teachers salaries....?

liz-paul

Hello,

I am trying to research the affordability of my husband changing career and becoming a teacher. As far as I can see we could afford the pgce year but I don't know how easy it would be to manage on a teachers salary for the next few years. He is in his early forties and a teacher friend told me that people who start teaching later in life usually start on a higher salary than the minimum teaching salary due to relevant experience etc. But I can't find any information online about what his potential starting salary would be.....? Any ideas how to find out?

Sorry if this doesn't make sense - I have 2 small kids climbing on me!!!

Jamie_Carter

This might help:
http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/salary/starting-salary.aspx

Who?_me?

Older teachers don't start on a higher wage, not now anyway. Also, there is the chance of him not getting a job at the end of his training. You don't say what age group / subject he is looking at. Jobs are scarce. Wages used to go up every year that you were in teaching, but with Gove and his moronic ideas, including perforance realted pay, and accademies being able to set their own pay scales, the day of a set wage for teachers is rapidly disappearing. Don't forget that whilst he will have the holidays, there is a lot of work and hours during term time - being in by 8am, not leaving until about 5 and having work at weekends. Before any one starts, I know other jobs have this, but some still believe that teachers go in for 8.30 and leave at 3. This is not the case. It's a stressful job, and I would strongly recommend shadowing a teacher and getting some experience in schools first. Also, there is the Schools Direct trainig (was GTP) which is salaried rahter than having to take out aloan, but youdon't get a PGCE at the end, only Qualified Teacher status. This is fine in the UK, but if you want to move abroad, you will need a PGCE. Check out the TES website for more information from the coal face of teaching.

Dogger69

Who?_me? wrote: »

Older teachers don't start on a higher wage, not now anyway. Also, there is the chance of him not getting a job at the end of his training. You don't say what age group / subject he is looking at. Jobs are scarce. Wages used to go up every year that you were in teaching, but with Gove and his moronic ideas, including perforance realted pay, and accademies being able to set their own pay scales, the day of a set wage for teachers is rapidly disappearing. Don't forget that whilst he will have the holidays, there is a lot of work and hours during term time - being in by 8am, not leaving until about 5 and having work at weekends. Before any one starts, I know other jobs have this, but some still believe that teachers go in for 8.30 and leave at 3. This is not the case. It's a stressful job, and I would strongly recommend shadowing a teacher and getting some experience in schools first. Also, there is the Schools Direct trainig (was GTP) which is salaried rahter than having to take out aloan, but youdon't get a PGCE at the end, only Qualified Teacher status. This is fine in the UK, but if you want to move abroad, you will need a PGCE. Check out the TES website for more information from the coal face of teaching.

Whilst age does not guarantee a higher starting salary, those with relevant experience may be offered more, at the discretion of the school.

Some subjects are still in high demand - primary certainly is not, but most doing (for instance) secondary maths will be offered a job by (at least) one of their placements.

Some Schools Direct cohorts do offer a PGCE to their 'graduates'. The OP would need to check with the training provider whether they do or not.

liz-paul

Hi, thanks for the replies. I didn't find what I was looking for on the education site when I found it but will look again.

He will teach maths or physics at secondary level. Probably somewhere in London, greater London or South East by preference. We are currently in NI and there are no teaching jobs here really.

Re the work hours - he has done an average of 60 hours a week for the last 7 years, been on call 24/7 (yes really, I'm not exaggerating) inc when we have been on holiday, dealt with midnight wake up calls and then worked a full day with little sleep the night before on a regular basis. He is a bit of a workaholic anyway but I don't how much longer his health will last in this current job (the atmosphere is toxic as well) and he needs something more rewarding....

Thanks again for the replies.

Who?_me?

Sounds all very positive -Maths / Physics teachers are both sought after, partic in the London Area (I think that there is an inner london allowance), but obviously wage won't go as far in SE, but then again, more jobs and if he is used to long hours, then I am sure teaching will not much different. Schools are just as (if not more) policical and toxic, with back stabbing and mis interpretation of a comment as any other place of employment. And thats just the kids!

lindsaygalaxy

Starting rate is aournd £21k, but there is a london allowance of a few extra thousand if he works there (though higher living costs ofcourse).
I would forget about extra tuition etc in the evenings/weekends suggestion, he won't have the time or energy, especially in the first few years. Spending time in schools is the best way for him to see if it's really what he wants to do. It's a great job, but he needs to know what he's letting himself in for!

Pennywise

lindsaygalaxy wrote: »

I would forget about extra tuition etc in the evenings/weekends suggestion, he won't have the time or energy, especially in the first few years.

Plenty of scope for private tuition at weekends and holidays, particularly the summer holiday. OK, evenings may not be feasible, but if the OP's husband is accustomed to long hours, then a few hours over the weekend or during school holidays won't faze him.

There are plenty of teachers who do 11+ private tuition in July/August in preparation for the 11+ tests which are usually done in September. I know an A level Maths teacher who spends his Summer doing 11+ coaching which can be very rewarding especially in areas with very sought after schools - especially in the "super-selective" areas.

browneyedbazzi

lindsaygalaxy wrote: »

I would forget about extra tuition etc in the evenings/weekends suggestion, he won't have the time or energy, especially in the first few years.

I disagree. I know someone who had a professional job and gave it up to go into teaching. She works in a state school but on holidays and some weekends she does revision/tutoring sessions for a local private school and is well paid doing it. She has also climbed the ranks in her department really quickly thanks to all the skills she has brought with her from her previous career - she's in her third year of teaching now and is head of department and earning very good money.

I agree that there's no guarantee of a job after you're finished your training - and I know of someone who was a solicitor, retrained as a teacher but wasn't very good in a classroom and is really struggling to find work - but a good teacher will always find work and I think NQTs who have re-trained and are more mature often have a better shot at jobs compared to young graduates.

IronWolf

I dont know if they still do it, but I was offered a £5k golden handshake to be a maths teacher when I was at uni. They are desparate for them.

I didnt take up the offer though, teaching is something you need to want to do