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Original poster

Teaching - what is it like??

67 replies

Pitchounette · 19/01/2007 08:34

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OP posts:
ChipButty · 20/01/2007 14:01

I would echo everything that the teachers on here have said but advise you to speak to as many different teachers as you can and try to visit a variety of schools before making your PGCE application. I work part time now but I would not say I do part time hours. I start work at 7am and finish between 4.30 and 5 plus marking and prep eves and weekends. Do not enter this profession for the pay or the holidays and do not expect it to be all Mary Poppins. There are real peaks and troughs. Don't expect praise for the good that you do (at least not often) and expect criticism from people who do not know anything about your job. You need bucketloads of patience and a hide as thick as a hippo's! Above all, to do this job and have children, I would say that you need a very supportive partner. Good luck.

percypig · 20/01/2007 14:15

I love teaching!! I'm working 2 days a week at the minute teaching secondary English. I've been teaching for 6/7 years now (can't actually remember) and the fact that I'm still teaching after having had my first child shows how much I love it.

I'd always assumed I'd give up teaching for a while when I had children, and we don't really need the money, but I love my school and I love my job. As others have said the school makes a big difference - my school is a small (360 kids) fairly rural secondary with a really broad ability mix (v unusual in Northern Ireland where we still have the 11+) and a great 'ethos'.

I also think your own attitude makes a difference though. Sadly quite a few teachers become cynical very quickly, get bogged down by the demands of admin or get too caught up in staffroom politics. I think you really need to have a passion for your subject, and enjoy spending time with young people.

The PGCE year is really tough, especially if you have a family, but if teaching's for you it will be worth it. All the best with making your decision.

Original poster
Pitchounette · 20/01/2007 14:26

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OP posts:
Blandmum · 20/01/2007 14:28

Further Education. They may well do A levels in standard academic subjects but also more vocational stuff, BTechs and GNVQs. Mostly for people over the age of 16....but you do get the odd childr who is given a chance to do Voc Ed younger

nikkie · 20/01/2007 17:35

Teaching was one of my long term ambitions but it is so easy to get put off when you work as a TA and see the hours the teachers put in.We get £10 an hour and as jenifersophia said a teachers pay can work out at this when you factor in the extra hours.

Rumpel · 20/01/2007 19:49

Pitchou - FE is a further education college - teaches highers, national certificates, higher national diplomas and modules. Also does community education teaching, for instance in schools, community centres etc. In Scotland you need to have a qualification in what you are going to teach for example a Higher National Diploma in computing, in order to teach computing, or information technology as it is known these days. You can study a teaching qualification in further education at university to give you a recognised teaching qualification - (TQFE), however, at the moment you don't need one in order to begin teaching. England is different though. Lecturing in FE colleges is great - I love it. Totally different ball game from schools (which I have done as well). Good luck!

PanicPants · 20/01/2007 20:14

I've been teaching for 10 years, with 5 years in a middle class school, and 5 years in my present school, which is akin to an inner city school.

I found it a great job to do, that I enjoyed until I went back to work after having ds.

I now find that I just don't get enough time to spend on my work or ds. So both are suffering I guess.

I'm now have to take ds to cm for 8am, which means I'm getting up earlier than before but actually getting to school after 8am - which is far to late to organise and prepare yourself for the day, I then have to leave earlier than I would normally to pick up ds.

I think to be a 'good' teacher you have to put the hours in, and qualitiy hours at that. Doing what I do after ds is in bed, when I'm tired is not the ideal way to prepare for 6 or 7 lessons the following day.

It can work, but you need to be committed, your family life will suffer and you must enjoy the time with the children in class or it's just not worth it.
I think you need to bare in mind you spend just as much time working outside the classroom as you do in it. And when it's report time, you can kiss a good 3 or 4 weeks of your life goodbye.

I have a staff meeting until 5 on mondays, year group planning on tuesdays, and faculty meetings on every opther thursday, as well as, after school clubs on Wednesdays. So, because I then have to rush to pick up ds, all my prep and plannning is done at home. No wonder I'm ill every weekend and holidays!

Honestly? I do it because it is worth it - but only just!

kickassangel · 20/01/2007 20:33

also a teacher - can be great if you get the right feedback from the kids. i work approx. 45 hours a week. holidays are great, BUT term time is very inflexible - i'm not allowed paid time for caring for dd, and have to BEG to be allowed unpaid time for emergencies, so not always as family friendly as you think. also, parents eve, plays etc can be about 10 - 15 eves a year, when i don't see dd at all that eve. twice a week i have meetings until 5 pm so you need reliable childcare that you trust, and that can cover until quite late sometimes (dh can't get to pick up dd until 6 pm).
having said that, SO much better than sitting in an office, and for the holidays you get, the pay isn't bad. but then again, it doesn't cover the premium put on the cost of holidays during the summer break!
In all - do it if you think it's your vocation - emotionally there are days which suck the soul out of you. other days you're flying - not worth trying to go through this if it's 'just a job' to you.

Original poster
Pitchounette · 21/01/2007 15:14

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OP posts:
pianist · 21/01/2007 15:26

Have just spotted this thread! If you're looking for something that fits in with looking after your children - this isn't it. OK, you get a lot of weeks' holiday. However, on a day-to-day basis it totally takes over your life and you don't have time to do things with your OWN children. It's obviously easier if they are at the same school as you, although they end up resenting all the time they've spent hanging around your classroom.
Basically, with teaching, you've NEVER done enough - there's always more work you could be doing. Much nicer to get a job where you come home in the evening and don't have to think about it until the next day, then you're able to enjoy being with your own family.

fizzbuzz · 21/01/2007 15:32

Well, I'm a teacher too, and enjoy work, and my dc. I work in a v good school, teach a fun subject and have supportive senior staff(who are always helpful about dc illnesses etc) and have a massive union behind me.

If you land on your feet it is good. Reports done on computerised system, so don't take all that much time up. Meetings never go beyond 4.45pm or unions would not be happy, and as a mainscale teacher only have to attend a max of one meeting a week.

Have to take work home, but still get timewith dc.

goblinqueen · 21/01/2007 15:38

I've seen on here some schools require the recent teaching assistant qualifications but where I am that still isn't necessary. Just look for a job and apply for it. It would definitely give you a real insight into school life and the immensely hard work that teachers do if you chose to give it a go just to see.

fizzbuzz · 21/01/2007 18:19

kickassangel. You are employed by council as well. My council has a 3 day emergency leave policy (paid) which is used in my school. Are you sure your council doesn't do the same?

cazzybabs · 21/01/2007 18:30

I teach in Year 1 in a private school. I get in at about 8 and I leave at 5 (I have to to pick up dd2). I sometimes do work at home. A couple of hours every three nights (on average) and more when writing reports. The benifets of working in a prep school are we are well resourced and I have a full time classroom assistant to help with things like photocopying and displays etc. I also have fewer children>

the disadvatges are great : pressure from parents demaning things because they are paying for it i have to run an after school activity every week and there are a few other things

but i also have no real behaviour issues

PanicPants · 21/01/2007 20:04

fizzbuzz - are you named after the maths game?!!! - Just curious since you're a teacher!

fizzbuzz · 21/01/2007 20:16

No, I am named after a drinking game in my student years. I can't even remember it I was always so pissed. Seem to vaguely rememebr waving fingers above head going "Fizzbuzz"

Am completely crap at Maths and had to take GCSE maths at age 28 before doing teacher training.

I teach D&T and Art,

PanicPants · 21/01/2007 20:21

lol fizzbuzz , we sometimes play fizzbuzz in our mental/oral sessions in the numeracy hour. Children sit in circle and count up in 1's, if, when it's their turn, they say a multiple of 5 the say buzz, when they say a multile of 5 and 10, the say fizz buzz etc!

i.e.,

1 2 3 4 fizz 6 7 8 9 fizz buzz 11 12 etc

Just incase you wanted to know

fizzbuzz · 21/01/2007 20:30

Yes, but each time you say fizz or buzz you have to take a drink. When you say fizzbuzz you have to have 2 drinks, seem to remember something about changing direction and drinking as well. In fact everything led to having a drink in the end,but as I said memory is all very blurred for some reason....

Not for young children, but very entertaing for adults!

fizzbuzz · 21/01/2007 20:35

Entertaining even...

fizzbuzz · 21/01/2007 20:42

Have just asked dp and he used to play the drinking version as well. You have obviously missed out on an important lifetime experience.

I know if you were really bad at maths (like me), you ended up being very very ill....

Mog · 21/01/2007 20:47

I'm thinking of retraining as a teacher - probably secondary science or maths. I'm wondering about trying to get work as a TA in a secondary maths department to see if I like it. Do you think it is worth me approaching schools directly and asking about this? Do they like TAs to have a subject knowledge that they're working in?

Whizzz · 21/01/2007 20:52

Mog - I am a now a TA in a secondary school after a career swap. I work across the curriculum rather than in one dept, so a broad educational knowledge was beneficial. I don't think they (certainly not our school anyway) take on volunteers/parents to help unlike primary schools but I'd ring round & ask

REIDnotREEDorREAD · 21/01/2007 20:52

I have been a secondary school Geog teacher for 5 years. I love my job! i'm in a pretty tough school but the staff are great - which makes everything a lot easier!

it is not an easy job, but if you plan your time well it doesnt have to be too demanding. The first year though is tough!

greenblock · 21/01/2007 20:53

Mog - I'm a maths teacher and we often get requests to spend a few days in our department - i would contact some local schools to ask about this first. Then you can ask the SEN departments about being a TA - two of our TAs from last year are now training as maths teachers. TAs tend to work in lots of departments, but often have a preference, so some TAs are seen more in maths than in other subjects. But one of our best maths TAs has a degree in fashion. So not really mathematical.

PanicPants · 21/01/2007 20:55

fb - your version sounds far, far more exciting than mine!