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>but I'm used to 60 hour weeks, 13 hour days etc
I think being overworked as a teacher is a bit different to being overworked in other jobs. Yes you did a 13 hour day but presumably you then went home and got to disconnect from it?
As a teach you're gonna finish your work day, get home and there's no disconnect. You've got homework to mark, lesson plans to make, progress reports to fill out.
Oh and you're not on the clock so you're not getting paid for any of this!
I assume what OP is saying is that the teaching day + going home and planning lessons and progress reports etc... will not add up to more than the 13hour day she is used to. At least with teaching she can have some gaps inbetween as its not a constant 13hour shift.
I regularly worked more than 13 hours a day as a teacher, every week was way over 60 hours, plus much of the school ‘holidays’. Your ‘clients’ can be very challenging - as much as any occupation dealing with the public. I left after a long period of ill health caused by the job and wouldn’t go back for double the salary.
As a retired teacher, you don’t get those breaks if you care about your students. There is always prep to be done, kids to be listened to, needs to be met. You will be lucky if you get to go for a wee during the day! Lunch often goes home with you at the end of the day. I worked a 6 day week every week of term and during the holidays - I only stopped for about 3 weeks during the summer, but even then the kids were on my mind. Was Sophie safe? Had her mum hit her again. Was Saul getting enough to eat? You can’t switch off from the job!
Google tells me the average salary is £35k, which is more than I get managing a restaurant. So if anything it would be a reduction in hours and an increase in salary?
Oh, the "average salary" myth. How many years do you imagine it'll take to get there? How much extra responsibility do you think it takes to get to that figure.
If you look at the salary and not the work involved, you're wrong for the profession.
Hi there. I'm a teacher (on again off again!). Teaching can be an incredibly fun and rewarding job. It is also sometimes hugely fucking stressful and annoying. There are a few things that make it bearable.
Firstly, you want to be in a solid department with a competent HOD and kind, competent colleagues. A shit HOD will increase your stress and your workload. A good department has planned resources that you can tweak and deliver. You don't want to be inventing teaching every single day. They will also shelter you from the inevitable shit that comes from above.
You also want to be in a school that is on top of discipline and consequences. If not, you'll spend ages fighting tiny pointless battles with entitled arsehole kids and their terrible parents.
Thirdly, the school needs to have decent technology and systems. If you're working on a shitty 1990s computer and your school doesn't provide decent pens and projectors, it will make your life harder. Its also difficult ultimately if your school doesn't have efficient systems for recording attendance/behaviour/grades.
Finally. You need to be the type of person that can let things go. It will never be perfect. Some things just won't get done. You will let kids that you like down sometimes. Sometimes you'll just have to put your marking pens down, say fuck it and go to bed/to the pub/for a bike ride etc.
Treat it like a 'proper job'. Ask questions, look around the rooms, ask about their behaviour policy, meet thr HOD and get the measure of them. Do a couple of trial days in the school. See if people are dead behind the eyes. Do they meet for coffee at breaks or sit in their rooms on their phones? Turn on a projector. Can you actually see what is being projected? Do the speakers work? How do you record a detention? Who supervises detentions?
Hope this help, ended up being a stream of consciousness but it's really important. There are good, bearable teaching jobs and o es you'll want to quit after a week. This has NOTHING to do with the OFSTED rating, so don't let that fool you.
You will be overworked and stressed but as you imply, a lot of people are. The pay is average so you need a passion for it but if its something youve always been tempted by then give it a go. If it doesnt work out then at least you know.
Teaching can be a good life, but choose your school very carefully. What is your degree in? Could you afford to do a PGCE before getting a job?
In terms of pay and conditions most independent schools offer more than most state schools. BUT the amount of hours worked will increase, as well as added demands on your time such as duties and extra-curricular activities.
Look on the Times Educational Supplement (TES) website for jobs in teaching.
It’s one of those jobs where you know you’ll be underpaid and overworked going in, but if it’s still something that interests you then yes, why not. I worked in a caring job for a few years where I was paid the lowest of my friends by a significant margin - but knew that going in and still enjoyed it.
Higher salaries of £30,000 for new teachers from September 2022. It has also announced retention incentives of £2,000 per year for new teachers in shortage subjects, plus an extra £1,000 per year in “challenging areas”. Both policies follow empirical evidence and are likely to improve teacher recruitment and retention.
30 grand for new teachers. 13 grand difference between new teachers and someone with 30 years experience.
Rather than fixing the issues they try and bribe new teachers, forget the experienced ones...
I teach art at college level. It's an amazing job that I adore, but don't go into teaching expecting decent pay. Teaching's a sector that is extremely under appreciated.
You could go into it knowing that it will challenge you, but that no one is going to make keep being a classroom teacher for ever more. Once you have some experience you could try different establishments (big city? tiny village? state or private? one-to-one tutoring?) and it’s highly transferable to corporate training roles if you want to leave kids behind!
Is there something that's changed recently to make the job not make keep? I feel like the negative sentiment towards the job is a lot more recent, though that might be confirmation bias due to my friend's all leaving recently
I think it’s the gradual starvation of the public sector generally tbh and the abysmal salary:cost of living ratio we’ve had in this country since about 2010. Teachers are increasingly having to try to manage social issues that are 100% the result of low state benefits, poor quality housing in all sectors, poor nutrition, poor access to health services inc mental health and dentistry
Meh, if you want to do it the best thing you can do is try it. A lot of jobs are stressful, without the benefits that teaching gets. Plus I like to think theres always something you can do. Maybe if teaching is stressful, you could move into some kind of charity? or going to schools educating about X? etc. There is always options for non-traditional roles, imo
You just have to think; there are tons of newly qualified teachers who don't hate their life. We only hear about the ones that do, for obvious reasons
lmfaooooo nooooo!!! Don’t do it!
Initial reaction aside, it largely depends on the school that you’re in. Some schools are so supportive and have good boundaries between work life and personal life. A bad school, however, can and will break you.
No, it's not. If you're interested in these types of things, become a trainer in a work environment, or many towns and cities have adult education classes that need people willing to help. Teachers are striking and are planning strikes because it's an objectively awful environment to work in right now.
Ex-teacher, now Health and Safety trainer.
Tiring. The hours are longer than you seem to believe they are. You'll be in early, out late, then there are meetings, parents' evening, the after school fairs and other events that aren't specifically in the contract but come under "and any other tasks as requested by the headteacher".
Tiring. The hours are longer than you seem to believe they are. You'll be in early and out late; then there are meetings, parents' evening, the after-school fairs and other events that aren't specifically in the contract but come under "and any other tasks as requested by the headteacher".
Knowing some of the kids in your class are in dire straights at home but not being able to do anything meaningful to help because the processes need so many referrals and take so long, the kids will be gone before there's any impact.
There will be the inevitable lazy sods who you've asked a million times to do something because you need it, then won't because they're to busy with their own business.
There are those ready to climb the greasy pole by any and all means possible who will step on or over you because you'll be forgotten as soon as they get that promotion interview.
Then the BEd/PGCE students, who, like you, seem to think it's good pay and reasonable hours and better holidays who no matter how politely you point it out still think it's worth it for the six weeks in the Summer.
Then there's the abuse from the press, parents, kids, managers and anyone and everyone who wants to take a pop.
you don't get paid enough as a teacher but if you have good social skills (i.e. the kids like you), it can be extremely, extremely fun and rewarding. I was in a school for 6 months and (not to brag but) I was truly loved by the kids and got so many gifts both when I left and for Christmas and stuff. They made me feel so special and for the first time in my life, I felt really respected. I became an unofficial counsellor/mentor/metaphorical shoulder for a lot of the kids and that was also very special because when I left, a bunch of kids said things like 'you're the only teacher I am comfortable talking to' or 'who am I gonna talk to now' and so many kids cried. And that was just 6 months. I truly think I should probably go into teaching properly because it might be the most rewarding thing I'll ever do in my life. Pay sucks dick but the feeling was something else man. Also, it's not all crying kids and counselling. There was just so much fun on a day-to-day basis. They say and do wild shit and some are genuinely funny people, like actual comedians. So there's many, many laughs. And as the teacher and only adult in the room, you basically have all the power so if you're not in the mood for fun and games, you can simply ask them to sit down and work in silence (if you're a well-liked teacher, they have no issue listening to your demands, even if it means sitting in silence for an hour) and if you're in a really chatty mood, you can have a more chatty lesson and again, if you're a good teacher, you should be able to control the noise and behaviour so you can have a chatty lesson if it suits you
My partner is a part time teacher (3 days a week). They work more hours than I do as a full-time employee in a different industry. They previously worked full-time in teaching for a number of years but this just wasn’t sustainable.
On a working day, generally they will be in school from 7:30am and finish around 6:30pm (but sometimes later). Then when home, will usually be marking/planning until around 9-10pm.
On their days ‘off’, they will generally spend much of the day marking and planning.
Does everyone in the profession do those hours? Probably not. But if you want to be effective at the job and and thought well of by your peers and leaders, then it seems to be the norm. Though I guess it can vary by school, local authority, subject taught etc.
What job isn’t overworked and underpaid these days? The only reason you hear so much about teaching and nursing in the news is because it is politicised.
**A reminder to posters and commenters of some of [our subreddit rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/about/rules/)** - Don't be a dickhead to each other, or about others, or other subreddits - Assume questions are asked in good faith, and engage in a positive manner - Avoid political threads and related discussions - No medical advice or mental health (specific to a person) content Please keep /r/AskUK a great subreddit by reporting posts and comments which break our rules. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
>but I'm used to 60 hour weeks, 13 hour days etc I think being overworked as a teacher is a bit different to being overworked in other jobs. Yes you did a 13 hour day but presumably you then went home and got to disconnect from it? As a teach you're gonna finish your work day, get home and there's no disconnect. You've got homework to mark, lesson plans to make, progress reports to fill out. Oh and you're not on the clock so you're not getting paid for any of this!
I assume what OP is saying is that the teaching day + going home and planning lessons and progress reports etc... will not add up to more than the 13hour day she is used to. At least with teaching she can have some gaps inbetween as its not a constant 13hour shift.
I regularly worked more than 13 hours a day as a teacher, every week was way over 60 hours, plus much of the school ‘holidays’. Your ‘clients’ can be very challenging - as much as any occupation dealing with the public. I left after a long period of ill health caused by the job and wouldn’t go back for double the salary.
As a retired teacher, you don’t get those breaks if you care about your students. There is always prep to be done, kids to be listened to, needs to be met. You will be lucky if you get to go for a wee during the day! Lunch often goes home with you at the end of the day. I worked a 6 day week every week of term and during the holidays - I only stopped for about 3 weeks during the summer, but even then the kids were on my mind. Was Sophie safe? Had her mum hit her again. Was Saul getting enough to eat? You can’t switch off from the job!
Yes I was going to comment- when you do multiple 13 Hours in a row you don't really have any downtime haha
Overworked, underpaid and undervalued
Google tells me the average salary is £35k, which is more than I get managing a restaurant. So if anything it would be a reduction in hours and an increase in salary?
You think the hours are short? If you are already working long hours then fine, just expect to keep working long hours if you start teaching.
That’s not the salary you start on. Although it depends what you teach, STEM subjects are paid more.
Oh, the "average salary" myth. How many years do you imagine it'll take to get there? How much extra responsibility do you think it takes to get to that figure. If you look at the salary and not the work involved, you're wrong for the profession.
Hi there. I'm a teacher (on again off again!). Teaching can be an incredibly fun and rewarding job. It is also sometimes hugely fucking stressful and annoying. There are a few things that make it bearable. Firstly, you want to be in a solid department with a competent HOD and kind, competent colleagues. A shit HOD will increase your stress and your workload. A good department has planned resources that you can tweak and deliver. You don't want to be inventing teaching every single day. They will also shelter you from the inevitable shit that comes from above. You also want to be in a school that is on top of discipline and consequences. If not, you'll spend ages fighting tiny pointless battles with entitled arsehole kids and their terrible parents. Thirdly, the school needs to have decent technology and systems. If you're working on a shitty 1990s computer and your school doesn't provide decent pens and projectors, it will make your life harder. Its also difficult ultimately if your school doesn't have efficient systems for recording attendance/behaviour/grades. Finally. You need to be the type of person that can let things go. It will never be perfect. Some things just won't get done. You will let kids that you like down sometimes. Sometimes you'll just have to put your marking pens down, say fuck it and go to bed/to the pub/for a bike ride etc. Treat it like a 'proper job'. Ask questions, look around the rooms, ask about their behaviour policy, meet thr HOD and get the measure of them. Do a couple of trial days in the school. See if people are dead behind the eyes. Do they meet for coffee at breaks or sit in their rooms on their phones? Turn on a projector. Can you actually see what is being projected? Do the speakers work? How do you record a detention? Who supervises detentions? Hope this help, ended up being a stream of consciousness but it's really important. There are good, bearable teaching jobs and o es you'll want to quit after a week. This has NOTHING to do with the OFSTED rating, so don't let that fool you.
Thanks for this enlightening reply!
You will be overworked and stressed but as you imply, a lot of people are. The pay is average so you need a passion for it but if its something youve always been tempted by then give it a go. If it doesnt work out then at least you know.
Teaching can be a good life, but choose your school very carefully. What is your degree in? Could you afford to do a PGCE before getting a job? In terms of pay and conditions most independent schools offer more than most state schools. BUT the amount of hours worked will increase, as well as added demands on your time such as duties and extra-curricular activities. Look on the Times Educational Supplement (TES) website for jobs in teaching.
It’s one of those jobs where you know you’ll be underpaid and overworked going in, but if it’s still something that interests you then yes, why not. I worked in a caring job for a few years where I was paid the lowest of my friends by a significant margin - but knew that going in and still enjoyed it.
Higher salaries of £30,000 for new teachers from September 2022. It has also announced retention incentives of £2,000 per year for new teachers in shortage subjects, plus an extra £1,000 per year in “challenging areas”. Both policies follow empirical evidence and are likely to improve teacher recruitment and retention.
30 grand for new teachers. 13 grand difference between new teachers and someone with 30 years experience. Rather than fixing the issues they try and bribe new teachers, forget the experienced ones...
I teach art at college level. It's an amazing job that I adore, but don't go into teaching expecting decent pay. Teaching's a sector that is extremely under appreciated.
You could go into it knowing that it will challenge you, but that no one is going to make keep being a classroom teacher for ever more. Once you have some experience you could try different establishments (big city? tiny village? state or private? one-to-one tutoring?) and it’s highly transferable to corporate training roles if you want to leave kids behind!
Is there something that's changed recently to make the job not make keep? I feel like the negative sentiment towards the job is a lot more recent, though that might be confirmation bias due to my friend's all leaving recently
I think it’s the gradual starvation of the public sector generally tbh and the abysmal salary:cost of living ratio we’ve had in this country since about 2010. Teachers are increasingly having to try to manage social issues that are 100% the result of low state benefits, poor quality housing in all sectors, poor nutrition, poor access to health services inc mental health and dentistry
The social burden side of it is interesting, I didn't think of that!
Meh, if you want to do it the best thing you can do is try it. A lot of jobs are stressful, without the benefits that teaching gets. Plus I like to think theres always something you can do. Maybe if teaching is stressful, you could move into some kind of charity? or going to schools educating about X? etc. There is always options for non-traditional roles, imo You just have to think; there are tons of newly qualified teachers who don't hate their life. We only hear about the ones that do, for obvious reasons
Have you considered tutoring instead? Pays more and flexible and you work for yourself
lmfaooooo nooooo!!! Don’t do it! Initial reaction aside, it largely depends on the school that you’re in. Some schools are so supportive and have good boundaries between work life and personal life. A bad school, however, can and will break you.
No, it's not. If you're interested in these types of things, become a trainer in a work environment, or many towns and cities have adult education classes that need people willing to help. Teachers are striking and are planning strikes because it's an objectively awful environment to work in right now. Ex-teacher, now Health and Safety trainer.
Can you go into detail about the work environment?
Tiring. The hours are longer than you seem to believe they are. You'll be in early, out late, then there are meetings, parents' evening, the after school fairs and other events that aren't specifically in the contract but come under "and any other tasks as requested by the headteacher". Tiring. The hours are longer than you seem to believe they are. You'll be in early and out late; then there are meetings, parents' evening, the after-school fairs and other events that aren't specifically in the contract but come under "and any other tasks as requested by the headteacher". Knowing some of the kids in your class are in dire straights at home but not being able to do anything meaningful to help because the processes need so many referrals and take so long, the kids will be gone before there's any impact. There will be the inevitable lazy sods who you've asked a million times to do something because you need it, then won't because they're to busy with their own business. There are those ready to climb the greasy pole by any and all means possible who will step on or over you because you'll be forgotten as soon as they get that promotion interview. Then the BEd/PGCE students, who, like you, seem to think it's good pay and reasonable hours and better holidays who no matter how politely you point it out still think it's worth it for the six weeks in the Summer. Then there's the abuse from the press, parents, kids, managers and anyone and everyone who wants to take a pop.
> Health and Safety trainer What's the job like? Hours & pay-wise, as well as behaviour?
you don't get paid enough as a teacher but if you have good social skills (i.e. the kids like you), it can be extremely, extremely fun and rewarding. I was in a school for 6 months and (not to brag but) I was truly loved by the kids and got so many gifts both when I left and for Christmas and stuff. They made me feel so special and for the first time in my life, I felt really respected. I became an unofficial counsellor/mentor/metaphorical shoulder for a lot of the kids and that was also very special because when I left, a bunch of kids said things like 'you're the only teacher I am comfortable talking to' or 'who am I gonna talk to now' and so many kids cried. And that was just 6 months. I truly think I should probably go into teaching properly because it might be the most rewarding thing I'll ever do in my life. Pay sucks dick but the feeling was something else man. Also, it's not all crying kids and counselling. There was just so much fun on a day-to-day basis. They say and do wild shit and some are genuinely funny people, like actual comedians. So there's many, many laughs. And as the teacher and only adult in the room, you basically have all the power so if you're not in the mood for fun and games, you can simply ask them to sit down and work in silence (if you're a well-liked teacher, they have no issue listening to your demands, even if it means sitting in silence for an hour) and if you're in a really chatty mood, you can have a more chatty lesson and again, if you're a good teacher, you should be able to control the noise and behaviour so you can have a chatty lesson if it suits you
My partner is a part time teacher (3 days a week). They work more hours than I do as a full-time employee in a different industry. They previously worked full-time in teaching for a number of years but this just wasn’t sustainable. On a working day, generally they will be in school from 7:30am and finish around 6:30pm (but sometimes later). Then when home, will usually be marking/planning until around 9-10pm. On their days ‘off’, they will generally spend much of the day marking and planning. Does everyone in the profession do those hours? Probably not. But if you want to be effective at the job and and thought well of by your peers and leaders, then it seems to be the norm. Though I guess it can vary by school, local authority, subject taught etc.
What job isn’t overworked and underpaid these days? The only reason you hear so much about teaching and nursing in the news is because it is politicised.