Any teachers here?
Discussion
I'm in need of a career change following a turbulent few years. My old job (project management consultant specialising in government) s basically out as I one need to manage childcare of my young children. I do however need to be in a stable and secure environment as I'm now 37 and find myself cut out of my main skillset.
I was recently invited to accompany my daughter's primary school on a school trip and it was fantastic - really clicked with the kids and the tasks and got great feedback from the teachers. It wasn't something I'd considered until recently but it seems one of the few professions I could transfer to and maintain my ability to pick up the kids from school / after school clubs (nearly everything else has hours that are structured in such a way that I couldn't drop off or pick up due to commute etc.)
I'm under no illusion about the stresses and long hours (although I think the moaning comes partly from an assumption that all other jobs are a bed of roses), however those hours are flexible and hence I can adapt the to suit the childcare (marking and paperwork once the kids are in bed etc.)
So, I'm thinking of primary with maths specialism - I have an a grade in maths and a degree in psychology as well as 10+ years management experience.
Any comments on what I need to do to make sure I'd be going in with my eyes wide open? I've leant on a couple of teacher friends and my daughter's school to try and get some more experience to add weight to my application. TBH, I'm hoping my government experience will help me get through to a head position pretty quickly (although I also intend to get the most out of the time on the frontline).
Also, am planning on doing the PGCE next year - in the academic year before my youngest starts school. That will be tough but gives me a career immediately when the kids are in school together. Financing is going to be a juggle but should be worth it long term.
I was recently invited to accompany my daughter's primary school on a school trip and it was fantastic - really clicked with the kids and the tasks and got great feedback from the teachers. It wasn't something I'd considered until recently but it seems one of the few professions I could transfer to and maintain my ability to pick up the kids from school / after school clubs (nearly everything else has hours that are structured in such a way that I couldn't drop off or pick up due to commute etc.)
I'm under no illusion about the stresses and long hours (although I think the moaning comes partly from an assumption that all other jobs are a bed of roses), however those hours are flexible and hence I can adapt the to suit the childcare (marking and paperwork once the kids are in bed etc.)
So, I'm thinking of primary with maths specialism - I have an a grade in maths and a degree in psychology as well as 10+ years management experience.
Any comments on what I need to do to make sure I'd be going in with my eyes wide open? I've leant on a couple of teacher friends and my daughter's school to try and get some more experience to add weight to my application. TBH, I'm hoping my government experience will help me get through to a head position pretty quickly (although I also intend to get the most out of the time on the frontline).
Also, am planning on doing the PGCE next year - in the academic year before my youngest starts school. That will be tough but gives me a career immediately when the kids are in school together. Financing is going to be a juggle but should be worth it long term.
GadgeS3C said:
There are some good bursaries available for maths teaching - have a look at the DfE website.
Ironic that there's another post on the news thread about the government needing better project managers
Have done. I enjoyed (and was told I was good at) project management but it is completely unsuitable for childcare - my working week involved leaving at 6 on Monday morning and not getting back until 10pm Friday and then sleeping / preparing all weekend. Circumstance gave me the push I needed to change things around, which I did last year. I should be able to still use those skills once I've progressed a little In the new career though.Ironic that there's another post on the news thread about the government needing better project managers
You sound really enthusiastic about the kids, which is the main thing. Great choice!
However, if you want to teach and make your way to promotion quickly, it's not going to be a 8.30-3ish working day. Bare minimum is generally 8-4.30, so you may well need additional childcare.
As for the 'fast track to headship' comment, I find that a bit insulting! Teaching is not a job where you just 'overtake' everyone because you are older/came from another professional career. You're looking at 1 training year, 1 induction year, then probably another 8-10 years of being married to the job and taking every single unpaid extra responsibility to reach that kind of level. You will also need to secure a permanent position (not 1 year fixed term, which is more common) after your training year. This can be tricky as there are many many people going into teaching and in a lot of areas, not enough jobs.
Feel free to pm me is you would like any further advice. I can highly recommend the GTP route, which is now called schools direct. It's the 'on the job' way in and is much more likely to end with a job offer. You may want to consider taking some days off to volunteer in a local school, as it can be difficult to get a teacher training course with no previous experience.
Best of luck.
However, if you want to teach and make your way to promotion quickly, it's not going to be a 8.30-3ish working day. Bare minimum is generally 8-4.30, so you may well need additional childcare.
As for the 'fast track to headship' comment, I find that a bit insulting! Teaching is not a job where you just 'overtake' everyone because you are older/came from another professional career. You're looking at 1 training year, 1 induction year, then probably another 8-10 years of being married to the job and taking every single unpaid extra responsibility to reach that kind of level. You will also need to secure a permanent position (not 1 year fixed term, which is more common) after your training year. This can be tricky as there are many many people going into teaching and in a lot of areas, not enough jobs.
Feel free to pm me is you would like any further advice. I can highly recommend the GTP route, which is now called schools direct. It's the 'on the job' way in and is much more likely to end with a job offer. You may want to consider taking some days off to volunteer in a local school, as it can be difficult to get a teacher training course with no previous experience.
Best of luck.
The Char said:
As for the 'fast track to headship' comment, I find that a bit insulting! Teaching is not a job where you just 'overtake' everyone because you are older/came from another professional career.
Thanks for the whole post, I'll PM you whe I get in front of a better keyboard. Just wanted to clarify the bit in the quotes above though - I wasn't implying I could just waltz straight through to head teacher, rather that I wanted to make sure the 10+ years of experience I had (which includes managing ofsted inspections from both sides and senior Project Management roles in the education / public sector field) wouldn't be wasted and would contribute to my ability to get through to the head role. I don't want to throw that experience away if the promotion route is so rigid that it wouldn't take it into account.I also am fully aware of the time needed to do a good job - my youngest will be going into reception year in 2015 (I.e. Year i hope to qualify if I go PGCE route or indeed schools direct I think). Therefore, between my wife and I, I can do all the early mornings as I'll just need to do the pick-ups from their school, while she does the drop offs. It gives me far more flexibility than any other career I can think of, and once they are picked up it will be far more 'acceptable' to have them with me if I need to be at the school in afternoon / evening,
I'm secondary rather than primary, but did complete a PGCE so might be able to help if you'd like. It was 10 years ago now, so may not be that relevant!
With regards fast tracking, you certainly won't be harmed by the experience you have! The national college have recently started running middle and senio leadership courses for people in and aspiring to those roles. However I am in the middle of one at the moment and its rubbish. Badly organised, conceived and applied. I wouldn't recommend them at all!
With regards fast tracking, you certainly won't be harmed by the experience you have! The national college have recently started running middle and senio leadership courses for people in and aspiring to those roles. However I am in the middle of one at the moment and its rubbish. Badly organised, conceived and applied. I wouldn't recommend them at all!
HannsG said:
nadger said:
Bonuses?! What bonuses?!
Wife cousin is head of maths. Raves about his pay, hours and bonuses. Also raves how minted he is from private tuitions. He lives in Staffordshire...Tried persuading me to leave my career in Banking for a job in teaching a few years back.
There's only one reason to go into teaching and that's if you want to teach. We take s
t from all sides and the good bit of actually seeing kids learn stuff gets less every year. It is rewarding, but the rewards are buried under a lot of other stuff. You need a big personality and and a thick skin or you won't survive. Also, it helps if youve done other things first, not just gone from student to teacher.
Ive done it for over 12 years and i'm starting to think about leaving it.
t from all sides and the good bit of actually seeing kids learn stuff gets less every year. It is rewarding, but the rewards are buried under a lot of other stuff. You need a big personality and and a thick skin or you won't survive. Also, it helps if youve done other things first, not just gone from student to teacher.Ive done it for over 12 years and i'm starting to think about leaving it.
LaurasOtherHalf said:
at the hours you might expect.Other half is going for promotion & is usually working 10-11 hour days, sometimes more.
Good luck
HannsG said:
Having decimated the police, nursing and so on.
I thought the teaching profession is having its remit reviewed in terms of bonuses, pay etc by the government?
Incremental rises have now been done away with?
It is reliable public sector salary with a public sector pension which is substantially better than my current pension provision. Plus, I won't be spending up to £5k per month getting to work, which has to help.I thought the teaching profession is having its remit reviewed in terms of bonuses, pay etc by the government?
Incremental rises have now been done away with?
LeftmostAardvark said:
10-11 hour days is substantially less than my previous job so that sounds great - although the key is not what the hours are but where and when they are - not commuting for three hours on Monday and Friday and staying in hotels regularly will help a fair bit.
I dont normally ask this but, your user name...?Odhran said:
Current Primary PGCE student here. Straight out of Uni. As said, generous available for maths specialism. (£11k for 1st / 2:1 students) and £6k for 2:2 undergrads. Any other questions I will try to help.
The big question I've got as I do want to pursue the maths specialism, is 'where are all the bloody courses?' I could only find Birmingham and Northampton which do maths specific ones - or can you do additional programme to convert a standard PGCE? If so, how would the bursary work? Sadly, I missed a 2:1 by a gnat's whisker, but I do have an A grade a-level in maths and the psych degree is considered to have a strong maths element (heavy on stats)Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff