Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Flip

Original poster

Secondary teachers - what is it like, would you recommend?

12 replies

nooname · 17/04/2008 10:10

Hi, I am considering doing a secondary PGCE (in RE) and would really appreciate some thoughts from teachers as to what it is really like.

I currently teach first yr undergrads so altho I have an idea of what teaching is like I am not used to crowd control or kids who don't want to be there.

TIA

OP posts:

Original poster

nooname · 17/04/2008 10:13

Of course just realised secondary teachers will all be at school...
Hmm, might check this thread again in the morning!!

OP posts:

MrsMattie · 17/04/2008 10:18

I didn't teach in a secondary school, but I taught 14-16 yr olds on a BTEC course (they came into an FE college I was a teaching at from their school once a week). I also taught 16-19 yr olds for a while.

I loved the teaching (the paperwork was horrendous, but that's another story...). It was challenging, no doubt about that. Crowd control and laying down the law was a big part of the job. I'd say you definitely have to get their respect upfront, no messing around, if you want to avoid problems down the line. Sometimes it was exasperating trying to constantly find ways to inspire & organise a large group of chaotic teenagers. GCSE students aren't like university students. Many of them don't really want to be there and are disorganised, surly and need massive input from you in order to get the most basic pieces of work done. But I loved the kids (well, most of them!) and found it extremely rewarding. It isn't something I have ruled out returning to in the future.

TheFallenMadonna · 17/04/2008 10:19

You have to love it. Can you go into a school and get some experience of what it's like in the classroom? Very different to undergrads

FleurDelacour · 17/04/2008 15:44

Teaching is the best job in the world if you are in the right school for you. In the wrong school it is hell. I am proud to be a secondary maths teacher and love my job. There is never a dull moment. The energy and enthusiasm from the students is great and my colleagues are inspirational. Go for it!

michie40 · 17/04/2008 15:51

agree - tis the best job in the world - but you have to love it cause its bloody hard work!

happykatie · 17/04/2008 20:56

I don't know whether you have any children (You are on mumsnet - but then again I don't have any yet!) PGCE is wonderful & teaching is great but I couldn't possibly do it with small children. PGCE & NQT year (and even the year after that) are increadibly hard. I'm in my third year and I love it but it has consumed ever single waking hour for the past two and a half years. Apart from three weeks in the summer I spend almost every waking hour planning, preparing, marking and most importantly thinking and worrying about school. I don't mean to sound dramatic because teaching is a wonderful job but it's very hard to switch off when you start and it's very hard to have anything left for anyone else. I live with my dp and feel that during term time I never see him.

Be prepared some weeks to work for up to three or four hours in the evening plus Sundays as well.

On the up side if you find the right school it can be amazing. My school is like my second home and the staff really care and support each other. Most of my girls are a pleasure to teach and really care about the staff. It's also an absolute priviledge to be doing something you love all day long. My life is one giant history lesson! Plus you can be doing something different all the time. Bored one day - make up an activity which involves going into the hall and having a mock battle of hastings! Plus you get all the great mufti-day/cake sale/school quiz etc great events which help to break up the term.

Sorry this is a long post - you can guess that this is something I think a lot about. Good Luck!

gillaz · 19/04/2008 06:01

Yes, it's hard work but once you get a few years under your belt it gets easier.
Also, no matter how horrible you never have to go more than 7 weeks without a holiday.

Original poster

nooname · 19/04/2008 08:33

Thanks so much everyone for your responses, there is a lot of food for thought there. I am really cheered by the fact that everyone who has posted seems to love their job!!

TFM - good advice to go into schools. I did that in the past when considering teaching but would be a good idea to do it again and refresh my memory!

Happykatie - thanks so much for your post. I actually have a toddler and we are ttc#2. From what you have said it may be an idea to delay the pgce until they are older. I just don't have much spare time at the mo as you can imagine!!

OP posts:

ChocolateEclair · 19/04/2008 09:24

Hello nooname

I would agree that it can be the best job in the world! (I have been teaching 8 years now and still love it!. You do need to find the right school for you though.

I remember my PGCE being 9 months of VERY hard work, every evening, every weekend both days, as you spend ages preparing for each lesson, plus you have essays and assignments to hand in.

Now I am ttc I cannot imagine trying to combine a PGCE with the demands of small children. Agree it might be better put on hold for a while, but why not do a little w/experience in your local school? People do this all the time at my school and it is a really effective starting point.

My work life balance is pretty good 8 years down the line, and I would say it gets easier after the NQT year. My biggest bug bear is report writing and paperwork (not the kids who don't want to be there - VERY FEW). Hoping my first DC comes along soon and I get a few months maternity leave! he he!

Good Luck in whatever you decide, and remember there are loads of MNetters who are teachers if you need any more advice!

ChocolateEclair xx

ChocolateEclair · 19/04/2008 09:26

Sorry I meant to add that you can do your PGCE through the Open University which takes longer (around 2 years) so it is more spread out and very flexible, so you would have more time with your lo.

ScienceTeacher · 19/04/2008 09:54

I teach in a private school and it is fab. I don't have to do crowd control or very much paperwork

hercules1 · 19/04/2008 10:00

I am an RE teacher. When I did my PGCE there were a lot of parents including single mums and dads with little ones doing it and they managed (god knows how but they did). You need a supportive support network if doing it with little ones as it is really time consuming.
You will have to spend some time in a secondary school anyway to get a pgce place so worth doing this asap to see if it's right for you.

It is bloody hard work and a lot of the time crowd control. The trouble with RE is that it is compulsory at yr 10 and 11 to study it but not all kids necessarily take an exam in it. If there is no goal at the end ie exam then teaching YR 10 and Yr 11 the subject is hell. I wish tbh it wasnt compulsory as I dont think it's fair on the kids who have to learn it and the teachers who have to teach the non examiniation classes.

I spent a few years in mainstream and although I enjoyed it I now teach in a special school and personally would never ever go back to mainstream.

Flip