What do teachers love most about their job?
As schools get back into the swing of things at the start of term, in spite of a few dragged heels, many children will have been delighted to get back into classrooms after the last few months of uncertainty. It is not just the pupils that will be glad of a return to school, but teachers will also welcome the end of Zoom meetings and virtual lessons to get back at the front of the classroom.
Teaching is far more than a job, for most it is a vocation. Unlike some professions where staff are happy to get through the 9 – 5 for a steady wage, teachers enter the profession with a genuine desire to develop young people and help them to achieve their goals.
There is evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic impact could draw more talented graduates towards the profession, with UCAS figures showing 7,000 more teacher training applications in June compared with the same period last year.
Latest figures from the university admissions service show that between 15 June and 20 July there were 91% more applications to teacher training courses compared to the same period last year.
But what is it that is drawing so many towards teaching? To help answer the question, we asked teachers from across the UK what they loved most about their job.
Phoebe Copeland, design and technology teacher at Elizabeth College, explained that seeing students excel in her subject was a great feeling. She said:
“I love the professional relationship that one builds with the students; to really get to know them as individuals. Seeing them progress or excel in a subject that I love is amazing and so rewarding.”
Matt Copeland, a history teacher at Guernsey Grammar School, added that the variety of daily life as a teacher was a huge draw to the profession. He said:
“I love that young adults are some of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet and no day is ever the same!”
Tristan Lee, assistant head at Les Voies School, agreed that the diversity of the job made the hard work worthwhile. He said:
“When you wake up you literally have no idea what's going to happen, who you're are going to need to be, or what you're going to be faced with. One day you'll need to be a firm, fair role model, and on another a caring, nurturing motherly character.
“Then at its purest, teaching is an art. When in flow, hearing the silent sounds of keyboards clicking, or basketballs bouncing and, all of a sudden, a 'eureka' moment makes every second worthwhile. From the hardest moments of "sir, your lessons are boring" or "make me do it" to the challenging paperwork bureaucracy each day is different, but the end result has always been the same.
“Every year, every time a student revisits the school, without fail ‘I miss school sir’ puts a smile on my face. I may not change the world, but I might change the world for some.”
Dom Leivers, a PE teacher at Newark Academy, said that being able to impact the personal development of young people provided a sense of satisfaction. He said:
"I love teaching as it's extremely rewarding and we are able to make a difference in young people's education and their wider development as a person, and a member of society"
Teachers are undoubtedly a school’s most valuable asset and it’s important that their wellbeing is prioritised, particularly after the events of recent months. Find out more about supporting teacher wellbeing in our recent blog.
