Career change due to "NO" male PE jobs!

Is anyone else thinking of a career change before this one has even started? I completed a PGCE in PE at Uni of Southampton from 2008/09 and since then I've been doing supply work (18 months) and I'm beginning to lose hope.
I've worked at, pretty much, every type of school there is, taught pupils from 4-18yrs aswell as teaching subjects across the curriculum. I didnt sign up for any of this yet I havent had a choice. Last years lack of male PE teaching jobs concerned me but I always thought I'd land a position in a school, any school but it didnt happen. When you're up against over 100 applicants for every job, its extremely difficult to even get an interview, let alone the job itself.
And trying to get feedback from schools asking why you were unsuccessful is like trying to get blood from a stone, not really fair when you've spent days on the application form. Even before applying, phoning schools for a look around, going that extra mile, is virtually impossible, they just dont want to know.
The whole situation worries me as universities across the UK keep churning out PE graduates every year so competition gets increasingly difficult. There werent many jobs out there last year but when comparing it to this year, the reality is frightening. I'd already applied for 4-5 jobs this time last year but there just arent any advertised this year. At present there are 6 jobs nationwide, 5 female and 1 Head of Dept. I'd be teaching abroad in a flash if I could but I need to do this dam NQT year.
I'm not looking for answers, I'm just wondering are there many people as concerned about the situation as me. I've longed to be a PE teacher, worked hard throughout university, I have a decent CV, coaching badges, a vast amount of experience teaching, coaching and participating as well as specialising in a number of sports, however, it seems like all this just isnt enough.

 

Is anyone else thinking of a career change before this one has even started? I completed a PGCE in PE at Uni of Southampton from 2008/09 and since then I've been doing supply work (18 months) and I'm beginning to lose hope.
I've worked at, pretty much, every type of school there is, taught pupils from 4-18yrs aswell as teaching subjects across the curriculum. I didnt sign up for any of this yet I havent had a choice. Last years lack of male PE teaching jobs concerned me but I always thought I'd land a position in a school, any school but it didnt happen. When you're up against over 100 applicants for every job, its extremely difficult to even get an interview, let alone the job itself.
And trying to get feedback from schools asking why you were unsuccessful is like trying to get blood from a stone, not really fair when you've spent days on the application form. Even before applying, phoning schools for a look around, going that extra mile, is virtually impossible, they just dont want to know.
The whole situation worries me as universities across the UK keep churning out PE graduates every year so competition gets increasingly difficult. There werent many jobs out there last year but when comparing it to this year, the reality is frightening. I'd already applied for 4-5 jobs this time last year but there just arent any advertised this year. At present there are 6 jobs nationwide, 5 female and 1 Head of Dept. I'd be teaching abroad in a flash if I could but I need to do this dam NQT year.
I'm not looking for answers, I'm just wondering are there many people as concerned about the situation as me. I've longed to be a PE teacher, worked hard throughout university, I have a decent CV, coaching badges, a vast amount of experience teaching, coaching and participating as well as specialising in a number of sports, however, it seems like all this just isnt enough.

 

I think this problem of training people up in Universities for jobs which don't exist/are scarce is common to a number of areas, not just PE, or teaching in general.
Although you have little teaching experience, there may be some overseas schools which would accept your applications.

 

Yes I agree, too many people being trained up for jobs that simply do not exist but it'll be years before anything is done about it, if at all.
I could always apply for the overseas jobs but then I wouldnt be able to teach in the UK again as I wouldnt have completed my NQT year in this country within the time constraints.

 

I feel your pain. I am a PE teacher with 5 years experience and took time out to go travelling for a few months. I now find myself supply teaching for the last 12 months as I can not get a look in anywhere else. In addition to lack of male jobs out there I also find myself half way up the main pay scale and competing against NQTs who are much cheaper to employ in basic teaching roles than myself. Without much experience in more senior roles I now find myself struggling. This all after teaching very successfully for 4 years - it all feels very disheartening but keep grafting and I'm sure all will work out.

 

<font size="3">Hi,</font><font size="3">I&rsquo;m currently doing a PGCE now, and this is my biggest worry&hellip; the lack of jobs!! I have a slight advantage being female, more jobs due to those taking maternity. How is the supply work? Does it give you a steady income? As I have a mountain of bills to pay each month I am really worried about not getting a job for sept! </font>J

 

Not necessarily so. When working in Saudi we took on an NQT who worked there for around 6 years then went back to UK and found a job relatively easily.
She also managed to do her NQT whilst over there too (don't ask me how - the Head dealt with it all).
What time constraints are there? I wasn't aware of any? if there are any, then what is going to happen to all of these newly trained teachers who may not get jobs for a few years? will they have to re-train?
Have you considered working in private schools - are there jobs there?

 

I am at the other end of the scale, 30+ years teaching experience but working overseas/planning to return in the next couple of years.
I expect to have little chance in such a scarce job market against 20 somethings and 30 somethings.
It's pretty worrying to think I have spent the last 10 years tryiing to create a financial safety net, only to probably have no job when I return and have to spend it all.
I'll have to go out to graze I think, retire, go on sickness benefit

 

I never thought of that. Thanks for the advice stopwatch!
Future secure.

 

"Hello Mr Dole Occifer, yes I am an aged PE Teacher. However, with my various creaking and degenerative joints I am no longer able to demonstrate any gymnastics, rugby, football, athletics or even trampolining ()" "In addition, being regularly exposed to such extreme cold temperatures in UK and such extreme hot temperatures in the Middle East, I fear my brain is now permanently addled Ga gagagag gagagaga!"
"Now can I have some money please..........."
Simples!

 

I have found a job and count myself lucky, but saying that i have 10 years experience working with ages 4-18, SEN and behavioural units, several coaching badges to a fairly high standard and alot of voluntary work.
Now i am struggling to get a training provider even though the school are desperate to take me on. They are working to sort this situation out but it looks a little bleak.
All in all i think its the current climate, not many people are moving jobs or taking a risk, just unfortunate timing, keep plugging away a job will turn up.

 

I have found myself struggling to find a PE job also. I went out to Australia to travel and also taught in Victoria. Since returning I have applied for PE jobs all around the country, I have lost count how many I have applied for. I have been teaching for 4-5 years and have experience in state secondary schools and independant prep schools.
I managed to get 5 interviews but havent quite managed to get a job. One of them they said my lesson was excellent and I came across really well but I didnt get the job? Another interview I travelled over 200 miles round trip to have a 20 minute tour of the school followed by a quick chat. The school was interviewing 5 candidates a day over a two week time span, then short listing again. This just shows the state of the employment market for PE teachers. Schools can do what they want with you as they have so many people desperate for a job.
It is hard to stay positive but I am still trying. I have applied for several international jobs. I think if i dont hear back anything from this a career change will be forced on me. I dont want to leave teaching as I love it. But spending so long filling out applications to no avail is heart breaking. Also not having regular income through supply teaching I am stuck living between my two parents houses, which at 29 is not what i imagined. Leaving a very good job at the end of 2009 to go to Australia has cost me dearly!!

 

Apart from you having a few years experience on me, we're in very similar situations. Although there are some jobs coming out on this website I think you'll find most of them are for 'director of sport/head of dept' jobs, which is even more worrying. After 18 months of supply, I've had enough to be honest. I'm sick of doing 100 mile round trips to do general cover in primary and secondary schools. Also that feeling at 7am in the morning mon-fri "Am I or arent I going to get called?" is just not nice.
I chose to be a PE teacher because of my love for sport, I'm a good teacher and a good 'all round' sportsman. I didnt manage to get a job last year and with the ssco's losing theirs, people being even more cautious about moving schools as well as the majority of jobs being senior managerial ones I hold little hope.
Maybe I'm being a little pessimistic but after the 18 months I've had, plus a bleak looking future, who wouldn't?

 

Im in the same situation (the only difference is being female!) I did a PE GTP in 2008/09 have been doing supply work ever since. I dont like supply as the works not consistant, work can be anywhere and the perception pupils have on you etc. The supply I have done I get good reports and feedback but has not led to any permenant jobs. I am lucky enough this term to start my NQT whilst on supply but after Easter who knows. I want to get a mortage in the summer, and hopefully a wedding in a couple years but feel like my life is on hold until I get a full time job. I love teaching but getting fed up and down by not getting anywhere. I have applied for job after job for the last 2 years and had several interviews but theres always someone slightly better. I have been on lots of courses etc to expand my CV, which as you are probably aware arent cheap when your self funding!
I am starting to worry as not sure how much longer to carry on
supplying, but theres not a lot else I can do. I have studied PE for 3 years, teacher training for a year and dont want all that to go to waste, but I have no experience in anything else but teaching or coaching. I was even thinking of changing age/subject but would be in an even worse position due to lack of experience and knowledge.
I agree that there are more and more teachers being churned out for a very very small demand. Even though I was one of them a couple of years ago (thinking I would easily get a job) I am resenting the competition! Wish someone would have told me 6 years ago!
Sorry for the rambling, its nice to get it off my chest and just to say youre not the only one!

 

are you looking in all sectors for work?