To go into teaching primary in my 40s with a young family?

[Lollylamb]

Looking to hear some positive or negative experiences of people who have moved into teaching primary later in life, and with young children. I've seen a lot of people go into secondary teaching after a corporate career, but not really primary.

I've been in my current commercial role for 15 years and have really not enjoyed it at any point in time, and just find the corporate world very meaningless, stressful and unsatisfying. I've spent a little time volunteering in my children's school and have done a week long work experience in another primary (and planning one more). I've also been exposed to the negatives: large classes with very diverging abilities, special needs, ofsted pressures. Overall though, I am so keen on the job, I absolutely love working with little kids and I will enjoy the variety of a teacher's job.

But I'm worried I'm too old for it already (41), and that it will negatively impact my young children (I work flexibly now so spend a lot of time with them during the week after school.)

Anyone change career into teaching primary? Could you share your experiences?

I know it's mad to be thinking of it now with everything going on with strikes and ofsted, but the heart wants what it wants... Thank you in advance.

I've been a teacher for over 20 years. Definitely some things to recommend it but family-friendly it is not. I'm up at 6 and drop children to childminder at 7. Long day and then collect kids from childminder later. No chance of seeing kids performances. Often have parents evening and night engagements. A lot of parents going into teaching don't realise this.

@Myneighbourskia night engagements? In primary?

Aside from parent consults and maybe 1 school disco a year that will be finished by 630pm, what night engagements? Surely not the optional PTA events where staff are encouraged but not expected to show their face at?

Not a primary teacher but a lot of the ones around me have open evenings. There's also things like evening performances e.g. nativity play/end of year production etc. It's probably not more than one thing per half term, but it can be difficult for people.

Some of my friends who work in primary also say there's a real expectation you will go on residential/trips- unlike secondary where it's easier to opt out of these.

I think you should go into it with a healthy dose of the reality. Yes it is an important and valuable job. However you will need to work in the evening and one day at the weekend. There is a fair amount of pressure and scrutiny. It won't be possible to go to your children's events. It is difficult when your kids are sick. Most are not especially understanding. Bring a teacher in charge of a class or classes is very different to being a TA. I am not in any way saying you shouldn't but you should probably be very clear about the negatives.

There are also often frequent after school meetings.

I turned 40 whilst doing my PGCE after many years in Industry and I had young children (pre-school age). The PGCE year was really hard. After qualifying my husband accepted a job overseas and we lived there for 6 years. When we came back I took a job as a TA to get used to being back in the classroom. I have NOT applied for any teacher jobs as the hours are too long and to be honest I didn't want to lose the time with my family. I pondered several times about doing my NQT year (as it was then) part-time, but realised that I would get around the same pay for around the same work but with way more responsibility. I have been a TA now for 8 years and love it - I do however work way more than my hours and the pay is a pittance; there is no way that I could do it without my supportive husband and savings. What I do find hard is that holidays are restricted to the school holidays, especially as my children are no longer at school. It is definitely doable, just do it with your eyes open.

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies. Sorry it's taken so long to respond, I've taken a bit of time to have a really good think about what you've all shared.

I really wanted to ignore the warnings, but have to accept that they are reality, and the inflexibility & regular evening work load many of you have mentioned is probably the deal breaker for me. Also, after another school experience session I've realised my interest is really more around how to help children with a disadvantage at the start of their school career to catch up, so I've started looking into Educational Psychology, which seems an intense study period but funded, or potentially going into research.

I definitely want to still work with schools & children, just trying to find the right position that will fit in with our lives and priorities more.