DH thinking of becoming a teacher - any advice from teachers out there?

[jumpyjan]

DH is pretty fed up with his current career and looking for something more rewarding. He is considering becoming a primary school teacher and we have heard a lot lately about a lack of male primary school teachers so think this could be a good option.

He has a degree but other than that no teaching qualifications. Does anyone know if it is possible to take a teaching qualification whilst continuing in his current non teaching related job or if he was to leave his job whether you can get some sort of study grant? Once he is qualified and working as a teacher he will be earning about the same as he is on now, maybe a bit more so thats fine its just bridging the gap while he trains/qualifys. Has anyone had any experience of this?

Also, how stressful is it really? DH works in a stressful environment at the moment with a culture of long hours so am thinking surely it will be less stressy than that but have heard that teaching can be stressful too. What would you say were the good bits and the bad bits?

You can do an OU course (I think), but you still have to do teaching practice.

You can also train on the job, I think it is called GTP, but not sure.

I also know there was a scheme a few years ago to get men into primary, because my next door neighbour did it.

It is stressful, I came from a stressful industry, but it is a different sort of stress. Much much more intense, everything is a rush all the time, I seem to have constan indegestion from running everywhere!
However it is also really really rewarding, the kids are great.

I would say peaks and troughs of long hours, but I teach secondary, so it may be different in primary

Thanks Fizzbuzz - will pass on to DH.

If you do a normal pgce, I think you get about £6000 to do your training, not sure if you might get any other help.

Not sure about the graduate training scheme, but for pgce, I think you probably have to spply by the end of this month, for courses starting next September, and from experience, some of the courses seem to get filled before the application closing date.

So if it's something he was thnking about for next year, he should get a move on!

I would strongly advise your DH to visit a few primary schools to get an idea of what the job entails (this may involve his taking time of work to really do it justice). I believe there are training grants available now. Is your DH's degree relevant to the primary curriculum? If not, he will have to build a strong argument as to why he is a suitable candidate.

I love teaching - but it is physically and emotionally draining. I would say it is a vocation and is not a career to be entered into lightly: Your DH needs to speak to as many primary teachers as he can and visit a good variety of schools to get a feel for this exhauseting, stressful, wonderful job. Best of luck. CB xx

His degree is in media so not relevant to primary curriculum. So if he phoned around a few local primaries and asked to meet with the head is this normal practice?

I think he is aware that if he became a teacher it is not a 9-5 type job and
I think he is looking for something where he feels he is making a difference and doing something worthwhile.

Did not realise the deadline for the course would be so soon - will pass this on so he can quickly look into that option tomorrow.

Thanks for your replies.

just thought I would bump to see if there are any other teachers out there with any advice.

I'm in Scotland so things will be different. But up here you have to show you have experience of working with children which can be difficult if you're a career changer.

Rather than visiting heads, it would be more favourable for him to volunteer at a kids club, cubs, on weekend or evening, that sort of thing.

It is stressful, as fizzbuss said. You have to be fully prepared, alert and constantly working hard between 9 and 3.30. After that, you have planning, preparing, assessment, cpd, etc to fit in.

Pluses - there is some flexibility to fit in your dc's dental appointments etc as you can leave work at 3.30. And the holidays give you the chance for a real breather. SUmmer is nice

check application deadlines NOw. It is a long process.

Yes it is the relentlessness of it, between 9-3.30, it never stops, no times for chats over coffee with collegues or gossips round the photocopier (well not much)

Counting steps was fashionable about 3 years ago. I wore one and discovered I did 11,000 steps at work. A colleague did 16,000.....over 10,000is considered very fit..

Perhaps that explains how much rushing around we do. It is incredibly physically demanding...

Best thing I can advise is that he tries to get into schools now - do some work shadowing and observations.

I wore a pedometer of course....duh...

as hula says, getting into schools as a helper is best, but near impossible if you hve a full time job. Worth thinking if he has a day or two annual leave that he could give up for it. If not, children's clubs.

Thanks for the advice everyone - going to report my findings back to DH!