PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS ....questions please?

Page62 · 2008-02-15T15:07:32+00:00

Hi, My DH and I were talking last night about our long-term plans etc etc, thinking of alternative careers if we are lucky enough to both call it a day and move to the country and downsize some of the expenses etc etc. I currently work FT and although part of the whole moving to the country attraction is to spend more time with the kids, i would still like to work - perhaps to retrain as a primary school teacher. a) do you know how long it would take me to retrain as a primary school teacher and how much it would cost ? (i have a university degree and a masters in finance but clearly not relevant for primary school? b) how much salary i could expect? i just need to work it out in my head if this is do-able or a pipe dream..... thanks

littleolwinedrinkerme · 15/02/2008 15:10

Oooo I've been thinking of doing this - will watch with interest...

Feenie · 15/02/2008 15:12

I am a Literacy co-ordinator in a small primary school and am at the top of my scale (not management) - I earn £36K.

Slouchy · 15/02/2008 15:15

a) should be able to do pgce (1 year) specialising in maths, I would guess

b)starting salary c.18K these days?

(PGCE blardy hard year though, be warned)

Original poster

Page62 · 15/02/2008 15:19

Hi,

I was actually thinking teaching in Reception and/or Year 1. Though i have a finance degree, am not specifically looking to teach math.

£18k, really ? (gulp)....but it's exactly the kind of information i need to do calculations to see if we can afford to do this and at what stage.

i am prepared for it to be hard. my current work is quite high pressured so hopefully it won't be too shocking to the system.

lastly, daft question -- but are teachers needed? i.e. if i retrain will i actually get a job?

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Slouchy · 15/02/2008 15:37

Just checked and it is £20k.
I think (am secondary) that you have to have a subject specialism (national curric relevant)regardless of age you are looking at.
Would you consider secondary? Maths is a shortage subject so you would def get a job, plus might get a golden handshake (worth £6K ish)when you start cos they need maths teachers.

Original poster

Page62 · 15/02/2008 15:40

Thanks Slouchy.

I will work off those assumptions and assume i take a year off working to do qualifications -- and then D and I will try to work out how long i have to work current job to be a bit more financially secure.

If anyone else has any comments, will still happily take them!

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bamboostalks · 15/02/2008 15:43

It really depends where you are in the country, inner cities always need teachers but permanent jobs in the country can be very difficult to find, particularly the n-e and coastal areas in the south. The salaries are more where recruitment is the toughest. Look at the NUT site for all the salaries and the yearly progresion. It is not as easy a profession as it apppears on this site (where people can make it sound like a semi retirement dream sometimes) and I know a great many teachers who leave in search of less stress. Try some work experience for a few weeks....if you don't love don't do it.

redwino · 15/02/2008 15:49

Hi, I work in a school and one of the teachers there trained later in life through a Fast Track Scheme which i think meant she got some financial help. Might be worth looking into. Also there is a real shortage of maths teachers certainly in East Anglia any way so if you chose this route you would be more certain of getting a job. Lots of rural schools are closing at the moment apparently so the dream of a little village school is likely to stay a dream!

alfiesbabe · 15/02/2008 16:21

I know a lot of Primary teachers who are struggling to find work, so secondary could be a better option. Also there is more potential for earning more, as if you get to management, a lot depends on the size of school.

cece · 15/02/2008 16:31

I know someone who struggled to find a Primary job after she qualified.

My friend also struggled to find work - she is an excellent and experienced teacher - in the end she had to move to another county to get a permanent job ...

cat64 · 15/02/2008 16:31

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cece · 15/02/2008 16:37

I agree - try to do some work experience so you can see for yourelf what you would be letting yourself in for. Rural schools have very stable staffing so very few jobs come up...

I also agree, I teach Primary, Reception/Year 1 is really tough. Personally I prefer year 4,5 and 6

Original poster

Page62 · 15/02/2008 16:41

don't worry, appreciate the straightforward comments on here. and yes, i would admit, the village school, semi-retired is the vision i have in mind which might be far from the reality of teaching Reception/Year1.

Though i love my current job, i don't want to keep doing it for the next 10 years ( i am 32). i am at my desk before 7 and i leave the office at 6pm and it is quite stressful (though as i said, i love it). So though am sure the teacher life is by no means easy, i am thinking it would be shorter hours and i will be on hols the same time as my kids. So, for me, that is the upgrade in the quality of life.

To be honest, me getting a teaching job is not going to be what makes or breaks the decision - i am just trying to get a feel if what i am dreaming of is a pipe dream or if it is possible to achieve it.

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cat64 · 15/02/2008 17:03

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alfiesbabe · 15/02/2008 18:23

Agree cat. I'm at work at 8 rather than 7, but rarely finish before 5.30/6 and always take work home. I don't think it's just the hours either - teaching has a very particular pressure because in a sense you are performing for about 5 hours per day, plus doing all the planning/marking/managing/strategic stuff. Imagine being on stage for a large part of the day and you get the picture. And also, whereas in many walks of life you deal with people one at a time eg doctor/solicitor deals with one patient/client at a time, whereas as a teacher you have 30 different personalities to deal with. And then the bell goes and another 30 troop in. You might teach nearly 200 different kids over the course of a day.
I'm not complaining - as I said, I think it's about the most worthwhile job in the world and I'm glad I have the skills to do it - but be aware about what you're taking on

Original poster

Page62 · 16/02/2008 15:01

thank you for your comments, i am sure i will do some form of shadowing work before completely committing to it.
i had taught in university for a semester (c6 months) before - i had four classes and each class had about 30 students (17-18 year olds) - so do have some experience of teaching - i.e. all the work that goes into the lectures etc. clearly, aware teaching 5-6 year olds will be different (though the emotional maturity of the students will probably be the same -hehehe) - and subject matter and approach to be wholly new (i previously taught accounting). i did get a lot of job satisfaction out of it.
as i said, i am happy with my job at the moment and it does have real advantages (financial, for example), but am just really exploring what plan b could be. i do hope the plan b i am thinking of is for me!

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gillaz · 22/02/2008 15:01

PGCE and first few years are really hard but then it does get easier (well in secondary anyway). You get quicker at planning, marking and all of the at home stuff. Some times of the year are harder than others (think getting up at 4 a.m to finish marking) but there are times when you can get there for 8 and leave at 3.30. AND the holidays are great.

My husband recently retrained as a teacher as well and loves it but says he has never been as knackered. He used to work in retail management and was on his feet all day but says it just doesn't compare to teaching tiredness.

Great job, really rewarding and well worth a couple of years of hard work.

Dalex · 23/02/2008 21:34

Page62,
Am a head in the indepenedent sector. I have recently taken a city banjer on as Head of maths. She is execellent with number but even better with children - had natural passion for kids. More important than anything else. Look to the private - they have more freedom than state but depends on your personal politics. Took me a while. Let me know.

Original poster

Page62 · 25/02/2008 09:41

Hi Dalex,
that is very encouraging! TBH, haven't really thought too much about state vs. private -- and i don't think i would have any strong views either way. I don't know if you deduced from my posts, but i am also city banker - the job is great and clearly the financial benefit it brings/has brought my family is v. helpful but DH and I just thinking of the next phase of our lives and what we could do. I will do more research - i think we're a couple of years away but we talked about it over dinner so was in my mind the last few days...

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Dalex · 25/02/2008 21:27

Page62, Look at TES, out On Fridays. Don't be afraid to apply to independent. They ahve so much more flexibility with regards employment policy and are not defined by QTS. If you have no issue with the private sector which provide you with a wonderful discount for your own children, there are many other benefits as a teacher.

Rachmumoftwo · 25/02/2008 21:43

I'm doing my Primary PGCE with Somerset SCITT at the moment. I have a loan to cover my fees, a student loan, a small grant, a bursary and a bit of help towards childcare, so am about as well off as if I worked part-time.
It isn't easy, but I am loving it. Not everyone has a degree that you would think went with primary teaching, but we were all required to have some experience with children and in schools (at least some voluntary work).
We are a good mix of younger trainees, parents, and a few whose children are now grown up, so age is not an issue at all.
The course is an intensive 1 year course, and then you have 1 year as an NQT in a school, where you will be supported more than an experienced teacher (hopefully).
Or, you could look at GTP, Graduate Teacher Programme, where you are based in (and paid by) a school while you train. More money, but more intense.

Rachmumoftwo · 25/02/2008 21:46

I'm doing my Primary PGCE with Somerset SCITT at the moment. I have a loan to cover my fees, a student loan, a small grant, a bursary and a bit of help towards childcare, so am about as well off as if I worked part-time.
It isn't easy, but I am loving it. Not everyone has a degree that you would think went with primary teaching, but we were all required to have some experience with children and in schools (at least some voluntary work).
We are a good mix of younger trainees, parents, and a few whose children are now grown up, so age is not an issue at all.
The course is an intensive 1 year course, and then you have 1 year as an NQT in a school, where you will be supported more than an experienced teacher (hopefully).
Or, you could look at GTP, Graduate Teacher Programme, where you are based in (and paid by) a school while you train. More money, but more intense.

Rachmumoftwo · 25/02/2008 21:47

No idea why that came up twice, sorry!