Am I mad to do a PGCE when my son will only be 15 months old?

[cupcakeandtea]

My son is nearly 4 months old and for the past few years I've been toying with the idea of training to be a primary school teacher. I've been working in publishing for the past 15 years and as many who recognise my name will know, I've been very unhappy at work for the last few years. This is also coupled with the fact that the media is a young person's game and I'm just not interested in it anymore.

It's too late for me to start a PGCE now but I could start next September. I think this is the ideal time to get some proper work experience in a primary school and to resit my GCSE maths which I need to get a C in. However, I worry about finding the money for the course fees (approx £3k) and living on my partner's wage for the duration of the course. I also worry about finding the money for childcare as the course is full time.

I'm not doing this because it's convenient (ie good if you have children) but because its been a lifelong ambition of mine. Am I mad to be even thinking about it? Are there any other mumsnetters who have completed a PGCE with a young child?

Hi cupcake, I have not done PGCE, but I did an MBA while my dd was small.

I started when she was 9months, and I also worked part-time. Six months later, for complicated family reasons, I had to work full-time.

Some people thought I was mad, they said I'd never see my dd, they thought I'd never cope.

Of course there were occasions when I felt it was all too much (mostly at 2am when I was trying to complete an assignment), but determination and organisation got me through. I became very efficient at studying and I am sure that my family benefited because I was motivated and happy.

Good luck, it'll be an exciting move.

Hello I have two DS aged 7 and 4 and I am starting my PGCE this year in Business, already have four pieces of course work to get on with!!

Can't wait to start, v excited after 7 years SAHM. I have fab DH who works locally and great PIL who said they would muck in. Think crucial to have support.

I'm getting student loan to cover fees £3200 and a bit more to help out with other costs.

Good luck

I've just finished a primary PGCE and I was exhausted by the end -it has taken the summer holidays to recover and I just about feel human again (and I don't even have kids yet!)

You need to get some recent experience asap in this coming term so you can write about it on your GTTR application form (which will need to be in by 1st December latest). Primary is usually very oversubscribed so they will be looking for evidence of interest and commitment. (Look on the TES website for current educational issues).

This site is very good for finance info:
www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Applyingforthe firsttime/DG_171531
You should be able to get some funding towards childcare and also if you are a full time student you get 25% reduction in your council tax

Good luck!

... to echo hollytom, there are more primary teachers than there are jobs in most areas of the country. Only about 1/3 of my group have got jobs for September.
Just be aware getting onto a PGCE is just the first of many, many hoops you will be jumping through on your way to standing up in front of your own class.

Hi I did my PGCE pre kids it is a very intensive course particularly when on school placement but I still managed to work part time all the way through. I got the £6000 they give you to train so look into that.
I think the NQT year is MUCH harder than the PGCE year but if you have a supportive partner and family go for it you will see the rewards in the long term x