How old is too old for teaching?

gratusa

Hi Everyone!

I've just made the decision to become a primary school teacher. I've just started a four year honours degree in business. I have the other requirements for Hibernia - the Irish honour, Maths etc

My query is how old is too old?

I'm 28 now and I'll be finished the degree at 32 and then I hope to apply for Hibernia ( I know it's a while off but it's genuinely my end goal and reason for the course ; it's a part time course which allows me to continue working and earning!). So I'll be 32 applying for Hibernia, in the meantime I hope to complete: junior achievement, get some subbing and bring my Irish up to a high level ( well I have four years )

So will I be too old? I've heard a story of another person being refused on the grounds of age but she was into her late forties ( could be an urban myth!)


And my last question is- is it worth it? I'm so excited about doing it that the drop in wages, endless hours of studying don't matter!!!

Thanks Guys!

BoozyBabe

Defo an urban myth!!!
You'll find, when you start you'll be 1 of the youngest on the course.
When you consider how many years you are away from retiring, you've a lot of years service left in you yet.
Don't let age put you off.
I'm 28 & just waiting for my interview with Hibernia now, after repeating my Irish this yr.

wonders00

gratsusa well done you will be so glad you made the change in years to come. I'm 28 too and would love a career change. I suppose the finances are always the toughest part of deciding these things. I don't think you can ever be too old to get into teaching. a few of my friends who are teachers love their jobs. Anyone I've heard doing that Hibernia course are usually that bit older because they need to earn money as well as do the course so it's the best option going. wish u the best of luck...post us in a few years to let us know the outcome!!!

Catari Jaguar

Well done for having teh balls to go for it! It's 100% worth it. I really rewarding job.

I went to Froebel and there were two students in their 40s in my year, and they didn't even do the H Dip. They did the full 3 year degree course!

As long as you have the energy and passion for teaching, age doesn't factor in. Good luck!

CraftySue

I lectured in one of the primary teaching colleges for a while, it's not unusual to have students doing the primary post grad in their 30's, 40's and 50's. Always enjoyed working with post grads, as they really wanted to be there, and were determined to make the most of it.

amtaxi

Just turned 40 and feel younger than ever! I've started an SNA course and hope to go back to college next year full time!

gratusa

Thanks so much guys! I feel a bit better now! Yes will be a long old road but worth it in the end!

Words of encouragement work wonders for the soul!!

Stroke Politics

I'll be qualified as a teacher in may, will turn 40 on the first day of school term in September. 40 is the new 30......

Sullynew

Be aware that the teacheer roles are drying up all the time. With the government cutbacks it will even get worse and most of the new roles were for new schools and language support teachers but this will dry up also with emigration. all the colleges are spewing out thousands of teachers every year and i reckon if its a case of too many teachers then the hibernia course will be the first to go..

IsThatSo?

Congrats Stroke Politics

Gratusa, if its worth anything I have a boy in primary school being taught by teachers that I want to bring home and feed!! Its not that I don't trust them, I just want to mind them, they look so young :eek: I do like to see the older teachers (not that 30's is old) around and about.

I am in late 30's and am also considering primary teaching, although I have a v young family, with another on the way, so it will be a few years before I get to it. I don't have any hesitation is going for it in my 40's. I will still have 20 good years left in me and don't forget, being a bit older brings some wisdom and experience to a role that an 18 year old just can't match

Good luck, the time will fly in and before you know it you will be telling 5 year olds that only the person who owns the tooth that fell out can touch it :pac:

yop

Fair play, also in middle of making the decision, I have a pass in honours Irish so I need to repeat, not a clue how to go about this though!! Can it be fast tracked?

I wonder also does your qualifications and experience come into play also?

I have been told "there is a big call for male primary school teachers" but that I cant confirm I am afraid!

KateF

gratusa wrote: »

Hi Everyone!

I've just made the decision to become a primary school teacher. I've just started a four year honours degree in business. I have the other requirements for Hibernia - the Irish honour, Maths etc

My query is how old is too old?

I'm 28 now and I'll be finished the degree at 32 and then I hope to apply for Hibernia ( I know it's a while off but it's genuinely my end goal and reason for the course ; it's a part time course which allows me to continue working and earning!). So I'll be 32 applying for Hibernia, in the meantime I hope to complete: junior achievement, get some subbing and bring my Irish up to a high level ( well I have four years )

So will I be too old? I've heard a story of another person being refused on the grounds of age but she was into her late forties ( could be an urban myth!)


And my last question is- is it worth it? I'm so excited about doing it that the drop in wages, endless hours of studying don't matter!!!

Thanks Guys!

Hey, this may seem like an obvious, or maybe stupid question, but why don't you just go straight into the B Ed course? Instead of the 4 year degree and then the postgrad on top of that? 4 year B Ed would be so much more hands-on too. What with all this budget stuff, who know's if the Hibernia course will even still be available?! They only take on students according to the demand for them

skii29

Yes I think it would make more sense to apply for the 3-yr B-ED as a mature student.

BoozyBabe

yop wrote: »

Fair play, also in middle of making the decision, I have a pass in honours Irish so I need to repeat, not a clue how to go about this though!! Can it be fast tracked?

I wonder also does your qualifications and experience come into play also?

I have been told "there is a big call for male primary school teachers" but that I cant confirm I am afraid!

Hey Yop, What you mean fast tracked?
You need Hons Irish or equivalent qual to be eligible.
To gain any of these will take you atleast 1 academic year, but it can be done. I repeated Irish in June gone past.

You must have an Hons degree, no other quals, or accumulation of other quals will do instead.
Of course Child related experience will stand to you.
I applied to Hibernia & got accepted last week, however, atleast 15 or more who I know also applied & were interviewed in the last two weeks, out of those, only 4 others got places. Irish failed all of them, so you really need to have your Irish up to scratch.
You won't get special treatment because you're a fella to get on the course. You may find it easier to get a job eventually though!!!

Any q's, just ask.
A V excited, soon to be Hibernia student!!

sofia11

I have to agree with sulleynew, obviously someone who knows the reality, jobs will be harder to find , even subbing, as teachers has to now get a doctors cert to get a sub teacher. Ignore this if you wish, but if you haven't got contacts/networking before you do the hibernia course, you could be in for a big dissapointment as regards permanent post prospects................

KateF

yop wrote: »

Fair play, also in middle of making the decision, I have a pass in honours Irish so I need to repeat, not a clue how to go about this though!! Can it be fast tracked?

I wonder also does your qualifications and experience come into play also?

I have been told "there is a big call for male primary school teachers" but that I cant confirm I am afraid!

Hi Yop, yes always a demand for male Primary Teachers, as there are so few of them, its bound to have an effect on the schools. It is said that they become more geared towards females, and as girls are continously performing better academically, it might have something to do with it. It makes sense. Better to have an all rounded school, in terms of gender.

Experience is the main part, you may have great intentions to be a teacher and think that you'll love it, and then enter the classroom and realise its not exactly what you pictured the role of a teacher to be!!

Get in plenty of subbing work while you can, I'd even do volunteering as helper/assistant if you can't get sub work just now

Melanoma

I wonder if people got jobs after finishing?

Stroke Politics

Melanoma wrote: »

I wonder if people got jobs after finishing?

Yes I did!

I got made permanent in a lovely school just this month, following 3 years working at 11 different schools as a sub and on temporary contracts. Best decision I ever made, spent the last two years of a 17-year "career" in banking looking out of the window. However, if I was to do it today, the revised pay rates and suspension of allowances would probably put me off. I could not see myself being able to support a PTSB mortgage and 3 children on the newly-qualified rate that is being paid to new teachers today. It's a vocation, but you cannot expect someone who has spent 5 years training (including the on-the-job probationary year) to work for €27K. There's no other profession that will pay so little for so much effort.....

foggyn

i am 59 and almost finished an honours degree BBS in Accounting , thinking of going into teaching but wonder if im too old? its 2 years i believe to go and do the diploma in education at NUI Galway? if im correct??
just wondering if i am too late at this age

Melanoma

Reckon you are not too old. If you graduate at 61 you could teach for 4 years maybe 7 though teaching is a high energy job. It is long hours during the school year. Not always hard stuff to do but for example correcting takes time.

Often teachers are graduating and meeting with the problem of obtaining work experience. They need to move around the country as work arises to do this.

If you are completely flexible and don't mind the risk of never really getting work then it might be worth pursing.

On another idea teaching abroad is maybe easier to get work if that suits. Here Dubai, China, Kazakhstan are possible. Money can be bad to good depending on if you are careful with contract offered.

Then the UK is maybe good for some subjects.

I know a man that did go teaching at your age but retired after two years. I took his classes after and saw why.

Anyhow I'd investigate it some more. Calling into a school or chatting to a principal you know might not be a good idea really as they get sick of being asked and are too busy.

martin451

I am 53 unemployed but solvent and thinking of simiLar too? What are probabilities of getting a job currently ? Does being Male help or is age is bigger negative ?
Thanks

AndrewJRenko

Not sure if it helps your decision, but I understand it is near impossible to get a substitute primary teacher in Dublin these days. THere was a teacher out sick for a week, and the principal was searching on the usual sites, even up to 50km away was not throwing up any candidates.

byhookorbycrook

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Not sure if it helps your decision, but I understand it is near impossible to get a substitute primary teacher in Dublin these days. THere was a teacher out sick for a week, and the principal was searching on the usual sites, even up to 50km away was not throwing up any candidates.

This year is a one off, due to the new 4 year B. ed and the fact that most NQTs have gone abroad due to the dire financial predicament in which they find themselves.With the new SEN model due in September there will soon be a glut of qualified teachers again.

Cream Bun

Be nice to know how all these people from 2008 are getting on, where do the years go!