Primary Teaching

[verBoden]

Looking for anyone who became a primary teacher as a career change. My own kids are five and seven, so at full-time school. I'd be interested to hear what route you took, and if you think it was the right decision...

I was a TEFL teacher before I had my son, took a career break to raise my son, then did a PGCE and have been qualified as a primary school teacher for two years. Have lost count of the amount of jobs I've applied for and not got. I do casual supply which I enjoy but am frustrated with my inability to secure a full-time position.

Aged 48, DS 9, DD 6, I did a PGCE and am in my NQT year. 60% pay cut and working hours almost doubled. But I have never been happier in my work. Love it. BUT it is not family friendly. Have had to go from pt to ft childcare because I can never drop off or pick up my DC's - and I am lucky enough to have found a perm job 20 mins away from home. My hours are usually 8 - 5.30 at school, with 20 min for lunch, plus 90mins 3 nights a week, plus 8-10 hours at weekend. But I did manage to work only 2 days during Easter hols.

Good luck if you do decide to go for it. PGCE worked for me as I had no school experience, but there are other more hands on routes, like GTP, though places are scarce this year I believe.

Thanks for your replies. Good to hear other people's stories. Sounds like you are kept busy, partystress, but great that you enjoy it. You would have to. What year do you teach? Lots to think about. Think I need to spend a proper amount of time in a primary school before I make any decisions.

I am a primary teacher (career changed around eleven years ago) and have commented on a few threads regarding career changes to teaching. Feel free to search for my posts or send me a message.

The problem is that it is very difficult to get an actual idea of what the job entails until you are up there doing it. I did work experience and also worked as a TA before doing my PGCE, but even those experiences did not really prepare me properly because they were different roles - teaching always looks easy from the back of the class! Much of the job is about making it look smooth, calm and fluent - but no one sees the huge amount of work and mental effort that goes into that appearance.

Teaching for me has been about so many amazing moments, some wonderful human relationships but also some pretty hideous days, weeks and months.

Don't underestimate the workload or stress factors.

The best way to find out if it is really what you want to do is to have plenty of in-depth conversations with teachers. Once you are sure, then go and do work experience or be a TA to build up some school experience for your training application.

Sound advice. I hear what you are saying. Really appreciate it.

I am doing a primary PGCE.

It is very competitive, you need a 2.1 in your degree and recent experience in the classroom, some universities ask for a minimum number of days in the classroom.

The GTP is also very competitive, you usually need to be a TA for a year or so to get onto the course.

The job market is also hideous, 80+ applicants for each job BUT I have just got a job and so have some of my friends so it can happen. It does depend where you are in the country - apparently NW England is terrible for jobs.

I would def go into a classroom and really see how you feel, I knew after day one volunteering and it is the best decision I ever made.

Good luck!

Thanks coralpink. It makes sense that classroom experience is a must. Thinking about being a teacher must be very different from being faced with 30 eager (and some not so eager) faces. Congratulations on getting the job!