part-time intervention teachers but all of the other full time class based teachers are younger than me by ten years.
So I just wondered, how many teachers aged 50+ do you have in your school and if there aren't many..... where do they go?
I'm too young to retire and am a single parent so need to work full time.
If classroom teaching is for the youngsters what do the 50+ brigade move on to?

There's loads in my department (and school), it's a secondary comp. I'd say about 40% are over 50 or thereabouts. I've no idea what will happen with all the age 65+ teachers in the next decade or so when the raise in retirement age kicks in. I really can't imagine it being a sustainable career in my 60s.

I’m past mid fifties, ones of the older teachers in my school.
Don’t want, nor can afford to retire yet.

None (very small primary). I think 1 at my old school (double form entry). You never see older classroom based primary teachers round here - I've noticed it on courses etc. Very worrying.

There are 17 in my department, and at 38 I am the third oldest. No one over 50. I'm genuinely worried for the future!

I wonder if there's a difference between secondary and primary then?
It's a worry if there's barely any 50+ teacher's around, I guess I'd better start planning my "next" career then!

@JaffavsCookie

I’m past mid fifties, ones of the older teachers in my school. Don’t want, nor can afford to retire yet.

Do you worry about getting bullied out though? It seems to be increasingly common amongst older teachers.

I'm in Victoria, and 67 am the oldest teacher in the school. It's secondary and there are plenty of 50+ teachers still in the classroom.

I haven't detected bullying (and as union rep until recently, I'd soon have got to hear about it), but I have seen heard and experienced being ignored, patronised, labelled a dinosaur, undermined.

Interestingly the undermining is always about discipline, others seeking to water down/interfere with what I've set.

Female staff of this age are far more likely to encounter dismissive attitudes from students.

This is worrying me. I am halfway through my M Teach (secondary)hoping for a career change. I am 35 now with a 10mo and may have another child in a year or so, so won't be in a classroom for another couple of years and thought teaching was a good option for a long-term career...is this not the case?

@SarahMalteser

This is worrying me. I am halfway through my M Teach (secondary)hoping for a career change. I am 35 now with a 10mo and may have another child in a year or so, so won't be in a classroom for another couple of years and thought teaching was a good option for a long-term career...is this not the case?

I think the lack of older teachers is as much to do with expense as anything else so you might be okay. It does also seem to be more of an issue in primaries. I really cannot imagine having the physical energy for a primary classroom at 60+.

Yes I think @FoxIvy is right, older teachers who are at the top of their salary scale but not SLT or highly specialised often get bullied out so they can be replaced by a new teacher who costs much less, will do more and is more likely to go along with all the management decisions.
Also primary is probably a more physically challenging job? No secondary experience so willing to be corrected.
So @SarahMalteser you'll probably be ok for a good few years yet anyway.

I'm mid fifties and I'm the oldest teacher in my small primary, but there is one other teacher in their 50s and a couple in their 40s. The rest are 20s and 30s. We have a fairly good mix and age/experience is valued by my current Head. I do find KS1 exhausting though, especially at the moment when we have a far few physically challenging children, who are finding it very hard to manage their emotions and behaviour.

I am not particularly worried at my current school with my current slt about being managed/ bullied out but it is definitely always a possibility.

@JaffavsCookie

I am not particularly worried at my current school with my current slt about being managed/ bullied out but it is definitely always a possibility.

Same here, but my current head has passed 60 and is starting to make noises about wanting to retire and look after her grandchildren (don't blame her!) and I think the start of a new headship is always a dangerous time.

I am the oldest in my primary at 50 by a long shot, apart from the head. I constantly feel one observation away from capability. Every appointment in the past 3 years has been an nqt or freebie SCITT. It's all about money. I do worry about it- it's daft that I am unemployable at 50! Primaries are worse for this- when I was secondary there were plenty of older teachers.

@phlebasconsidered

I am the oldest in my primary at 50 by a long shot, apart from the head. I constantly feel one observation away from capability. Every appointment in the past 3 years has been an nqt or freebie SCITT. It's all about money. I do worry about it- it's daft that I am unemployable at 50! Primaries are worse for this- when I was secondary there were plenty of older teachers.

Sorry to hear that, it makes work very stressful even when things are going well doesn't it?

I work in a private school, but the majority of staff are older. I'm mid thirties and certainly one of the younger ones, whilst a lot are over 50.

I’m 53. I’m the third oldest. Three others are in their 40’s, two more late 30’s. TAs mostly 40’s and 50’s. It’s not an issue in our school but you are expected to keep up with current thinking and embrace change. In the hellhole I left there isn’t a single teacher over 40 and staff morale is in the toilet. Go figure.

Education is crazy at the moment. We've never had more laws, and theoretical protection from ageism and sexism, yet the reality is that both are hitting harder than ever. They want older women as TAs in primary, there's loads of roles in my area. But not as teachers. You're supposed to accept being wanted as support for teachers who know less and can do less, wanted to manage and take and teach groups, and be lectured on how you should make it all more exciting and engaging etc, but god forbid you should actually ask for the same wage as a teacher. And smile sweetly all the time.

It really feels like we're being forced into domestic servitude.

I worry about this too. At 46 I'm the oldest non SLT teaching member of staff by quite a few years. Scarily, this was the case when I started at the school 10 years ago! This is in a secondary school.

I was bullied out along with another 50+ teacher (small primary, bright new shiny HT). Our 62 years combined teaching experience counted for nothing apparently. We have been replaced by NQTs.

@ParsleySageRosemary

Education is crazy at the moment. We've never had more laws, and theoretical protection from ageism and sexism, yet the reality is that both are hitting harder than ever. They want older women as TAs in primary, there's loads of roles in my area. But not as teachers. You're supposed to accept being wanted as support for teachers who know less and can do less, wanted to manage and take and teach groups, and be lectured on how you should make it all more exciting and engaging etc, but god forbid you should actually ask for the same wage as a teacher. And smile sweetly all the time.

It really feels like we're being forced into domestic servitude.

Good point, yes we've had loads of TA's work until they retire in their early 60's, office staff too come to think of it. So it's not that they think we're physically incapable of working just incapable of being a classroom teacher. 🤷🏽‍♀️

@MyCatEatsPrawnCrackers
Sorry you went through that 🎉
this story is all too familiar unfortunately and seemingly incredibly easy to do.
Can I ask what you ended up doing after that?

Speaking as an older NQT, it is age that is being counted and held against us, not just the problem of cheapness. The big criticisms I had as an NQT was about my looks - I don't dye my hair, nor will I start - and ability to play politics. I still get those kind of comments as an older TA from youngsters, and for some reason, what the youngsters think is considered really important now.

I see it as part of a pattern within British society generally. Like I said, supposed to be less sexist and ageist - but it isn't. Looks are what matter over capability.

[quote Chr1stmasCarole]@MyCatEatsPrawnCrackers
Sorry you went through that 🎉
this story is all too familiar unfortunately and seemingly incredibly easy to do.
Can I ask what you ended up doing after that?
[/quote]
Well I am 54 so am going to take my pension at 55. I have no kids or a mortgage so it's doable. I will never set foot in a classroom again!

That's so sad, especially at a time when the profession is struggling to recruit and retain teachers. They should be finding ways to utilise the experience of older staff members rather than alienating them.