Teaching - is it a good job?

twinklie

mikey72 wrote: »

Not yet, but even so, it was good while it lasted. What other career now has a guaranteed £2K a year pay rise, + a % negotiated by the union on that, and a decent pension scheme?

Well, it wasn't a 2K per year pay rise...unless someone has been diddling my wages. And the pensions are about to go up the swanny unless they change their minds.

Theres alot of terms and conditions surrounding working practices which are probably going to make the job itself a lot more difficult as well. But then again...you gotta love it.

msb5262

twinklie wrote: »

Well, it wasn't a 2K per year pay rise...unless someone has been diddling my wages....There are a lot of terms and conditions surrounding working practices which are probably going to make the job itself a lot more difficult as well. But then again...you gotta love it.

Just to say twinklie - I certainly haven't seen the 2K per year pay rise either!
Also the job varies incredibly widely from school to school because individual headteachers have totally different expectations of their staff - a job that is challenging and enjoyable in one school becomes horribly stressful and unmanageable in another.

MsB

PS. Don't you ALWAYS wonder why the many people who think the job is easy and well paid aren't doing it themselves?

LJM

my friend is a headteacher but her children are all grown up she says she couldnt have coped with the huge work load/hours if she had a young family. though on other hand she absolutely loves her job she says it is very rewarding and wouldnt swap it for the world. i always wanted to teach but knew i wanted a family too so i decided to stick to being a TA which to me is also rewarding and i dont have all the stress's of paperwork etc

mikey72

msb5262 wrote: »

Just to say twinklie - I certainly haven't seen the 2K per year pay rise either!
Also the job varies incredibly widely from school to school because individual headteachers have totally different expectations of their staff - a job that is challenging and enjoyable in one school becomes horribly stressful and unmanageable in another.

MsB

PS. Don't you ALWAYS wonder why the many people who think the job is easy and well paid aren't doing it themselves?

twinklie wrote: »

Well, it wasn't a 2K per year pay rise...unless someone has been diddling my wages. And the pensions are about to go up the swanny unless they change their minds.

Theres alot of terms and conditions surrounding working practices which are probably going to make the job itself a lot more difficult as well. But then again...you gotta love it.

They must be

if you're on a basic, no enhancements, no TLR's, no SEN, no AST, no ET payments, this should be your basic.
You automatically move a spine point (M1, M2 etc for each year of service, for the first six years))
http://www.teachers.org.uk/node/11723

msb5262

mikey72 wrote: »

You automatically move a spine point (M1, M2 etc for each year of service, for the first six years))
http://www.teachers.org.uk/node/11723

mikey72 - my first six years in teaching were 1989 to 1995...maybe that will help you to understand why it never happened to me!

MsB

mikey72

msb5262 wrote: »

mikey72 - my first six years in teaching were 1989 to 1995...maybe that will help you to understand why it never happened to me!

MsB

£31.5K outside London, after a 2.3% pay rise this year isn't too shabby.
If you put in a threshold application and get onto the upper pay scale that's a minimum of £34,181 pa if you're not there already.
£36.4k inner London, after six years, and £41.5K if you get the upper pay scale.

mikey72

Lalaladybird wrote: »

Any teachers out there? What are the pros and cons of the job? I am thinking about applying to do the one year PGDE and want to make sure it will fit in round family life ok. Can you do it part time?

Are you based in scotland? (PGDE not PGCE)
If so, all the info is based on england and wales, and I've no idea on the scottish payscales
What was your degree in?

gratefulforhelp_2

I love my school, our headteacher is ace, and the kids are very funny. We're all different though, some people hate it and whinge all the time.
What about asking a local school if you can do a week of observations to get some real experience? (apologies if that has been suggested).

dramarama

Just sticking my head in and saying hi! I too am a teacher NQT- qualified last year. I teach in Secondary Schools on supply as I couldn't secure a permanent job...my supply time is fast running out .

I think it is one of the greatest jobs in the world, especially when a student you are teaching has a lightbulb moment and understands what you're jibbering on about!!

I would say that pretty much all the posts are truthful about what you can expect, I went down the GTP route and really enjoyed it...when awake and with it!

Having come out of training and had a year on supply I am looking at things in a whole new perspective...the lack of jobs really scares me I;ve probably cried far too many times over missed job opportunities but that's me.

There are some AMAZING teachers out there that inspire me to do the best I can so I'm not giving up and I think if you really want to do it go for it whole heartedly and remember to take care of yourself.

Good luck OP in whatever happens. x

Lalaladybird

Thanks for all the advise. With my degree I could either do primary teaching or home ec. I'll probably go for home ec because there seems to be more job opportunities. I do worry though that to be a good teacher it seems you don't have a lot left for your family and vice versa. I'll always put my family first (as I am sure you all do, for those with children of your own) and then I'll feel disappointed if I'm not doing my job to the max.

Greatefulforhelp - I think I will try to get some time in my local school if they'll let me in for a couple of days just to make sure I definitely want to do it.

A friend of mine has been teaching for a year and loathes it but she hates kids so I have no idea why she went for it in the first place....you gotta love kids to be a teacher!