Finished Primary PGCE at 50 and don't want to teach

[peebles32]

I have just turned 50 and finished a PGCE in primary teaching. My placement was ok but I knew I had made a mistake and did not want to leave halfway through. It was the physical demands as well as the mental demands. I have wanted to teach all my life and never had the opportunity to do it. I was a TA years ago and the classroom has changed in the past 15 years!! The amount of SEND children not getting any support is shocking.
I am shattered. I was the oldest on my course and all the lecturers kept telling me how much they admired me and I got swept along. Even the ones in mid forties were struggling so why did I not see it myself?
I did not think about menopause, back problems and even on HRT I am struggling, but I was embarrassed to say I had made a mistake.
I just don't think I will be able to hack it so looking to go into a more pastoral role.
Anyone got any ideas on what I could possibly do? I have elderly parents and young teenagers and never really gave that thought how I would cope with them too.

My family are all so proud of me and I feel like a fraud! I need to work as we cannot manage on one salary but don't know what to do.
Everyone has all these expectations of me and I feel like I will disappoint everyone.

I'm.53 and been teaching for nearly 30 years. I don't think the reality of how demanding the job is really kicks in till you start. I went part time this year because of the unreasonable workload. I only have myself to look after. It relentless. Don't feel bad,you have tried it and it's not for u.

Are supply teachers in the pension scheme? Happy now but when they want to retire? Also if you care about teaching, and pupils, you should get fully qualified or do something else.

Yikes! I could not cope with pre school! Those folk are incredible.

You need an additional qualification to be a SENCO. It's not a role an ECT can do.

Hi, I also completed a PGCE but in secondary and haven't completed my ECT years. However it hasn't stopped me getting supply work. I tutor around 15h per week and work on the side as a community care assistant to top up my wage, I'm very happy with this. I actually withdrew from an offer last week for an ECT maternity cover and I'm currently wondering if I made the right decision.
You don't necessarily have to have completed your ECT years due to tutor/do supply and so on, it hasn't stopped me.

If you're happy with what you do, @Addictedtocinammonrolls - carry on. Life's too short. You can always do your ECT at another time if you feel that the right job comes up.

Switch to ks3? I personally think primary sounds more demanding.

5 years experience post ect for senco so def not that. Plus be completely inexperience in the role! Mad suggestion.

I've always thought that, @Boomboom22 , although it's about preferences. I would find it tricky, but then I do like older students. No judgement, it's about finding what suits you, sometimes. Finding your groove.

Key stage three will not be easy. All key stages are full on. It relentless.

Thank you :)

Did I say easy? I said easier than primary. I mostly teach 6th form so for me yr13 is easiest then yr12 then yr8 then 7 then 11 then 10 then 9. But it depends on your personality.

Good for you for enjoying it. Someone has too. Overall though, it’s an abusive profession top down.

What a ridiculous thing to say.
@Maireas didn't claim there was nothing wrong with teaching as a profession so I am not sure why you are going after her, but suggesting the whole of teaching is "an abusive profession", apart from being factually incorrect, is actually highly offensive.

Seems a bit early to be chucking the towel in. Could you look for a part time job and give it a year before making a decision?

I love teaching. Switched main subjects after 10 years to go pt and keep it interesting. Loads of opportunities. Can always move schools if it goes wrong. 2 years max of any major annoying kids. Love my subjects. Colleagues are great but if not is very automonous, you are in charge in your room.

Thanks, @UsingChangeofName 👍

Also for ambitious people who don't want to teach too much there is a major shortage of slt and heads
So opportunities again. Especially in a second career if you have good management skills already can jump quickly
Need a few years HoD or hof, slt, then deputy for 5 years and you can go for headship.
Not me though, I am too much of a rebel. HoD is about as far as I'd go unless it was Assistant for maybe timetabling or teaching and learning.

I’m pretty sure that you can only do supply for 5 yrs without completing your ECT

@UsingChangeofName

I think it’s a very abusive profession. In my opinion teachers receive a lot of abusive behaviour from management, parents AND students. Some teachers can’t see the wood for the trees because they’ve only ever worked in education. Anyway, I don’t need to justify that opinion, it’s perfectly valid and representative of the profession and it’s culture.

If you DO decide to complete your ECT period, there are a good rage of schools to choose from ( depending oh where you are based geographically)

My friend taught maths in a mainstream secondary, for years. Then she went part time in a PRU and now works part time in a lovely private girls school. She is 52 and still going strong in education.

Point being, once you have QTS and are ready to go.. the opportunities are great.

Early years? Hell no!! I was as 47 and did a years contract as a 1:1 in a primary. NEVER again. You need to be physically strong as an ox and mentally sharp as a knife! Oh and a shit load of patience!!

@Maireas

I really hope you have a lovely afternoon too.

@Boomboom22 - I can recommend being Head of KS5!

@Boomboom22

I don’t think they make good heads though. SLT who jumped ship very early on in their career are often out of touch and lack the real substance that’s required for great leadership.

It’s the same in nursing too. The ward matron often has many years of nursing under their belts before they can lead the ward and for very good reason.

Reasons. Apologies, typing quickly.

Maybe. But then good teachers might be terrible heads. And we need good teachers with as much contact time as possible, 20 lessons not 2.