Computer Science Teachers

Crizzy

Crizzy

Crizzy

Associate
Joined
31 May 2007
Posts
2,473
Location
Bristol
Hi all,

Is anyone here a computer science teacher?

I am thinking about a possible career change and would be interested in hearing from anyone in the field.

I'm still trying to understand the myriad ways to get into the profession, but I wonder if anyone has any real life experience of day to day life teaching this subject?

Many thanks in advance :)
 
Crizzy said:
Hi all,

Is anyone here a computer science teacher?

I am thinking about a possible career change and would be interested in hearing from anyone in the field.

I'm still trying to understand the myriad ways to get into the profession, but I wonder if anyone has any real life experience of day to day life teaching this subject?

Many thanks in advance :)
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I am Computer science teacher. (Even though I'm not currently teaching)

I qualified, did 5 years then left for industry.

Teaching is... unique. You really need a thick skin, not just for the abuse you get from teenagers, but the attacks you get from Senior leadership can be demoralising and depressing.

If you enjoy 60-80hr weeks, then teaching is for you.

I spent 2 of my years as a Union Rep. What I witnessed was eye opening and shocking. The sheer level of career attacks I've seen on professional people is terrible. What's worse, it's carried out by people who barely teach anymore. And who are there to supposedly support them.

Don't get me wrong, yes I loved teaching. I was really very good at it. What ruined it for me, was the abuse from other colleagues and the system. The sheer amount of work I had to take home against my will. Gross.

I'm on a 40% higher salary in industry, with no work to take home. No demand to work beyond my 40hours unless I want to. Holidays which are mine to allocate when I like... what else? Oh no need to be on anti depression drugs any more...
 
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Diagro said:
Teaching is... unique. You really need a thick skin, not just for the abuse you get from teenagers, but the attacks you get from Senior leadership can be demoralising and depressing.
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I can understand the stick you'd get from pupils, but from your leadership team? What's that all about?! Is it common in education, or did you just get unlucky with a couple of headcases?

OP, I have no helpful advice, but I wish you the best of luck. This country needs more talented and capable teachers and I applaud those that do it. I know I couldn't hack it.
 
NotAGolf said:
I can understand the stick you'd get from pupils, but from your leadership team? What's that all about?! Is it common in education, or did you just get unlucky with a couple of headcases?

OP, I have no helpful advice, but I wish you the best of luck. This country needs more talented and capable teachers and I applaud those that do it. I know I couldn't hack it.
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It's very common.

Leadership can be VERY dismissive of people's issues. Some can make people have panic attacks just being near them.
It's a tough profession, made impossible sometimes by the people above you.

Like I say, I saw some really eye opening things as a Union Rep.
 
Diagro said:
I am Computer science teacher. (Even though I'm not currently teaching)

I qualified, did 5 years then left for industry.

Teaching is... unique. You really need a thick skin, not just for the abuse you get from teenagers, but the attacks you get from Senior leadership can be demoralising and depressing.

If you enjoy 60-80hr weeks, then teaching is for you.

I spent 2 of my years as a Union Rep. What I witnessed was eye opening and shocking. The sheer level of career attacks I've seen on professional people is terrible. What's worse, it's carried out by people who barely teach anymore. And who are there to supposedly support them.

Don't get me wrong, yes I loved teaching. I was really very good at it. What ruined it for me, was the abuse from other colleagues and the system. The sheer amount of work I had to take home against my will. Gross.

I'm on a 40% higher salary in industry, with no work to take home. No demand to work beyond my 40hours unless I want to. Holidays which are mine to allocate when I like... what else? Oh no need to be on anti depression drugs any more...
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Thanks for getting back to me, sorry to hear that you had a bad experience, was that in one school or was it across multiple schools?

It'll be a tough decision for me, as it would take no small effort on my part just to get NQT status. And then as you say I'll be working more hours for significantly less pay than I do at the moment. I'm not sure I can justify the pay drop right now, and I don't think it would be fair to my wife and children either.
 
Crizzy said:
Thanks for getting back to me, sorry to hear that you had a bad experience, was that in one school or was it across multiple schools?

It'll be a tough decision for me, as it would take no small effort on my part just to get NQT status. And then as you say I'll be working more hours for significantly less pay than I do at the moment. I'm not sure I can justify the pay drop right now, and I don't think it would be fair to my wife and children either.
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Multiple unfortunately.

The best school I taught at was the one I did my NQT at. However, right off the bat I was made redundant.

The next school, was great for the first year. Then I became the H&S rep for NASUWT. The leadership really started picking on me after that.
My third school was fine. However I clearly didn't learn my lesson, as I opted to be the NASUWT union rep again. I made some comments in other staff meeting where I was acting as the union rep, which again started a barrage of attacks on my own work practices until I was driven to leave.

I don't want you to read all this and think that teaching is a terrible profession. But please go in with your eyes wide open and be ready for anything.

The teacher training can be brutal financially at the moment. I'm not sure what bursaries are available currently.
 
malachi said:
Thought being a teacher is a "job for life" ? Never thought teachers could be made redundant.
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Hell no. A friend with over 20 years experience was effectively forced out of her job recently - and replaced by an NQT as they were cheaper. She could have fought as they didn't follow any valid process to remove her and the alleged reasons were all around being given a class with many special needs and behavioural issue kids - with zero support to cope on her own. It would have been tribunals and needing legal support. In the end shed decided, **** it, the job isn't worth it any more and even if she won, the same management would still be there making her life hell in revenge. She contracts now instead and much prefers it:

- She can choose which schools to go in to
- No extra time sucks like taking work home to do
- No need to deal with internal politics
- No need to deal with aggressive parents
 
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peterwalkley said:
Hell no. A friend with over 20 years experience was effectively forced out of her job recently - and replaced by an NQT as they were cheaper. She could have fought as they didn't follow any valid process to remove her and the alleged reasons were all around being given a class with many special needs and behavioural issue kids - with zero support to cope on her own. It would have been tribunals and needing legal support. In the end shed decided, **** it, the job isn't worth it any more and even if she won, the same management would still be there making her life hell in revenge. She contracts now instead and much prefers it:

- She can choose which schools to go in to
- No extra time sucks like taking work home to do
- No need to deal with internal politics
- No need to deal with aggressive parents
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I've seen this happen.
I'll never understand how they get away with it.

One school I was in made a post redundant, then 1 term later, posted a job advert for an NQT in the SAME EXACT ROLL.
I really didnt see the logic, as the pay off and the new hires wage was > than the previous staff members wage. Would be 2 years before it saved them money.

That same NQT quit teaching after the first year and they were forced to hire an experienced teacher to replace them....

The management decisions made in schools really boggles the mind.
 
People become teachers because they enjoy passing knowledge onto the next generation. But unfortunately, at the end of the day its still just a business and it will be ran that way.
 
First I was a physics teacher. Then an IT coordinator (BBC B days) before moving into the advisory service, becoming an independent consultant (computing and online safety) and finally retiring.
 
I've worked at college (which had college and university level IT courses) and two different universities in different levels of IT support.
It was a daily occurrence that I crossed paths with IT teaching staff.. and IT knowledge/skill wise, well I'm not impressed.

I'm sure there's some very good and experinced teachers and lecturers out there but the main thing is that they teach the curriculum and what is required to pass the course. But the curriculum IHMO does meet the requirements.

If I had the chance now, I would certainly go to college but skip univeristy and do my professional certifications instead.

I have thought about going into IT teaching, I done a fair bit of mentoring for collegues and apprentices. My role at the moment involves upskilling IT staff in my specialist area... but I think I would find more joy teaching primary kids computer skills. :)
 
slinxy said:
I have thought about going into IT teaching, I done a fair bit of mentoring for collegues and apprentices. My role at the moment involves upskilling IT staff in my specialist area... but I think I would find more joy teaching primary kids computer skills. :)
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Primary school kids come in with more computer skills than IT teachers themselves because of the internet. You be learning off them, not the other way round :D
 
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Why not instructing? QA etc.

Adults, rather than children and generally higher wages.

malachi said:
Primary school kids come in with more computer skills than IT teachers themselves because of the internet. You be learning off them, not the other way round :D
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I instruct young adults, and most of them can't use a mouse and keyboard. Plugging in a HDMI cable? Not a chance. Most kids don't go anywhere near a PC or laptop these days, all touchpads/phones or dumbed down machines.
 
Begbie said:
I instruct young adults, and most of them can't use a mouse and keyboard. Plugging in a HDMI cable? Not a chance. Most kids don't go anywhere near a PC or laptop these days, all touchpads/phones or dumbed down machines.
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Exactly but that's the future isn't it? :D

When was the last time someone came to you to build a PC? Not blaming Apple but companies like them have an hand in pushing down that direction. Cant learn anything off them hands on because they dont want you to open up anything to see how it works, built or repaired.
 
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I’ve worked in IT for over 20 years.

I’ve always an itch to leave my stupidly well paid job and earn a fraction of what I do, near the end of my career, to be a teacher.

I’ve worked in large complex corporates to startups.

I feel my wealth of experience in software engineering, architecture and management still wouldn’t prepare me for the toxic culture and idiots within the education industry.

But I still want to give it ago lol.

It must be a calling.

I think you need to do it for 5 years before you get any sort of sensible pension from them.
 
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