Any teachers out there - help about a job

[MunchMummy]

Hi,
I'm looking to retrain as either a teacher or teaching assistant when my youngest starts school in a year or so's time.

My only concern though is that I'm currently 34 and by the time I've finished training I'm going be heading towards 40 - eek.

What I would like to know is do schools take on more 'mature' new teachers/assistants or do they prefer the younger ones. I just worry that as a newly qualified teacher and with 2 children I wouldn't even get an interview.

Are there any teachers out there who trained AFTER having kids and have been successful.

For anyone whos interested I used to be a software engineer for 12 years before having kids, but it really wasn't my thing at all (hard to decide what you want to do at 16 isn't it), but since DD1 has been at school I KNOW what I want to do - it just feels like home. (and yes, I do know about the governmental pressure of it all - I come from a family of teachers).

Many thanks for anyone who can help me decide whether I'm going to be un-employable.

i think there were more people on my PGCE over 35 than under tbh

(2001-2, Maths)

Really - that gives me a bit of hope then

I am studying my PGCE part time at the mo and am 37 with one DC. Most of the people on my course are in this age group and over, so I don't think you need to worry about it!

I trained in 1996-7 (MFL) and lots of the group were a bit older. To be honest, they found many aspects of the training less daunting than us younger ones, and sometimes once they found posts, they were able to negotiate points on the basis of their previous experience.
I don't think the fact that you have children would go against you at all - you probably know though, as you come from a family of teachers, that the pgce and nqt years are pretty tiring, but once you find the job that suits you, it's a great life.

Yup, definitely a non-worry! Go for it, me and dh are both teachers and love it. (though accidentally typed 'mad' there - Freudian?! )

yes don't worry. schools often like 'older' NQTs as they are still cheap but can command more authority and have more life experience.

I trained after having two kids and almost a decade in industry.

I never had a problem getting an interview and was successful a few times too.

I think employers like to have a diverse staff, and do value staff members who have industrial experience.

However, the key thing is how well you teach.

Although I am in my late twenties so a little younger, I trained after having my 2 children and started my first teaching job (part time, which I wanted), in September. I was really pleased because I got the first job I applied for- it is more than possible, good luck!

Many thanks everyone for all your great responses. I know I'm definitely going to train, just a matter of when and which age range to go for. With a 3 yr old and 18 month old I'm not sure I can commit as much time as the course would need at the moment without burning myself out.

But all your posts have given me more than a bit of hope, so I'm certainly going to look into it a bit more over Xmas and maybe start in September (DD2 will be 2 then, so things should be easier - ha ha - maybe not).

Many thanks everyone.