Teacher/TA - career change age 40

[DubTheeUnforgiven]

Lawyer, early 40s, tired, burnt out and looking for a career change. I've loved helping my children with their home ed during lockdown. I fancy a career change to a TA but when I've mentioned this to others, they have suggested I retrain as a teacher instead.

So if you're a teacher/TA, would you recommend your job now, particularly in the current climate? What are the really good parts?

Are teachers really leaving the profession en masse (or are they desperate to, at least?). I don't want to trade one high pressured, stressful career for another and am conscious that I may have a rose tinted view of what a teaching career entails.

In any case, am I too old to retrain as a teacher? I'm lacking in energy at the moment and I would be concerned at being 'on' all the time. The teachers at my children's primary all seem so bright and full of energy!

The best part is when I close the door and teach the students. Everything outside is what causes stress.

It is a full on job.

You need to decide if you want primary or secondary.

Definitely not too old as I was a career changer in my mid 40s

@StaffAssociationRepresentative Thank you, that's a positive start!

And great to hear from a career changer too. If you don't mind me asking in that case, do you have any regrets? Is it what you hoped it would be?

I’m 40 and just coming out of teaching (teaching since 2001). I have taught 3-19 so a huge range of children and abilities. I adore the children, I loved most of my colleagues, but my word the workload when combined with trying to do your best for your own family. My most successful colleagues are either single, have no children or have a partner who takes on the lions share of their own home life.

I used to get up at 3am everyday to try and get school work done, and would need to work at least one weekend day too. Holidays were split 50/50 between school work and home (you don’t get paid for holidays).

We got a new Head last September who was terrible to work for. It was the push that 11 staff members needed to leave teaching for good.

I just left the teaching career, too high workload and expectations and focus not on children, would advise against teaching

I'm late 40s, desperate to leave teaching. If it was just teaching my subject I would love it but sick of having to mop up all of society's ills.

It is high pressure and stressful - but it can also be incredibly rewarding.
You may find a big drop in your pay, despite still doing long days - albeit you can do some of your work from home after school finishes rather than staying late at the office. You will benefit from the long holidays, but be prepared to work in some of them too.

I taught secondary for around 10 years from 1996, but left after a rubbish experience in my last school. I felt very unsupported by management and it was making me ill. I left and taught at a prison for a while.
I now teach primary - infant school in fact. Although a qualified teacher I choose to work as a HLTA. The pay isn't great and I still do long hours at times, my specialism has made my work load very high during lockdown. But, also due to be specialism, I have carved out a niche little job description tbh and enjoy the variety of my days.

Lots to think about. Thank you to all who have responded, you've been very helpful.

Spend a bit of time on the Staffroom board, @DubTheeUnforgiven, for a reality check. I worked as a TA with the intention of possibly doing a PGCE. Loved being a TA, but was put off becoming a teacher.

@DubTheeUnforgiven

So I did a PGCE as I was cautious about the career. When I went in as M1 (first rung on the payscale) I felt I was working as twice as hard for a bit more than half the pay of my old job.

However I quickly picked up extra pay by getting TLR (Teaching and Learning Responsibility points)

I would caution that some Heads feel they own you body and soul. I left my last school where I was an Assistant Headteacher due to the demands of the Head - it was a case that a either left on my own accord or I would have been carried out in a body bag. Not all Heads are like that but staff turnover for reasons other than retirement is something to look out.

Once you get through you Newly Qualified Teacher year things get better as you get harder and toughen up. The NQTyear sorts out the wheat from the chaff.

I only teach Year 10 upwards. I would be a rubbish primary school teacher. A small primary school staffroom would be hell for me ( sorry to my primary colleagues) I like the larger staff numbers in secondary.

You have to do parents evening etc even if your child has a parents evening on the same night your work school takes priority. Reports are a nightmare but have to be done.

Yes - you do get the holidays but you do spend time planning etc. So for example there will be very few teachers who are doing nothing now in readiness for the start of term. So you dont get the full holiday ever due to exam/assessment marking, creating resources, completing reports etc.

I would strongly advise the use of IT for some automatic marking assessments etc. Not every bit of work has to be marked - get students to self assess or peer mark. Otherwise you will stress levels will shoot through the roof and you will burn out. Learn how to colloborate and learn how to say no or look busy.

As I said the students are great and a number have tracked me down to keep in contact once they have left uni. Very sweet really. They can be bloody infurtiating and annoying but they will make you laugh and beam with pride. Even the biggest and roughest kid in the school can be a real softy - the key is to catch that moment.

Boys are the absolute best - you can give them a loudest and longest telling off ever for being such plonkers and ten minutes later they will open a door for you or be telling you a joke in the playground. Girls are slightly different and may hold a grudge for years..

I retained in my 40's and am just starting my second year as a teacher. I love it!

It can be all consuming but if you accept that you will always have an unfinished 'to do' list and that your own family must come first, it doesn't have to mean working evenings and weekends. I work 7:45 - 5:00ish. Occasionally a few hours on a weekend. I teach in Scotland though and from what I understand it's generally less stressful here.

@SparklingLime Thank you, I'll take a look. Yes, it would make sense to do as you have and explore the TA option first.

@StaffAssociationRepresentative you've been hugely helpful, thanks so much for your insight.

@BebeBelge Thank you. Glad to see there are positives for you.

I'm a TA.

The good parts:

-the kids..their personality,the bonds,the lightbulb moments etc
-the hours
-the holidays

The bad parts:

-pay is shit, I take home under 1k after pension,NI
-politics/paperwork/newest fad that we simply "must" do
-depending on the kids you work with, emotional exhaustion at least.
-depending on the school A LOT of extra tasks,sometimes actual teaching if the circumstances require it

I have to say I love my job, but it's not easy or sharpening pencils and the pay is bad enough that a lot of people are put off unless financially secure or they need extra money rather than a wage to support a whole household.

Could you survive on a TA's salary, it is very low?

If you afford to be a TA rather than teacher, be a TA.
I'm a teacher who has mentored several student teachers.
Teaching is very very hard during your training year and for your first few years. Once you have a few years experience you get more money and know enough to keep your workload manageable. If you're prepared for 3 or 4 stressful tiring years then go for it! I love being a teacher but it is hard work at first!
Either way I suggest you get a job as a TA and check working in schools is right for you - it's very different from home learning. Then if you want to train as a teacher you can start that from next sept.

I would usually suggest volunteering in a school or shadowing a teacher / TA before committing to a career change but not sure if schools would accept that at the moment . I love teaching - I work in a special school but could never do mainstream especially secondary!! My stresses are very different from my mainstream colleagues so it is very much about finding your niche.

I’m a 40 odd year old TA. I absolutely love it but I could never be a teacher from what I’ve seen. The stress levels seem unbelievable. As a TA I can switch off at the end of the day and in holidays which teachers just can’t. I need to be able to have that firm line as I’m a single parent.
Biggest downside is the pay. TA pay is TINY

I would suggest getting a Ta role and seeing if you liked it first.

I've never worked so hard for such little money as a TA - I loved the kids but hated the teacher as she was so stressed ALL THE TIME! I could see the negative impact it had on the kids, but despite my best efforts I ended up leaving for a pastoral role, which I love.

I've been a TA for six years and am about to start my PGCE. I love being in the classroom, love working with children and know that I'm good at it. Nothing has put me off yet! TA pay is really low, but I never had to take work home so it fitted around my children so well. Now that they are older I'm ready for the extra responsibilities, I know that it will involve putting in a lot more hours, but the pay increase will make it worthwhile.

Some excellent advice, thanks everyone.