Too old

[Chriscagneywascool]

Hi I'm 50 and have been working as a supply teacher for a year. I would love a teaching job again but have had no luck with interviews. I struggle with supply and find the constant behaviour issues wearing e.g my last job involved a 12 year old boy calling me a 'fat bitch'. My supply agency has not offered me work since. The school will have me back but not for a whole. Should I just give up the whole idea of teaching ?

I don’t see why.

A friend of mine started a new teaching job in September. She was 58.

Our school has hired 3 older teachers in the last 5 years.

Which part of the country are you op? Demand for teachers really varies by region.

That's good to know, I'm from the West Midlands

I'm appalled by the abuse that some supply teachers in the uk have to put up with. I'm so sorry you have to deal with that and I hope you find a school that values all of its staff fully.

Thanks, the school seemed supportive but I've not had any work offered to me since ! I'm going to see what happens in the autumn.

I think it’s very regional, here all teachers regardless of age seem to be struggling to find jobs, I know at least 5 who have had to go on supply as they haven’t secured a permanent position, including 2 (excellent) ECT’s.

It’s partly regional and partly phase-specific. Although we have a national recruitment and retention crisis it disproportionately affects secondary schools. The falling birth rate and consequent falling rolls mean that in some areas there is a surplus of primary teachers.