Would you recommend teaching maths in the UK?
Posted by 2smart2gentle@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 16 comments
Hi everyone,
I’m 33, I have a degree in Mathematics and studied it for four years at university. I also have the right to work in the UK. I’m considering starting a career as a maths teacher in the UK. I’ve never taught maths professionally before, but I have experience teaching other STEM subjects in Greece. I don’t know much about how the UK education system works yet, but I’m doing my research and would really appreciate hearing from people with firsthand experience.
Is teaching generally considered a good career, or are there major challenges I should be aware of? How are students aged 10–17 in UK schools?
Thank you in advance for any advice!
Commercial-Pear-543@reddit
Maths has the upside that you can basically eliminate doing a lot of marking work by making the kids swap their books and do it at the end of the lesson. Some lessons (like English and History) are far more burdensome for that.
Some kids will like the class but a ton typically hate maths. So it’ll be a lot of behaviour management (if you’re in a school that’s rough for it).
If you’re in a good school for behaviour then it’s like night and day. You’ll likely enjoy it.
Far_Call2993@reddit
You'll be doing more behaviour management than any teaching. I worked a bit as a supply teacher in UK schools, their behaviour is appalling, at times even dangerous, and they face virtually no consequences for it.
amBrollachan@reddit
That really depends on the school.
Low_Stress_9180@reddit
But Greek students are way better behaved. UK has an issue, a breaking culture
Savanarola79@reddit
Breaking culture? Like hip hop and that?
Savanarola79@reddit
If you also tutor privately on the side, you can multiply your income, but you'd have have few additional benefits and a fraction of the free time.
Crisps33@reddit
As you've taught in Greece, you'll know that it's a rewarding job that gives you a great sense of purpose, but it can be a bit intense and stressful at times. You'll know that you have to be a good communicator to succeed, with confident body language and clear verbal communication. The UK is known for being an extremely stressful place to teach with high workload/teaching hours, and bad behaviour in many schools. The pay is above average, but not so great when compared to other qualified professionals with high-stress jobs. If none of that puts you off then it could be a good career for you!
Personally I think maths is a good subject to teach because lessons can be quite formulaic, which makes it easier to establish routines, and the planning and marking are easier than most other subjects. Sure, a lot of kids do find it too hard or boring but they also know it's important, because maths GCSE is required for pretty much everything
ThinkBiscuit@reddit
Teaching is a hard job. It’s not something I’m cut out for – but it is a career in every sense of the word, not just a job. Long hours and lots of responsibility, but maths teaching is a pretty safe job (I.e. little chance of redundancy), decent pay, good prospects, and decent pension.
amBrollachan@reddit
There are significant differences in the education systems and career pathways between the different nations that make up the UK.
If you're thinking about teaching in England, for example, the experience will be quite markedly different from reaching in Scotland.
alamoman4sure@reddit
You teaching two maths? I would stick with one math.
McWozzyBurgers@reddit
MATHematicS, not mathematic !!!
UrMomDotCom666@reddit
depends what type of school. some have worse behaviour than others, and maths is often a subject that is at the receiving end of it. private schools tend to be better to teach at as the students are normally more engaged and act out less. obviously there are students like this at state schools too, and you will get bad students at private schools. but it's normally in a different way than shouting or something. also all-girls schools tend to have better behaviour.
this is mostly because you're teaching maths though. it's a stressful subject to teach and it's a compulsory one too.
peppermint_aero@reddit
Search "get into teaching" for the official website that shows you the various pathways into work.
Afunnyclownfish@reddit
Behaviour is a massive problem in most UK schools. If you can manage that, it makes a rewarding career. I believe physics and mathematics teachers receive some bonus payments to entice more people into the profession as the UK lacks those teachers.
You will likely make more money in the private sector, but you need to ask yourself what you want to prioritise.
Woollen53@reddit
All schools are different, research the individual schools stats and behaviour policies.
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