Thinking about retraining to become a teacher

Alleycat

Wow, thank you all for taking the time to reply and teacherandmum your post is really helpful! There is certainly lots of food for thought. I have started to look into the various training options. I have a degree and the work I currently do both have transferable skills so hopefully I would be able to do the 1 year training. There seem to be a variety of options for this too. Working in a school whilst training, college etc. We find out about redundancies in December so would not need to make a decision until then I think. Gives me a good bit of time to weigh it all up and continue my research.

I am lucky in that my mum is a teaching assistant at my daughter's school (she's been there 25 years now!) and when I am working until 5 or 7pm she collects her from her classroom and looks after for me. My husband also works 12 hour shifts on a 6 weekly rota so she doesn't need childcare every week. Also as she is going to be in yr 1 in September there may be after school clubs she wants to go to. There is also a breakfast club at her school.

I'm glad to hear that job share appears to be a viable option as I ideally this is what I would like to do. I am used to long hours doing my current job and am totally aware that teachers don't clock off at 3.30pm like some people think! With my husband's shifts it would mean that I would be able to catch up on paperwork when he is off shift and wouldn't mind doing that in the half of the week I wasn't working in order to allow more time with my children.

I am slightly confused regarding the costs of training though. There seem to be some grants/bursaries available but does anyone know what the course fees are etc? Its been over 10 years since I was at uni and I think things have changed somewhat!!

Person_one

danielle1977 wrote: »

Maybe its the person-not the lack of jobs-I know a few people that have just finished-2 have permanent fulltime jobs in september

Well then its a lot of people!

In every profession there'll always be a range of successes from those who do well straight out of the gate to those who take longer to get established. I just wanted to let the OP know that the qualification itself is no guarantee of a job.

Person_one

Alleycat wrote: »

We find out about redundancies in December so would not need to make a decision until then I think. Gives me a good bit of time to weigh it all up and continue my research.

Check what the closing dates are for application to the courses though. You wouldn't want to wait till December, be made redundant in say Feb 2011 and then not be able to start teacher training till Sep 2012!

If this is what you want to do, and the closing date is in January like most uni courses, I would recommend you start now on trying to make your future application as strong as possible. Could you help out in a school? If your work hours preclude this what about offering to help at a weekend childcare type thing, or a club such as brownies so you've got some practical experience with children. Does your local college or council offer a short childcare or playworker course?

Trying to get into uni is incredibly competitive at the moment, especially the courses that are seen to lead to 'stable' careers.

gravitytolls

DH is currently working toward his degree he's doing it through the OU, he will have a history degree BA honours. He volunteered three days a week in a school for a year, reached NVQ2 level in TA, which enabled him to get a job in a school. He's since passed NVQ3, and is half way through the degree. He is highly regarded and sought after by other members of staff, and has been mentioned at every assessment of the trainee teacher, as she performed well thanks to strong support of .............., one assessor told him the children will be lucky as he'll make a wonderful teacher.

He loves working with the children of all ages, and I'm very proud of him.

Good luck with your decision, remember, there may not be amnay jobs now, but by the time you're qualified, things may have changed.

mikey72

danielle1977 wrote: »

Maybe its the person-not the lack of jobs-I know a few people that have just finished-2 have permanent fulltime jobs in september

In reception or year 1?

This is probably the most popular year(s) to teach, but on the other hand has a high turnover, with all the jobs going to newly qualified teachers, as they are at the bottom of the pay scale.
So good and bad.

And no matter what anyone says, the summer holidays are great!

gratefulforhelp_2

Not much I can add to the extensive advice here, but...you will find it easier to get a job if you are flexible about full or part time, some people are more impressed by a degree and a PGCE and ...

its the best job in the world(with the possible exception of being a taster for Perrier Jouet) Go for it!

Look at this http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit.aspx

chorlton

True about the hols - my wife is a teacher and although she barely ever gets to drop our kids at school, spending all holidays with them is worth it as a trade off - and a massive help compared to the childcare problems most of our friends have looming!

milliebear00001

The bald facts are that primary jobs (permanent) are really hard to come by at the moment unless you're in London. The hours are long, but usually fairly flexible (and of course, you get the holidays). Part-time jobs exist- job share and PPA cover. but are even harder to get. You probably won't spend your whole career in one year group, or even key stage - some Heads like to move their staff around.

I work full-time and do about a 60-70 hour week in term-time, but these hours are worked around my family (I work when they go to bed) but it works for me. I also really enjoy my job most of the time, which is a definite bonus!!

I was a career-changer, and have no regrets. I say go for it, but do so with your eyes open. Supply is always an option if you're finding it hard to secure a perm part-time post, and I find the job reasonably family-friendly compared to my old job. If you're interested in Reception/Year 1 then be careful which course you choose as these are covered by different curriculum requirements.

kelloggs36

I've been teaching for 2 years; about to go into my third as a Primary teacher. It is exhausting! I got in at 8.15am today and left at 5.10pm and I have a class worth of literacy books to mark (I managed to mark the maths during my lunch break). I also have to finish the reports which have already taken about 40 hours to write up (lots of subjects plus my sets). I have had to plan for the next week also as I am going to my new school on Monday so everything has to be ready for the supply on Monday, so I had to sort out resources etc too. No weekend to relax, just more work! Last week was the same - it goes in pits and troughs, mostly pits though as there is always some deadline to meet - reports, levelling data, moderation, book monitoring, displays, assemblies etc so it is hectic all the time! Most weeks I have 1 day off per weekend, the other I am planning for the next week. I can't wait for a break as I am absolutely exhausted now, and can't wait until the end of July! The children break up on the 21st but we still have another 2 days INSET to do, so we don't get to stop until the 23rd, and then we have to set up our classrooms for the start of September as there will be no time given for that.

Gleeful

Please don't be under any illusions about the availability of jobs. I have just completed my PGCE in what the TDA consider to be a shortage subject, and I have no teaching job to go to. The best I can ask for is supply or a teaching assistant post in the meantime!