what's the starting salary for secondary school teachers with varied work experience?

[braidsherhair]

I am a single mother and desperately want to change to a teaching career for a more fulfilling work life, school holidays and to relocate near my parents.

I'm really excited about the prospect of planning and delivering lessons in front of real life teenagers, but the starting salary putting me off. I honestly don't think I can bring up a child alone on £20K. It seems a ridiculously low salary for the work involved.

My question to newly qualified or experience teachers is: will my experience entitle me to a higher starting salary? I am 35, have a master's degree, speak several languages, have worked as a TV producer and abroad in international development, so feel I have a lot to offer a school beyond my core subject of English. If not, I just don't think I can balance my books

DH's experiance didn't mean he got a higher salary when he started. He has been teaching 6 years now and is on £32k gross plus £4K for being head of key stage 3. He will now have to go through thresh hold to get a decent rise in pay in the future. Also schools are trying to keep costs down now the government have cut things to the bone.

You do realise that you don't finish when school finishes. DH leaves the house at 7am and is home for 6.30/7pm. He puts the kids to bed, has dinner and starts work again till around 11pm ish. Then he relaxes for an hour before going to bed.

All the best with what ever you decide.

As MGW has said, it's unlikely that you'll start above the first point on the pay scale. I've heard of a few people starting at point 2 or 3, but that still amounts to under £25k.

And I can second MGW's comment about working hours as well.

And don't forget you can't ever take time off at your choosing. No weddings, special days for your dc, even funerals are sometimes refused.

My mother at 50, 2 advanced degrees, 25 years related work experience plus stuff as a youth leader, Guider, 2 SEN children started in 4 points above and her tutors were amazed. It was the most they'd ever heard of anyone getting and that was with 2 subjects both with advanced degrees.

I'd say 2 or 3 points is realistic but then you hit threshold quite quickly!

It depends entirely on the school and how much they need you. Also, are you qualified? Because salary for an unqualified teacher is even lower.

Have you thought about private school? They don't stick to the same pay scales and often take un unqualified teachers with experience. Especially if you have language schools, you could be well sought-after.

Thanks - some really great insight here.
MrsGon, yes, I hear you. my mother is a primary school teacher of 30 years and never finishes before 6 and has plateaued at about £33K. Frankly, I find it utterly baffling that teachers aren't paid the same as GPs.

loopy I have always been strongly opposed to private education, so would be slaughted by friends for extreme hypocrisy. But I hear what you're saying...I could maybe do it for a year or two to move slightly higher up the pay scale, then go to comprehensive.

slack - actually, one of the main worries about teaching is what I'd do if my child was ill I've heard schools are even more strict on that than special day requests.

I'm not qualified but was/as comtemplating p/t pgce next feb.

Thanks for your advice.

Thanks - some really great insight here.
MrsGon, yes, I hear you. my mother is a primary school teacher of 30 years and never finishes before 6 and has plateaued at about £33K. Frankly, I find it utterly baffling that teachers aren't paid the same as GPs.

loopy I have always been strongly opposed to private education, so would be slaughted by friends for extreme hypocrisy. But I hear what you're saying...I could maybe do it for a year or two to move slightly higher up the pay scale, then go to comprehensive.

slack - actually, one of the main worries about teaching is what I'd do if my child was ill I've heard schools are even more strict on that than special day requests.

I'm not qualified but was/as comtemplating p/t pgce next feb.

Thanks for your advice.

I started a couple of points up the (old) pay scale because I had relevant experience (a PhD involving part-time teaching). You wouldn't necessarily get that for an MA, and it would depend on what your jobs were I suppose. You would have a lot to offer, and I think you would be in a better position when it came to looking for a job (English v. competitive), but you would still be an inexperienced teacher.

braidsherhair:

I've re-read my post and realised it sounds really negative. Oops!

There are some amazing things about teaching. What you'd expect really: getting that connection with some/most/all of the kids, watching that lightbulb go off when they 'get' something.

I think as a single parent you'd have to have some sort of contingency plan for childcare. It really depends how old your child(ren) are. A three year old is a lot more difficult to hash something together for than a twelve year old.

Ultimately, I don't think any HoD worth their salt would deny you time off if your child was seriously ill, but, as I understand nursery-age children get a cold every other week. THAT would be a problem.

Teaching is great if you have kids sheerly cos of the holidays! I'm a secondary HoD, been teaching for 6 years and on 42k before threshold, applying this year should put me up by a further 3k. HoDs of big depts would be on more. What subject would you do? Really, get into a big secondary and as a bright individual you won't struggle if you go for either HoD, key stage co-ordinator or assistant head level, all achievable for an ambitious person who needs to leave 'on time' ie at 3pm on some days! Re starting salary, it's up to the school but a discretionary point up the scale for each year of experience in the 'real world' is standard. Depends how much they want you, they may not offer more but do bargain - state education jobs are unique in that you are almost always expectedto sign on the dotted line immediately without much time to think so get your tuppenceworth in before accepting. Teaching is nothing like as competitive as the real world so I'm sure you'll find yourself indemand with your quals. Oh and don't fall for thinking private is better-paid, not in my experience it ain't, although it usually comes with hefty discounts or freebie places for your DCs so if you can overcome your moral objections that would be great for you. Private tend to like post-grad quals, not that they make much difference to teaching ability, but parents reqding prospectus like it ;-) It is a bloody stressful job, but as long as you keep your head screwed on and remember the holidays are at least a week off after every 6 on, it compares pretty well to most for similar money. Apols for lack of paragraphs, on iPhone. HTH :-)

"MrsGon, yes, I hear you. my mother is a primary school teacher of 30 years and never finishes before 6 and has plateaued at about £33K. Frankly, I find it utterly baffling that teachers aren't paid the same as GPs."

Because they're teachers not doctors. They don't have to train for 6 years and they don't have to make decisions that can affect if someone lives or dies.

Agree with Seeyouokay. Can't believe the op thinks that teachers should be paid the same as GPs. Makes me really worry about the life experience of some teachers. Have you not seen the entry qualifications to get into med school compared to teachers? The length of their training and the huge responsibilities they have?

Considering the average salary in UK is around £25k I'd hardly say that teachers get a rough deal. I think it is a farce that teachers are poorly paid. There are a lot of professional jobs earning a heck of a lot less than a teachers salary.

That wasn't what the OP was asking. I suspect it was a flippant comment. I do find it bizarre that people begrudge teachers their salary for what is a professional role, especially given we hand our most prized possessions over to them and expect them to cherish and educate them the way we want...as well as being very ready to criticise when things aren't done according to our wishes. Either teachers are professionals or they're not. Let's not turn this simple question into an excuse for some good old teacher bashing.

Be aware that many current academies have their own pay scales- with the govt. plans to create many more academies, you may find that teachers' pay scales change.

FWIW, I know many teachers who have started on M3 or higher due to their previous experience. as someone further up says, it depends on the school.