Career change into teaching at 28

Hi,

I’m currently a trainee solicitor but I’m sort of realising the area isn’t for me.

I’m looking into a career change into secondary teaching (which is what I originally wanted to do) specifically history and any other subject matter that is needed.

I have no idea how to go about such a career change. I have been in law for 6 ish years and I’m officially ready to look into teaching.

I have a mortgage (no children but I would like to in the imminent future) and my partner doesn’t really have the salary to pay the mortgage for a year whilst I do a PCGE).

I note there is the teach first option. But I also wondered if anyone out there has managed to do the PGCE whilst also doing another job part time to have some money coming in or did it part time? Or if they have another ideas that could help me!

Thank you for your help in advance.

Kind regards,

Georgie

Reply 1

Chester Student

Official Rep

Hi,
I don't know too much about this specifically but there are also online universities that may be able to offer you to do this alongside a full time job.
It may take longer but if you have any universities close to you, there is always the option to do a PGCE part time and keep your job, this may allow for more face to face experience and placements whilst allowing you to work as well.
Here's a link to a page about the routes into teaching that may help you decide https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/teacher-training-and-education/routes-into-teaching.
Best of luck with it!
Meg 🙂
MA Popular Music Student.

Reply 2

ChammyFTT

As Meg said, there is part-time but it will take you 2 years rather than 1. There are some salaried routes but not many.

You can work part-time while doing a PGCE - it just depends on how organised and focused you are. You will be in uni and placement full-time Monday - Friday. So, you're limited to evenings and weekends, possibly holidays too - depending on the university. You also have 2-3 university assignments to do over the year on top of what is needed for your placements (lesson planning, reflections etc).

I'm not an organised person; there is no way I could have done a part-time job on top of my study/placement - I did have an ad-hoc role and did a handful of weekends over the year. I didn't struggle with any aspect of my PGCE but I wanted to have that "me time" with my family. A friend on my course did weekend work and was fine with it all.

Alternatively, depending on your degree, you could consider a subject with a bursary. Once you have QTS, you're free to teach anything as long as you can prove you have the relevant knowledge.