Thoughts on a PGCE as route back to work?

[JellyTheWellyphant]

Looking for advice about doing a PGCE. I'm considering it as an option for getting back into work but have been told by several friends who are teachers/have recently done pgce that I'm mad to think of teaching.

My situation: I've effectively been off work for 3.5 years (two consecutive mat leaves, brief return to work before realising that financially/logistically it was impossible, SAHM for a year). To return to my old job in healthcare I would have to do a return to practice course, and would go back at the bottom of band 5 straight into 12 hour shifts (day/night rota). With three children under 4 I don't feel this is workable, especially as my husband is self employed and works unpredictable hours. So I won't lie, my main reason for wanting to teach is the hours/holidays (I realise teachers do a TON of work outside school hours, but it's still not as difficult to manage childcare-wise as 4 night shifts on the bounce). Also I simply can't afford to retrain in anything that doesn't offer a significant bursary to cover wraparound care while I'm training.

So. Although I'm not averse to teaching per se it isn't my dream job and my reasons for doing it are mercenary rather than altruistic, but it's all I can think of that would get me back into some sort of meaningful employment. I am going MAD after 3 years alone with babies/toddlers, and despite applying for various jobs for which I'm probably overqualified I'm apparently pretty unemployable as I don't have the experience/need flexitime/been out of work too long.

Would be grateful for any opinions/experiences!

Maybe I've missed it somewhere but what sort of teaching? Primary or secondary and what subject?
Teaching isn't one big homogenous career; my friend who's a PE teacher is having a much better time than my friend who's a maths teacher. Same wth primary vs secondary, my primary friends whilst tired tend to have more time in the evenings than my secondary friends who are swamped with marking and the stress of mocks/GCSEs/as levels/a levels.
One of my friends picked it as she didn't know what to do (similar to you) and now loves it, so there is hope!

What about teaching adults? In Prison? Your nursing would be excellent background for that.

sassh I'm a midwife, not much call for them in factories in fact incredibly difficult to work outside the NHS due to insurance issues. Not qualified as a nurse so no more able to go down that route than anyone else i.e. Would have to retrain completely.

mogul ideally primary, sorry I didn't mention that.

The PGCE year is also utterly crazy in terms of hours and expectations as it takes you forever to lesson plan etc etc.

It's only really once you're up to year 3/4 of teaching that you are operating efficiently and doing your 50/55 hours a week. Early days it's more than that for many student and new teachers.

Is community midwifery not an option? I get that it probably isn't but there must be the occasional person who manages it?

I used to be a midwife and also have a lapsed registration. It's so difficult the position you are in as you literally can not move up, down or sideways in the NHS as it's mostly shift work and you'd have to do a return to practice. Midwifery has such a glass ceiling and is useless if you need 'normal' hours.

I have done a masters in public health since leaving but I've ended up with a job supporting students with additional needs at a university - the money is not great but better than a TA and it's school hours and term time (apart from half terms)...
I think you are on the right lines in that you want to use your degree to springboard to something else but teaching is really tough - I wouldn't do it unless you are really committed. Have you thought about teaching at FE colleges - I tried it but wasn't for me but that is another option. Also what about doing your masters in a related subject - it hasn't directly helped me get a job but it was a massive turning point for me as I felt that there was life after midwifery. It's like losing your identity when your registration goes.
Feel free to PM me

OP

Sorry I spent time typing and you updated in between.

Have a look at teaching in FE, Health and Social Care links well with midwifery as does access course teaching. Less money, longer working day but no or fewer open evenings.

You used to need DTTLS which took two years part time but things have changed

helpful link - www.feadvice.org.uk/i-want-work-fe-skills-sector/i-want-be-teacher-fe-skills/teaching-qualifications-fe-skills-sector

The reason the qualifications are part time (usually there is also a full time option) is that you work at the same time as study.

I work in the NHS and have multiple family members and close friends (all with children) that are teachers. Thy would all agree with me that teaching is more family friendly and easier to sort childcare than shift work in the NHS. 3 of my NCT group are teachers and were all back working by the time their babies were a year old. They use nurseries which have a 0730-1800 day but have usually picked their kids up by 5pm. They pay a retainer to keep their place over the summer. I use a childminder who is open from 6am a couple of mornings a week as nursery doesn't open early enough - she works term time only so doesn't charge in the school holidays. Teachers dont work weekends or nights, both of which are impossible to get childcare for. And they get to spend 13 weeks a year with their kids rather than 6 (although I don't know any NHS worker that's allowed to take all their leave in school holidays).

I say why not give it a go? Do some work experience and if you still like the idea then apply for the PGCE and see if you like it. I did a masters in medical education (the first year of which covers a lot of PGCE syllabus) and absolutely loved it, and I hadn't previously thought I'd be any good at teaching.

Thanks welsh I think I will!

I have 4 friends who are primary teachers and they seem much less busy/stressed compared to secondary! A lot less homework and no exam stress (especially if teaching the teeny tinies). Like pp have said they're always at nursery for pick up (before 5 or at 5) and rarely work late.
My friend who's a secondary maths teacher looks permanently frazzled and regularly works till 10 at night to lesson plan. I would say they're all 4/5 years in so are probably in the swing of things.

I also say give it a go. My experience is that many very good teachers I know are not people who would ever described themselves as "passionate about teaching". Conversely, some people who did declare themselves to be passionate about teaching couldn't hack it.
If you have trained successfully as a midwife you have many attributes that will go towards making a good teacher. Good organisation can mitigate some of the stresses of teaching. Best of luck.

Jelly that's a shame with the bank, most places are crying out for midwives on the bank.

Agree completely with @welshweasel.

Lots of professionals are over worked & stressed etc but there are some perks that outweigh others.

We have to juggle DH's shifts which are not only antisocial hours but have changed recently to allow them to alter his hours and remove rest days at a moments notice. With NO choice in the matter AND they get told when their annual leave is each year regardless of what they wish to have. it's certainly never christmas & rarely during school holidays. As for missing school events....... the emergency service workers I know miss ALL events if they're on shift. DH had to get special permission from the chief constable to get a day off to get married as they changed his shifts and the surprise for his 40th surprise birthday party was almost that he wasn't at it......

One of my friends is a primary teacher who works 0.4 even though both her kids are in school. She still claims she's exhausted and whinges a lot BUT it seems to me working 2 days a week term time only might be quite nice? She does an occasional parents night but that has plenty of notice and has to go in for one day during the holidays to sort her classroom out.

Another friend of mine works in the school her kids attend. It's a small school but there never seems to have been an issue with it. She does pick up/drop off and if she's not quite ready to leave when school finishes they hang out with her in her classroom. She also gets to see every school event etc

If you don't try you'll never know. Good luck with whatever you choose Op. I don't doubt it's hard work but having already done your previous challenging career am sure you'll nail it.

Hi there,

I am in my 4th year of teaching. I did 2yrs in a local school ten mins away and I'd get home around 730pm most days.

My children were 11 and 12 at the time. I rarely saw them. I was moody, tired and always had work on a Sunday which took all day as I caught up on household chores too. We lived on takeaways, oven food and eating out. I had a cleaner. I had a tutor for my children but I was never really present. At family gatherings, I would bring my laptop and USB with me to plan.

I went into teaching because I wanted to spend time with my children over the holidays too especially during teenage years.

So I completed my NQT and stayed a bit longer at the school -then I handed in notice for the summer and did supply work.

It was beautiful. My first day I waltz out of a school at 345pm. Planning and preparation was all done and all I had to do was teach and mark.

Lots of agencies offer guaranteed pay contract which guarantees work 5days. Week. My agency pays (from London) 155 per day. Only downside for some people is not knowing where you are until the morning. No pay when you don't work but you learn to budget and get buy.
I'm poorer but happier and my relationship with my children are much better. Oh, I have time to cook now x
PM me if you want more details..

PS: I forgot to say that my PGCE and NQT was the hardest years. I cried and cried and wanted to quit so many times. Permanently tired too.

8 to 10 hour day is an underestimation. Typical secondary teachers work 54 hours a week and in primary that increases to 60 hours a week. It would be more work in your first few years.

I have moved to part time teaching and I am thinking of leaving because it is not compatible with teaching.

*parenting

Most schools in my area employ unqualified cover supervisors for supply as they just can't afford to do anything else.

Can you even do a PGCE to enter Primary? I thought you needed the 4 year B.Ed.
Unless you do School Direct but it is brutal.

Yes leccy!! PGCE specialises in whichever age group you choose (but theoretically qualifies you for all ages!)

Ah, right, I'm corrected. Back in my day, you couldn't!
Wow that's a lot of subjects to learn in one year.

jelly i am in a similar boat as you but been a sahm for 10 years! I was a direct entry midwife, went back to uni did my family planning and sexual health certificate, then did another 6 months and got my bsc health studies.
I worked in sexual health years ago and even then maintaining my registration as a midwife was a grey area. Now I believe it is black and white and I would need to be a RGN. It sucks.
I have 3 dc and no family support around so even auxiliary in maternity or healthcare assistant in sexual health would be a childcare nightmare for me.
Meanwhile I feel those years of studying were almost a waste of time and not really something I can fall back on. I am currently doing a few hours care work which is soul destroying.
I too have considered teaching because I feel it's a way to use my degree and feel it wasn't a waste of time! However I have also looked at pupil support jobs and think they would be far less stressful but feel I am selling myself short!
It's so tricky with dc and I'm on my own too so working during school hours is my only option.
Pm me if you want to chat.