Primary school teacher or health and safety officer?

[Polarbearflavour]

I’ve been offered a job as a Health and Safety Officer within a Civil Service department. It’s a way out of being stuck in crappy admin roles and I’ve done H&S tasks in previous roles. Also self funding my NEBOSH General Certificate.

But I do also have a hankering for doing primary school teaching. I volunteer in a school at the moment which I enjoy so thinking of doing a PGCE in a couple of years. I have a nursing BSc (2:2)

Any advice please?!

I'd go for the HSO. The pressures on teachers are immense atm.

I would be a teacher

I would take the H&S role and see how you get on. You can always change your mind and train as a primary teacher later.

H+S officer.
You can always train as a primary teacher later (though have you checked you can with a 2:2.. some PGCEs want a 2:1)

I'm in Education and haven't met a teacher yet who isn't stressed, overworked and totally pissed off with the state of schooling at the moment!

Hi Polarbear!

If I were you, I would accept the H&S job and see how it goes. Like others have said, you can always do teaching later.

Must admit, I considered retraining to become a primary school teacher for a while but have read too many threads that have put me off. I also have a 2:2 but not in nursing!

Good luck with the path out of crappy admin jobs!!!

I’ve accepted the H&S job so I’ll see how it goes. Quite a few jobs around wanting NEBOSH and it pays more than teaching I think!

Everywhere I have looked will accept 2:2s for PGCE, I’ve only come across a couple who want a 2:1 at least.

I’m working part time in a university library at the moment and it’s just another version of admin hell! Most of the students are nice, quite a few are entitled. A bit sick of picking up textbooks and rubbish from the floor, resetting passwords and dealing with really complex IT queries! Some of the academic staff can be quite snooty too.

I really want a proper career with qualifications. Not just an endless series of low paying admin jobs where you are looked down on by pretty much everybody.

Sometimes I wish I hadn’t left nursing and had stuck it out and become a specialist nurse - but ward nursing was soul destroying

Good luck with it all.

I know exactly what you mean about a proper career. Working on that myself!

If the H&S job doesn't work out then why not consider going back to nursing. DH works in the NHS and he said that they are crying out for nurses. It's not all about nursing on the ward. His Trust are excellent at training/career progression. I'm sure I would have been much more successful if I had taken that direction.

Hi stressedoutpa!

Maybe - I would have to do a return to practice course though!

I tried to move into project managenent with my APM certificate but without experience it’s imposdible to get a PM job.

I think you made the right choice. There is good potential for career progression in H&S and often it's the first starter job that's hard to get, so well done. It can be frustrating but worthwhile. You have to be determined and vocal Good luck and start looking at NVQ/diploma courses.

I think we are the same person. Seriously, I feel your pain!

Get stuck into the H&S job and see what happens. You never know, it could be your turning point. If not, just do something else. Keep on keeping on is my motto!

I would consider going back to nursing if all else fails though. Million and one other things you can do other than ward nursing once you have your foot back in the door. Lots of women further up the chain which is comforting.

stressedoutpa - what are you up to these days? I hope you are happier than being a PA

Yep - nursing is my back up! In the grand scheme of things I have at least a couple of decades until I can retire so I can see myself doing H&S, teaching and nursing and probably other things as well!