Science degree and may be made redundant from industry: thinking of Teacher Training

Hi All,
I may be force to take redundancy in the next twelve months or so. I'm looking for a career change. I have a science degree and I am exploring the possibility of returning to college to qualify as a secondary teacher. Has anyone out there made a similar choice? What are the options available? I would also be interested in hearing the opinions of current teachers. It would involve a big pay cut on my current job which involves shiftwork, weekend work etc but is there a payback in terms of job satisfaction, lifestyle (ie regular hours) and job security?

Thanks,

Eoghan

Re: Teacher Training

I would advise from personal experience to get some time in a classroom before you make the leap into teacher training. In my opinion its a real vocation and has its stresses and frustrations like any other career. Subbing or supervision is easy enough to come by if you make some contacts in schools in your area. Only problem is your current job obviously but maybe you could take some holidays?

Something else to consider is that many secondary teachers are employed as 'part-time' for a number of years while waiting for permanent positions to come available, and there is no security in this. Even though they will have the hours and after school responsibilities of permanent teachers, they are in fact paid by the hour and are officially unemployed when on school holidays..Halloween, Christmas, Easter etc.

On the flip side, hours are better than in other industries and hols are great. Some people love it, but be sure before you commit to the training.

Re: Teacher Training

I'd second all that. Some of the links in this previous thread might be helpful (perhaps more so than some of the posts themselves! )
Secondary school teaching: can't seem to get a job as a sub, even for a day. Any advice
See also Need a "career" change. Thinking of teaching.

I haven't taught at secondary level for a long time, but I don't reckon the job has got any easier in the intervening years — as I've previously commented here. You might well find that it suits you down to the ground, but I'd recommend testing the waters a bit first, along the lines suggested by mobileme. You'll know fairly quickly whether it's the kind of work you're cut out for. If you enjoy it, it's a great job. If you don't, and are just in it for the pension or the short hours/good holidays, you'll be driven mad.

Re: Teacher Training

mobileme said:

I would advise from personal experience to get some time in a classroom before you make the leap into teacher training.

Click to expand...

Good advice
my brother is trying hard to get into teacher training. with so few places and thousands going for these places they probably wont even look at you without experience.
its easier to get into training in UK.
alot of candidates do voluntary teaching-unpaid.

best of luck

There is a shortage of science teachers in the U.K so it should be easier to get a training place. I done a part time a pgce in primary school teaching about four years ago and received a £6000 training grant, while I am Irish I have been living here for 10 years (only 6 weeks till I move home) but I think an Irish citizen comming from Ireland would also be eligible,you'd have to double check that, anyway I hated the experience I don't know what it's like in Ireland but in the U.K kids and often parents have absolutely no respect for authority especially teachers. I won't repeat what I was called by the children and that was in primary. The standard of education was quite poor and with the policy of "inclusion" it was near impossible to exclude the trouble makers.

I had previously taught in China, model students and also worked full time with young offenders so thaught main stream teaching would be a breeze, not so, I had more respect from the young offenders.
If they doubled the pay I would still not be interested in teaching.

But this is in the U.K so I don't know what it would be like in Ireland. You should try some substitute teaching and see how it goes but do try a number of schools in different areas to get the full picture.

best of luck.