What year did you begin teaching?

[good96]

Just a bit of a chat thread….
What year did you begin teaching and where are you at with your career?

I began teaching in 1986 - 38 years this year!
Started as an NQT for English.
I’m now a HT where I have held this role since 2007. Been at my current school since 2003 where I started as a Deputy Headteacher.

2001 as a mature entrant. In my second week of teaching (year 2), 9/11 happened and I had a class of 29 catholics and one muslim. The next day some kids came in saying 'the muslims did it'. I had my first Ofsted just 6 weeks later.

Since then, I have led IT, English, RE and science in various primary schools, been an EYFS and KS1 lead, been a SENCo since 2011, a senior leader, a deputy head, worked in state and independent sector, five different London boroughs and six different UK schools, mentored and tutored PGCE students and NQTs. In 2018 I moved to the middle east, where I led inclusion and was a senior leader in two schools before taking my current role in government as a SEND specialist. I've completed further study (MEd, NASENCO, MA in Special Ed, TEFL course, CPT3A and now doing EdD).

I think it's fair to say my experience has been varied!

1995. I taught ft for 10 years, then was pt for 17 years, before going back to ft last year, age 52. It took me a while to be offered a job - I applied for quite a lot, but as a UPS3 with no ft experience in almost 20 years, schools weren't exactly snapping me up I was lucky enough to finally get a job in a lovely girls' grammar school. If all goes to plan I won't leave until I retire!

1999 and am back to 'just' a class teacher after returning from 18 years internationally and being a solo parent needed somewhere quick. Only breaks were 5 months off for each child (3).

Hate where I work here and the Little Englander outlook it has, need to find a more diverse/ interesting work place ASAP.

2012. I've been a second in department but stepped back from that a couple of years ago. Due to go back after mat leave in 3 weeks so will be going part time. Honestly don't want to go back at all.

I started in 2002. Initially as an English as a Foreign Language teacher in Germany and then I moved on to English for Speakers of Other Languages when I returned to the UK. I taught a variation of specialist English courses and programmes overseas until 2014 when I decided I wanted to teach children.

I have since taught in school, colleges, learning centres, academies, private homes and libraries, to training providers as well as online. It has been a pleasure all the way.

I started teaching in 1996. Currently a primary SENDCo but about to start an advisory teacher role with the LA

Isn't it incredible how many people on here have been teaching for over 10 years, in a highly skilled, graduate job, and who are still being paid main scale, so less than £40k full time in most places.
Especially now when you move school as an experienced teacher, it's very hard to find a job that pays more than M6.

I'm now 0.8 UPS 3 and cover PPA and management time in EYFS, Y1 and Y4.

I'm 56 in February and leaving and going to claim my pension at the end of the academic year. Plan to get a part time job doing something totally out of education to boost my pension.

Totally had enough of it all. Never dreaded going to work so much.

DS started in 2015, still at the same large secondary school. Been a HOD for several years. UPS2. Loves it.

I started in 2016. Found out 3 weeks in that I was 3 months pregnant 🫠. Went back full time when baby was 16 weeks old. Went part time 6 months later. Then covid hit so it was all very strange. Then in 2022 had another baby so had nine months off with him. Went back in December 2022. Stayed part time for a year and a bit and just went back full time in Sept. Ups1

Got my first class in September 2008.
Kept going until July 2018 and quit. Just couldn't handle the 60-70 hour weeks any more, and the constantly changing goalposts.
Have been doing full time supply since then, and love it.

2012. I've been key stage lead and 2nd in dept but back to classroom only since having my little one. Much happier part time too.