It’s a startling and worrying fact that approximately 55% of new teachers will quit the profession within the first year or 2 – that’s over ½ of new teachers saying “it’s not what I thought it would be” or “it’s not what I want”.
Wow a sobering thought – so why are new teachers quitting in such large numbers…to answer that we have to wind back a little and firstly look at why people are entering the Teaching profession in the first place?
So where do new teaching students come from when deciding that “teaching seems a great idea?”
- First degree choice – having passed A levels these student s have already decided that they want to teach
- Immediate post degree – moving into PGCE training.
Ok lets take a jaundiced look at these students. Why would you want to take a degree in another subject area and then decide to teach. This could be your enthusiasm for your subject and the wish to follow a degree course then apply this to teaching of the subject (mostly secondary school)…very commendable!
Other students may have taken a degree with no hope of a job in that area and so are casting around for “what to do”…..hmmm limited enthusiasm and the first sign of “fall-back teachers”
Some student s have no idea what to do and would like another year at University….they can always fall back onto teaching if all else fails so get the qualification in the bag!
- Late PGCE students – these have generally tried and failed in the “real world” and see teaching as a failsafe option and “somewhere to go”
- Career change Students – split between people who genuinely have decided to go into teaching, those who wish to have a different lifestyle for themselves and family and those who are not progressing in any career.
- Oh and last but not least – those who have believed the TV ads about teaching. Fabulous children wonderful environment and “surprisingly good pay!” hahaha.
Well what is so great about teaching – why should you consider it as a career?
It’s not an office job…who really wants to work in an office – the answer is NOBODY…well nobody I know. As a Primary teacher you work in an environment created by you. Its your classroom and within a few school parameters you can create an amazing environment for your pupils to learn.
Every day is different – no boring routines for you….each new day brings new challenges, new situations and yes new fun times to enjoy with your children ( of course these don’t just happen you have to create an environment where these can occur)
You have a close bond with pupils and can influence not only their academic learning but also their personal development and watch them flourish and grow…you are part of their ups and downs and highly influential in their lives. Its a highly privileged place to be!
Overall you should be enjoying your life in the school and also teaching as a career
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So – and this brings us to the initial question as to why so many new and also some experienced teachers leave the profession disillusioned and unhappy. What are the reasons teachers want to leave?
Let me give you a quote from a new teacher “I really enjoy teaching – in the classroom I am in my element but all the work and preparation hours means I can’t enjoy my life and I just cannot continue!”
Its a sentence I hear time after time and something here on Primary practice we will look at in detail in another article. But let me answer in a few short words…..if you cannot carry out the necessary tasks associated with teaching such as planning/preparation/assessment etc – THEN YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG!…it can be done.
Nobody said teaching was an easy profession….except in the ads where they give this impression. Depending on your reasons for selecting teaching as a career choice you will have more or substantially less motivation to keep going and grow in the job when the going gets a bit tough. In other words – if you came into teaching as a fall-back/safe option then you will quit when the first hurdles appear.
Don’t have rose coloured specs about how nice it will be and how wonderful and noble teaching is. It can be hard, frustrating and difficult at times….oh and just as a matter of note – not all pupils sit there in wonder and awe and soak up your lessons like little sponges with angelic smiles on their faces!
In any organisation with more than 5 or 6 people involved there are politics in the workplace. In teaching there is more usually than not, a good atmosphere in a staffroom but there are always exceptions where disillusioned staff can poison the workplace. As new teachers don’t get involved…you’re an adult, so be aware of who it involves and stay neutral…find out those members of staff who you can relate to and hang out with them. Should the whole school atmosphere be in the bin then take steps to move to another school. It can happen but it’s not too common.
Accept that the first 2 years of teaching will be a steep learning curve for you so be ready to find it hard going and sometimes disappointing. But its like any job it gradually gets easier as you make and correct mistakes. You find out what works and what doesn’t – so don’t worry and don’t get disillusioned. KEEP SMILING.
If you’ve chosen teaching for all the right reasons then get some stamina and knuckle down into what will become a great career. If you’ve entered as a fall back or “it seems like a good idea” or you think its going to be easy then you will struggle at every junction where the going get tough….have a think about it – is it really the career for you??
If I had to summarise things it would be in this phrase
“ TEACHING IS NOT A HIGHER CALLING, IT IS A PROFESSIONAL JOB OF WORK.”
Remember this and you won’t go far wrong. Approach teaching in a Professional, organised and determined fashion and you will find it can become the job you always hoped it could be…..and it will certainly put a smile on your face.
Primary Practice would like to invite you to join our NQT and trainee teachers Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1347401775298840/?ref=bookmarks
Charles