In 2019, after running my own PR consultancy for 10 years, I was ready for a change. I’d had a successful career in magazine journalism and PR before that and had been the family breadwinner. When my children graduated and found jobs, I no longer needed to financially support them and was free to do whatever I wanted.
Retiring wasn’t for me, because I’d get bored pottering around the garden or sitting on a beach. After spending so many years in front of screens, I knew I wanted to do something with people. I still had loads of energy and wanted to give back.
I’d recently started an Italian night class which reignited my passion for learning. I looked into teaching journalism or graphic design in higher education, but I wasn’t able to because I didn’t have the right degree.
Instead, I sold my business to do a PGCE, retraining as a languages teacher. I’d studied French and German at university, and as soon as I started it all came flooding back.
The training was challenging, especially being critiqued on your lessons by much younger teachers. When it’s done well, teaching looks so easy, but in reality it’s a difficult, complex job and there’s a huge amount to learn. There are so many micro actions you have to take, like using the right body language or tone of voice, to manage behavior and teach well.
I trained in relatively tough schools, where the behaviour could erupt if you got it wrong.
In my previous career I’d been coasting along, doing what I’d always known, but teaching was such a stimulating and exciting environment. Teenagers are fascinating and it’s a real privilege working with them. You can tell when a lesson has gone well because they smile and say thank you. It’s an amazing feeling when they’ve learnt a lot and enjoyed it.
When I qualified, I started working three days a week at a school in west Suffolk, which was going through improvement processes. There was a lot of positive energy and the school had aspirations for all the students, no matter their background.
Some of the children were very badly behaved, throwing things around the room or disrupting the class. Others would refuse to open their books, or shove people in the corridors, which could feel a bit threatening. But I always had help at hand, and I enjoyed the challenge of it, because you’re doing something really important.
The children came from a wide range of income backgrounds and it was hugely satisfying to help disadvantaged students to succeed. I saw some of them get really good results and go on to do fantastically well at a top sixth form college.
Coming into teaching with experience in another area means you have more to offer students in terms of career advice. Some of the kids I’ve taught have been interested in journalism, and I’ve been able to offer them support and guidance.
I got a government maintenance grant of £26,000 for the PGCE year, as I was training in a subject where they needed new teachers. I also have savings from my business so my quality of living hasn’t suffered, even though teacher pay is poor, considering the large workload and expertise needed.
After two years there, I moved to a small specialist school for emotionally fragile children. It’s closer to where I live, and I teach smaller classes, so it’s less exhausting. I work with kids who have anxiety, depression, fetal alcohol syndrome and other challenges.
We go at their pace and it’s very rewarding to see them progress. The school creates a homely environment to rebuild their love of learning, which is especially important for those who’ve been bullied or struggled in mainstream lessons. I’m almost a therapist as well as a teacher, and when you can make students feel valued it’s like watching a flower unfold.
I love teaching because it gives me the chance to build students’ confidence and self-esteem, making them happier as well as supporting their learning. I feel so fulfilled and I’d recommend it to anyone with time to spare.