Returning to work aged 50

Februarystars1 · 2023-01-31T13:26:54+00:00

I’ve been (mostly) SAHM for 22 years but now really need to find work for financial reasons and also as I can’t really justify having to be at home any longer. I don’t know where to start tbh. I have done short term ad hoc bits of admin (very basic) and volunteered in many roles in our Primary School. My last real job was working delivering information sessions in secondary schools and working in an advice centre. I have a rubbish degree which won’t really help as it doesn’t improve my employability and stops me getting funding to train in another career. How have others in a similar position managed to start again at my age? I’d love to work in education although I feel I’m too old to train as a teacher. I know I need to build up some confidence and self esteem if I’m going to get anywhere!

Sunriseinwonderland · 31/01/2023 15:54

Try podiatry, its a three year degree but you can go private charging £40 per home visit. It doesn't matter that you have done a degree before, there is a national shortage of them. I already had a degree and still got funding.
I work for the NHS now but when I took a year out to do private podiatry I earned anything from £3k to £5k a month.
You can also work the hours you want. So it can fit around your family life.
I trained in my late 40's and I'm doing very well.
Its a much under-rated career with no fixed retirement date.

Edmontine · 31/01/2023 16:11

@Februarystars1 you really need the Mature Study and Retraining board:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

You’ll find countless people who have been through the same experience.

And a fresh qualification (whatever it’s in) will give you the very best hope of satisfying work and income.

ToastAndButler · 31/01/2023 16:18

Why do you feel too old to retrain as a teacher? Do you mean that you just don't fancy the retraining (fair enough) or you think that they won't want you? The latter is unlikely to be true- I have a friend who trained as a teacher in her 50s and is now very happily teaching maths.

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 31/01/2023 16:19

If you have volunteered in primary, and want to get a job to do with education, then obvious choice would be the job at school as a TA?

YukoandHiro · 31/01/2023 16:20

Could you get a job as a TA first and then retrain though the direct access schemes where you learn on the job? They are mostly aimed at older potential teachers.

sleepwhenidie · 31/01/2023 16:27

Maybe look at a School Business Manager qualification? SBM role encompasses HR, finance, premises management, procurement. Operates as ‘right hand man/woman’ to the head teacher so that HT can focus on education. Great demand for them and it can be a relatively low key job (eg small primary) or pretty high flying (eg several schools under a multi academy trust). Doesn’t take so long to get a level 4 qualification but you do either need a school to sponsor you so you can use the school as case study, or ideally work in an admin role in a school already - sort of what the course was designed for.

inloveandmarried · 31/01/2023 16:34

Sunriseinwonderland · 31/01/2023 15:54

Try podiatry, its a three year degree but you can go private charging £40 per home visit. It doesn't matter that you have done a degree before, there is a national shortage of them. I already had a degree and still got funding.
I work for the NHS now but when I took a year out to do private podiatry I earned anything from £3k to £5k a month.
You can also work the hours you want. So it can fit around your family life.
I trained in my late 40's and I'm doing very well.
Its a much under-rated career with no fixed retirement date.

Really interested in this. How did you apply for funding? I hope you don't mind me asking.

Sunriseinwonderland · 31/01/2023 17:25

I cant remember now I'm 61 but if you ring the nearest university that does it they will give you all the options. You can do a two year course if you can get on an associate podiatry programme with your local trust. Have a trawl through podiatry degrees on Google and you'll find some pointers.

Original poster

Februarystars1 · 01/02/2023 10:33

Thanks - that is interesting. I will take a look

OP posts:

Original poster

Februarystars1 · 01/02/2023 10:50

ToastAndButler · 31/01/2023 16:18

Why do you feel too old to retrain as a teacher? Do you mean that you just don't fancy the retraining (fair enough) or you think that they won't want you? The latter is unlikely to be true- I have a friend who trained as a teacher in her 50s and is now very happily teaching maths.

if I had a background in a shortage subject I’d be more interested in pursuing it. My son is a teacher in secondary and has done his best to put me off!

OP posts:

Original poster

Februarystars1 · 01/02/2023 10:54

sleepwhenidie · 31/01/2023 16:27

Maybe look at a School Business Manager qualification? SBM role encompasses HR, finance, premises management, procurement. Operates as ‘right hand man/woman’ to the head teacher so that HT can focus on education. Great demand for them and it can be a relatively low key job (eg small primary) or pretty high flying (eg several schools under a multi academy trust). Doesn’t take so long to get a level 4 qualification but you do either need a school to sponsor you so you can use the school as case study, or ideally work in an admin role in a school already - sort of what the course was designed for.

I have looked into this tbh - there are plenty of school admin jobs advertised locally but asking for SIMS experience - which you get from working in a school admin role 😩I believe there are overview courses online which may help with an application. Thanks for the info. That’s very helpful 🙂

OP posts:

butterflymum · 01/02/2023 11:00

Check this for details of who qualifies for Free Courses - Government funded and link to help find ones locally Find-a-course . You might see something hat could help you gain a new skill.

butterflymum · 01/02/2023 11:01

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