Teachers - would you recommend it as a career-change job?

[stripeybumpsmum]

I guess this could also be in AIBU.

DH is a nuclear physics grad but kind of drifted into IT somewhere in mid twenties. Now works in IT sales and account management but really not happy. Much better at the problem solving/advising than the actual selling. But is reasonably successful - total salary/car/commission package very nice thanks. But he is as miserable as hell at the mo'

He is looking to get back into science somehow. I think he'd be a fab teacher - especially secondary or above. It would be a massive drop in pay initially whilst training, and later when qualified but I could up my hours to cover.

I think there are advantages to giving it a go but he's just heard loads of horror stories.

Any science teachers out there who have an opinion? What would you say to influence decision for or against? Initially I've got to convince him to even do the three day taster course!

Or AIBU pushing him into something he isn't keen on? He is really good at inaction because of (hopelessly pessimistic) fear of failure.

I'm also thinking of training to be a science teacher.... I'm an industrial chemist....

Can anyone 'sell' the idea?

well i only teach primary butr i love it. good for child care during holidays. good pension . never boring There is always private schools. It is not a 9-3.30 job....expect long hours.

martianbishop is a science teacher - so is scienceteacher (spookily enough!), so they can advise you on the subject more accurately. However, I am a secondary English teacher, been teaching for 14 years and I can honestly say I still love it.

95% of the pupils I teach are just like we'd like our own dcs to be when they are that old, and the other 5% are 'copeable with', with a good senior management, good pastoral system and support throughout the school for the discipline system.

Yes, it's exhausting and stressful at times and absolutely relentless. BUT, it makes me happy, it's hugely rewarding and the nature of the job means there is never a dull moment.

I would suggest your dh (and you, YCBS) make an appointment to visit a secondary school and shadow a science teacher for a day. Many people just haven't stepped inside a school since the day they left and I've lost count of the times friends and family have come into school and marvelled at how things have changed in schools, in a positive way. If all you know of schools is the press and TV then you may well have a fairly warped view of how things are.

It's not for everyone, but if it's the right job for you, you won't regret it.

Can you get some experience in a local school to give you an idea of what it would be like?

Me and DH are both teachers - I do littleis and he does the scary teenager ones [grin}

It was the best career change I ever made - DH was a pro teacher from the word go.

He needs to spend a little time in schools to see what he thinks of it, and how he might feel about being in that environment day-in day-out.

The pay as a classroom teacher is not great, but does improve with responsibility (probably nowhere near your dh's current salary though). Unfortunately, with responsibility comes a lot of hassle, paperwork etc.

The good thing about being a science teacher is that you are in demand job-wise, so can land a good job if you are patient.

ScienceTeacher - Sorry to gatecrash this thread

Is there a 'better' way to become a science teacher? I've had a look on the internet (have been thinking about it for a while) but there seem to be so many routes...

I have all the 'right' qualifications but would prefer a p/t route.... who should I talk to?

SBM's - really sorry for the gatecrash

I did a PGCE - approx one-third of the time spent at university and the rest in schools.

The main alternative to the PGCE is the graduate teacher programme (GTP), where you are given the theory and practice in your main placement school.

The advantage of the GTP over the PGCE is that you get paid unqualified teacher rate for the duration of your training, although I have a feeling it all works out much the same in the end. Having seen the GTP programme in action, I would vote the PGCE route.

There are other niche ways into teaching, particularly if you are able to teach in an inner city school.

It is possible to do a part-time PGCE through the Open University, and the course is longer than the 9 months of a full-time course. You have to do a lot of your own leg work too with this course. Martian Bishop did it, and I'm sure she is willing to recommend it.

The issue with part-time mainstream PGCE (ie based in live universities) is that they are set up for full-time school placements.

I came out of full-time industry to do my PGCE. I was used to working from 8am - 6pm, but found on university days, I was 10 - 4, and on schooldays 8.30 - 3.30. With my extra travelling time, I was still within my former workday.

Thanks! The OU might work for me..... I'll look into that!

thanks!

Yes I did my PGCE with the OU and found it very good.

There are a couple of down sides

It can be a slow process getting your two schools (where you see teaching practice) sorted. Schools may be reluctant, because the paperwork for the OU is even worse than a 'normal university!

You have to be a little more self motivate, as there is less day to day direct support for you, but there are internet chat rooms you can use etc etc, but nothing quite as direct as having a chat with other students over a coffee

Positives
You can do the academic stuff in your own time, as it is all on line, and there are no lectures to attend, you are assessed by portfolio.

You have three blocks of teaching practice, which increase in time as you go further into the course.

You can take up to three years if you like, and you still get the same overall grant funding and benefits

95% of the kids I teach are fab, 4% are easily led but quite manageable, as long as you have a strong personality and a good sense of humour. 1% need to be in a more appropriate school (EBD)

I love this job, going into teaching was the best thing I ever did, other than marry dh and have the kids!

It isn't an easy job, I started work this morning at 8, got home at 5.15 worked through lunch, and I still have a set of books to mark tonight, and some A level questions, which will probably take me another 2.5 hours. But is it a great job.

You not on your Easter break then mb? or are you at these sensible schools that are having theirs later?

We had the weekend, are back now, and in two weeks time we have the rest of our holidays. My kids, however are off! So MIL is helping out, and I have a weeks holiday without them! [shock}

Thanks for your comments guys, much appreciated. DH had a look at the thread and said he found it quite positive - I think we may have sparked an interest.

YCBS - no problem about gatecrash - all part of the same process although I think we would look at FT PGCE so me working full time for a shorter period to cover fits in better with long term family plans.

How about GRTP - still a year but get paid whilst you train?

Sausageroll - I do like the idea of getting paid to train and I'd qualify for the full amount as I'd choose chemistry / science (which I think goes for SBM's DH)

But, presumably, that means that you HAVE to teach for a certain amount of time after you've qualified - I'm assuming the Govt. just don't give you the money without expecting something in return?

I think you get the golden hello in the December paypacket of your second year of teaching (that's the case for PCGE).

If you do a GTP, you really have to be in a good programme. Some schools are better than others at provide you with the breadth of experience and the pedagogy. For that reason, I would recommend PGCE - you are based at a university, and you get plenty of theory, and are in tuturials with many other students who you can bounce ideas off. The actual teaching experience in schools, and your relationship with your school-based mentor will be the same for both routes.

Since you mentioned 'secondary or above', I thought I would jump on and give you my 2 cents:

FE is a very stressful environment at the moment, with limited funding and over-emphasis on results; however, there do seem to be more jobs for science lecturers than other subjects. Sometimes, lecturers can get jobs based on experience and do a PGCE at the same time.

HE is another possibility, even if he doesn't want to do an advanced degree; more and more universities are opening Foundation Year Programmes for international students and mature students, so it might be worthwhile looking at this, although I think they would want to see teaching experience though.

Another one who's gone into teaching aftger ten years in another industry (health)although I am in primary - five years on and no regrets yet! PGCE is hard work, I had a young family, and needed to be super organised, and did, in fact, become the dreadful mature student-type I had laughed at when I was an undergraduate - first at lectures, asking questions, bringing my own flask of coffee to cut costs - but was all worth it as I did really well, was in demand at the NQT pool interviews and got offered four jobs that day - being mature seemedd to be considered to be an advantage.

It is a great job - demanding, challenging, but fun, it doesn't fit as well into family life as some people think it does although obviously has great advantages for the longer holidays - would definitely second the suggestion that your DH goes and does some observation in a school first, as that was invaluable.

I too am a science graduate thinking of training as a teacher in a couple of years time. My local uni has a course for teaching 7-14 year olds. We don't have middle schools here. Is this still a worthwhile qualification? What would it lead to?

And what does the panel think of teaching subjects at A level you haven't done at degree? Do you have to do this?

My degree is in Chemical Engineering, and I teach Physics A-level and have taught Chemistry in the past. I haven't found it an impediment not to have a degree in the subject. I don't even have A-levels, as I went to school in Scotland.