Secondary School Teachers (eps science)

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Bexx

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I'm due to start my PGCE in september and I'm really excited about it. I will be teaching all three sciences up to GCSE level and Chemistry at A level. I'm just wondering how you all find balancing your job and your horse. Is it easier/harder than with a regular office job? Do you still find you have enough family time and things?
 
Just finished gtp. Find it fine... It's hard work but ok if you are well organised and have a bit of self discipline
 
Have been teaching secondary science for 7 years. Generally timing is fine, can't compare to office job thpugh. You will find that there will be certain times when high work loads does mean that the horse has to take a back seat. You need to be quite organised and strict on yourself. Get into a habit of either staying at work for a couple hrs and doing all work, before going to see the horse, or as i do in the winter, leave school promptly and take work home to do after riding.
Just be aware that some days you will be doing 12/13 hr days so make sure you have a plan in place, e.g occasional part livery. Also if you see to your horse in the morning be prepared for very early starts.
The only real problem comes with vet visits. Most routine things can be booked in for after 4pm but if something happens schools don't always let you take time to deal with it. (Hope that makes sense)
 
Just finished my science PGCE and the horse has certainly had to take a back seat! As a guide my routine was:
6-630: Get up/showered etc
630-715: Drive to and sort out horse
715-745: Drive to school
745-330: School
330-400: Drive home
400-500: Chill out
500-700: Go to horse, ride if I have time
700-1000: Lesson planning/marking/essays...

All in all, far more work than your average 9-5! lol
 
vallin said:
Just finished my science PGCE and the horse has certainly had to take a back seat! As a guide my routine was:
6-630: Get up/showered etc
630-715: Drive to and sort out horse
715-745: Drive to school
745-330: School
330-400: Drive home
400-500: Chill out
500-700: Go to horse, ride if I have time
700-1000: Lesson planning/marking/essays...

All in all, far more work than your average 9-5! lol
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Thanks for this, I do not have a horse at present, just wondering how one would fit around my job. I think i'll put off buying until I've qualified and settled into a routine even though my current financial position could accommodate a horse
 
What is a normal office job? Any professional will work as many hours as a teacher does year round. The girl who makes the teas maybe not so much so :p

I am a scientist and it is normal for us to pull long days when required, which is often sadly. I would think the added flexibility of being able to mark at home and have the farrier in normal nine to five hours because you finish early is pretty nifty.

But I don't know anything about being a teacher, just what you would get working in R&D :p
 
Jesstickle said:
What is a normal office job? Any professional will work as many hours as a teacher does year round. The girl who makes the teas maybe not so much so :p

I am a scientist and it is normal for us to pull long days when required, which is often sadly. I would think the added flexibility of being able to mark at home and have the farrier in normal nine to five hours because you finish early is pretty nifty.

But I don't know anything about being a teacher, just what you would get working in R&D :p
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I just meant with regards to earlier starts(kids start arriving at my school from 8 so teachers arrive about 7.45) So not really the same as a 9-5.
Also thinking about staying later for after school clubs, lesson prep(being a chem teacher I can't exactly take chemicals home with me) and other things such as parent-teacher nights and similar things. So although teachers get good holidays, it is not a 9-5 office job. Which is why I am wondering how people find fitting in their horses and things
 
Bexx said:
I just meant with regards to earlier starts(kids start arriving at my school from 8 so teachers arrive about 7.45) So not really the same as a 9-5.
Also thinking about staying later for after school clubs, lesson prep(being a chem teacher I can't exactly take chemicals home with me) and other things such as parent-teacher nights and similar things. So although teachers get good holidays, it is not a 9-5 office job. Which is why I am wondering how people find fitting in their horses and things
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Most science isn't 9-5 which is what I was getting at. Experiments take as long as they take and need you to work weekends too. If your choice is science or science teacher you'll probably come off about the same I expect.

Good luck with your training :)
 
If you do not currently have a horse, I certainly would not look at getting one until after your NQT year is complete. Basing this off OH, his days were even fuller than vallin's. Teaching will provide you with some flexibility once you have established yourself a bit, but you certainly don't need any extra pressure right now.
 
I kept 2 horses on DIY whilst doing my PGCE in maths a few years ago. I still had time to muck out. I'd be up early in the mornings, have the horses out and I'd be in work for 7am. This gave a couple of hours before the kids arrived to get lots of work done. It meant I could leave early in the afternoon to get to the horses before dark.

Just make sure you are organised. I still managed to get out competing most weekends, as well as having a social life. It's busy, but plenty of jobs are. If you are determined to make it work, it will :)

Good luck!
 
Spent thirty odd years juggling horses and teaching, am now retired and wonder how I did it. You need to be ultra organised and disciplined. I had a 7:15 alarm on my watch and it meant I HAD to go home and get ready for work. Routines at the stables and work count for everything. Your horses will soon learn what is needed. Mine would turn themselves out into their own fields when I opened the stable doors! Fill a week's haynets at weekends. Be prepared to devote time in the holidays for planning the next term's lessons, writing reports etc. You'll be surprised how good you become at predicting the outcome of assessments before the students do them. Use all your free periods and PPA wisely - no gossiping in the staff room! My biggest irritation was after school meetings especially in the winter. What a waste of time. Be careful of going home too early as it will be noticed. At an internal interview to become head of year, one of the questions was along the lines of, 'We are aware that you have outside commitments and leave early. How will you cope with the added demands of contacting parents after school?' Be especially kind to your technicians. Mine were absolute stars and would suggest investigations and do anything they could to help - particularly if I muttered about emergency vet visits. Make sure all routine vet and farriers appts are in the holidays and always take your laptop or marking with you in case they are late. Sorry this is so long but I had it down to a fine art! Very best of luck.
 
titch said:
I kept 2 horses on DIY whilst doing my PGCE in maths a few years ago. I still had time to muck out. I'd be up early in the mornings, have the horses out and I'd be in work for 7am. This gave a couple of hours before the kids arrived to get lots of work done. It meant I could leave early in the afternoon to get to the horses before dark.

Just make sure you are organised. I still managed to get out competing most weekends, as well as having a social life. It's busy, but plenty of jobs are. If you are determined to make it work, it will :)

Good luck!
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Hoopsa said:
Spent thirty odd years juggling horses and teaching, am now retired and wonder how I did it. You need to be ultra organised and disciplined. I had a 7:15 alarm on my watch and it meant I HAD to go home and get ready for work. Routines at the stables and work count for everything. Your horses will soon learn what is needed. Mine would turn themselves out into their own fields when I opened the stable doors! Fill a week's haynets at weekends. Be prepared to devote time in the holidays for planning the next term's lessons, writing reports etc. You'll be surprised how good you become at predicting the outcome of assessments before the students do them. Use all your free periods and PPA wisely - no gossiping in the staff room! My biggest irritation was after school meetings especially in the winter. What a waste of time. Be careful of going home too early as it will be noticed. At an internal interview to become head of year, one of the questions was along the lines of, 'We are aware that you have outside commitments and leave early. How will you cope with the added demands of contacting parents after school?' Be especially kind to your technicians. Mine were absolute stars and would suggest investigations and do anything they could to help - particularly if I muttered about emergency vet visits. Make sure all routine vet and farriers appts are in the holidays and always take your laptop or marking with you in case they are late. Sorry this is so long but I had it down to a fine art! Very best of luck.
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Thank you both for these! I am a naturally organised person, so hopefully I will be able to make things work :)
 
hula said:
Just finished gtp. Find it fine... It's hard work but ok if you are well organised and have a bit of self discipline
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Me too!

It is hard work, but its doable.

My daily routine is along the lines of:

6.30am - get up
7.15 leave house and do horse on way to work
8.am- arrive at work
5.45 - leave work (that's when we get chucked out ;))
6pm-7 or 8pm - do horse (riding only on nights with a reasonable workload, probably not going to ride at all this week die to Final Verification on Friday :()
7/8pm - 11pm/12am - planning, marking, essay writing, eating!

I usually allow myself Saturdays off, but not recently, and work about 2pm-10pm on Sundays (with food breaks)

Hope that helps, earlier in the year I had less work and rode every night/allowed myself a night off now and then, but as the year has gone on my timetable has gone up and so has the pressure to finish my standards folders etc.
 
My routine

6 am up
6.20 breakfast
6.40 dressed
6.50 in car
8.00 school
8.40 compulsory everyone in!
8.55 register form

Day goes on till 3.35 then shopping for next day ( food tech teacher)

Home about 5.30 then work or mark for a while.


Trips I was sent to London with year 9 last week, was up at 5 ( at school for 6.30)and got back due to traffic and the m40 closed at 10 pm...

My school is very full on, alot is expected and we should give 200% each day. PGCE depends on your uni. Mine required alot if teaching yet students I have mentored only teach for 12 weeks.... Your mentor will help you or should. Alot to take in and that's the shattering part.

Been teaching 6 years, I love it but find it too consuming its every weekend, holiday etc. you have to love it. Good luck.
 
Most of what i was going to say has been said, share a yard with a 9 to fiver and she often has to help, esp in winter as i don't often get there till super late, even in the summer she gets them in to ride when its light enough. Winter is poo,(10pm teary visit on an ofsted occasion) and yes meetings with people who have nowhere else to go, i use my school time very efficiently including clubs and revision sessions , we are such geeks! I find people without commitments work slower and complain more!! I do get stressed often but yard and yard friend are aaaamazing at helping!
 
I have a 60 mile round trip each day. Agree meetings about meetings, Birmingham traffic can mean an hours journey easily becomes 2 or 3.... Hate that!
 
I'm a teacher. I do have a senior post in school which adds to my hours, but most days in the first two terms I am in by 7.30am at the latest and lucky to get out by 6pm. I also take my marking home. By term 3 I lose exam groups and life gets a bit easier. (I start same time but can get out by 5!)

My husband is a deputy head and works from 7am to 8pm most days and every Saturday.

When you first qualify you'll spend a lot longer planning also which adds to work load.

As mentioned being really organised is key. You need to be able to get help when needed - parents evening, school events etc. use some of your holiday time to plan your lessons to make term easier and use every free lesson you get (and there won't be many!)

I usually get 5 mins break for coffee in the morning, get to go to the toilet once in the day if I'm lucky, and lunch is 10 mins sit down in the staff room. Rest of the time I don't stop.

All that aside, going for a long hack at the end of another manic day is the best therapy. It's a great job and every day is different. Just don't plan to get much done at all in the school day outside lessons - if you leave your marking for a free lesson you'll end up on a cover lesson, or a pupil will appear at your door needing help with work or a parent will turn up demanding a meeting. I had no lessons at all on Friday and still didn't sit down from my first meeting with a parent at 7.30am until the bell went at the end of the day and I just left carnage on my desk and went home before anything else happened!!
 
All in all, far more work than your average 9-5! lol

I wish! I have a regular office job. I am an accountant and unfortunately that regularly means being in the office for 7 Am and not leaving until 7pm. Add in the hour commuting each way and you soon have a 14 hour day. I have to say a 6 o'clock alarm is a lie in most days. Fortunately my job means that I have weekends (most of the time) to enjoy my pony.
 
I'm not sure many people manage a 9-5 tbh!

I know several teachers with horses who don't seem to struggle particularly.
 
mga4ever said:
All in all, far more work than your average 9-5! lol

I wish! I have a regular office job. I am an accountant and unfortunately that regularly means being in the office for 7 Am and not leaving until 7pm. Add in the hour commuting each way and you soon have a 14 hour day. I have to say a 6 o'clock alarm is a lie in most days. Fortunately my job means that I have weekends (most of the time) to enjoy my pony.
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The clue was in the line 'average 9-5'. Yours clearly isn't a regular 9-5. Do I have to link the Monty Python Yorksire men again? :eek::D
 
I teach primary and got a horse after teaching for about 3 years, once I knew what I was doing, became a better time manager and could fit it all in! I just went to horse after school, and didn't get home til 7.30-8 every day. I have to be at a livery yard so I have extra help for parent's evenings, trips, OFSTED etc. I have the issue that I can't do the horse before work as you can't really talk to parents and teach children while stinking of horses! And I have to keep my horse en route between work and home, to cut down on travelling time.

I think a lot depends on your school. My hubby is head of science and he has 2 meetings a week which usually end at 6 pm, then he has his prep to do afterwards. So that wouldn't really fit around a horse. if he wants to shoot out at 3.30 to go surfing he often gets hassle for it - a lot of schools don't like teachers leaving early even if they are taking work home. If you are lucky enough to get a job in a relaxed school it will be a lot easier, but these are becoming very thin on the ground these days!
 
My desk is a tip too, yes exam groups gone but filled with 6 th formers on work experience or ranging year 9 s....... New idea summer exams, 500 papers to mark... Ok but then the averages across D&T then putting onto system
 
Mine would have to go on full livery if I didn't have a sharer who does two days and a friend who does jobs on two days in return for me doing hers at weekend. I still see her every day but regularly miss turn out/bring in due to work so she is never left waiting thanks to these arrangements. I used to find it the most stressful thing in the world being sat in a pointless meeting at 5pm knowing she was waiting at the gate in the Winter wind and rain. Now I don't have to worry. If circumstances changed she would go on full livery.
 
ester said:
I'm not sure many people manage a 9-5 tbh!

I know several teachers with horses who don't seem to struggle particularly.
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I agree,

Why teachers get the impression their day is longer than everyone else's I'm not really sure to be honest...

What professional actually works nine to five?! For a start standard hours now days tend to be nine to five thirty and that's without all the unpaid overtime everyone does :p
 
Many teachers don't struggle to keep a horse, even on DIY. It's hard work, but possible - and most people who have any kind of full time job will find it hard work on DIY, especially in the winter.
Any sort of school management post is different because of the expectations of time spent in school. Many senior leaders will do a 12 hour day as a default. I know some headteachers and deputies who have horses but none of them are on DIY.

The PGCE year is very demanding indeed, though - just the sheer amount of writing takes up a great deal of time. Not to say it can't be done, but expect to be tired!
 
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