I am being made redundant - thinking of career change, possibly teaching - could do with some advice

[theITgirl]

Currently work in IT but have had a very good flexible working life, that I will never get again. I will be made redundant on 29th Feb, with 3 months gardening leave.

This has been on the cards for nearly 3 years so I have thought about possible alternatives for a while. BTW I have a degree in Computing, been working in IT for 20 years and am 41.

How does this sound as a career option:
Speak to dc's head teacher about what I would would like to do.
Volunteer as a parent helper at the dc's primary school while on gardening leave with the aim of becoming a TA, they can suss me out, I can try the job out.
Become a TA for a year or 2.
Then hopefully get them to sponser me to do m PGSE while working for them & become a full time primary teacher.

I know (from reading loads of threads) that as a teacher it is NOT 9-3 with 13 weeks holiday. I am prepared for 3 hours a day work outside of teaching hours plus some work during the holidays.

PRO's
Continue to have the school holidays with DC during the holidays.
Fancy a change of career.

CON's
The pay

Why not contact local FE colleges and see whether they need anyone for IT classes. You could make an immediate start as an hourly paid tutor, or they might have vacancies for a full-time or part-time position. Then you could undertake your traning alongside while still earning a 'reasonable' salary. This is what I did - I started teaching with only my subject knowledge and industry experience, then studied one evening a week for my Cert. Ed. which my college paid for.

Pro's:

not having to be a volunteer helper - getting paid a better wage
Holidays
Still able to suss out job.

Cons:

Not primary school

Go for it. I changed career from marketing to primary school teaching and never looked back. The PGCE is extremely tough and lots of people drop out but if you want it you'll do it. The money will be crap compared to what your used to but there are benefits. At the moment I am working 3 mornings a week at my daughter's school as a learning support teacher. This suits me fine until my 3 year old starts school then I'll think about a job share. Great for time with DCs and also understanding the school system and suporting them through it.

Thanks Happynappies

Definately worth looking into. Will attack from both sides

Sounds like a good plan ITgirl. I am always full of admiration for people who 'seize the day' and make big changes like that, sounds very exciting.

Oh...and when I studied in 2000 you got a £6k tax free grant which I supplemented with a student loan to make up to £10k. Not loads of money I admit but I couldn't have coped with a job during the course - every minute was spoken for including lots in the early hours!

Thanks Calamero.
DS in year 2, DD just started Nursery, will be full time Reception next Jan. I have helped out in DS's class a couple of times and really enjoyed it.

The alternative would be to use your gardening leave to do some work experience in a school and then go the graduate trainee route into teaching which at least then pays you a salary & is a much faster route to where you want to go.

I have a feeling that few providers do ICT as a PGCE primary subject (my area is secondary), if that's what you want your specialism to be, you might have to do a bit of digging to get the course you want or maybe have ICT as a 2nd subject.

You will be hot property in a primary school as, often, teachers are not IT specialists but in need of help. I for one, just about get by and we have no IT coordinator.

Oh HappyNappies. I am not supposed to get another job till end of May (as officially still employed, just not having to be in the office or do any work during my notice period). which is why volunteer work is an option.

Heated - that is exactly what I want to do. I do not want to specialise in IT, just have it as a string to my bow.

Spudmasher - I was hoping that was the case

My degree was chemical engineering and managed to go in as maths specialist so anything possible - in fact I became an early years specialist so you just never know. You do need to demonstrate that you have spent lots of time in schools and it might be worth helping out in a different setting. Spudmasher is absolutely right about your status as an IT specialsist - we have a teacher in our school who is having a breakdown because she can't use her smart board!

Would secondary teaching be a consideration given your specialism? They'd be crying out for you. I'm biased though - I teach secondary and wouldnt be able to hack primary. All those tinies would drive me nuts!

Another thing that really appeals is that I could inspire girls to do IT (or any sciences) as it can be extremely flexible more so than teaching, soft skills are very important and tbh anyone can learn the technical stuff, but it is very difficult to learn soft skills.

A lot of them are not so tiny!!!Some of my Year six are bigger than me!
Primary offers closer relationships with the pupils and parents than secondary....that is my favourite thing about it.

Go on then, our daughters need you!

Alfiesbabe - with industry experience, yes secondary is the obvious choice. Just scarred from having to do prep duties when 17 at boarding school (at least my sister & her friends won't be in m class).

DH taking me down to the pub for a drink. So I will catch up later

hi dh went into 2ndary teaching with it as his subject, he gave up a job that paid x2 as much we have never regretted it he is a changed person loves his job
fwiw he did a 2 yr degree/pgce combined i would say start asap, uni may not count as employment
go for it, dh also says girls are quiet but better than boys at it in his school

If you go the Graduate Trainee route you'll be paid a salary from £14.5k depending on subject i.e. more for shortage subjects like Maths, rather than the 6K golden hello on the PGCE.

See www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/thetrainingprocess/typesofcourse/employmentbased/gtp.aspx for more information.

Usually our GTs come in for a few weeks work experience (to ensure they like it as well whether or not they can hack it) or are for instance, employed ICT techs on a short contract which might suit you, and then start the GT in the Sept.

I'm sure most secondaries won't be like prep school boarding duties, which sound horrendous!! I would def look at secondary. Teenagers are fascinating and fun (most of the time!!) and you have the advantage of not being stuck with the same class all day like in primary.

Thank you so much for all your advice and help, I will check out Primary, Secondary & Further Ed.

I should also get some careers advice as part of the redundancy package. So I hope I can get the full psycometric (sp) testing and some advice on what would suit me best.

I am surprised/pleased that no-one has warned me against it. So I assume that my work expectations in my OP are realistic.

I need to go to sleep now, so will catch up tomorrow from work. I can do even more Mumsnet from work, as what can they do - sack me!!