My advise it's simple - don't do it. Yes, you get a great buzz when the pupils learn and are happily on-task doing that activity that tooks hours to think up and prepare - but it doesn't happen often enough! BUT, the hours you have to put in for the monetary reward well you're better off getting minimum wage in Tesco's and then having the ability to go home and enjoy yourself. I went into teaching because my previous job was taking me increasingly away from home and overseas for months at a time and I was missing my son growing up. I am now 2/3 through my training year and yes, I am in the house with my family but my mind is constantly in the classroom and I am unable to spend anytime with my son due to the demands of constantly trying to plan lessons and activities, for which I will generally get little recognition; the observor will then tell me exactly where the lesson went wrong because pupils X, Y and Z were texting on their phones. Well mate, pupils X, Y and Z texted throughout the lesson I observed of his, to which he was oblivious at the time as well. I am so close to chucking this in - I simply do not know why I haven't!!! Masochism? Pride at not wanting to fail? The disappointment on my wife's face when I say I have wasted the last 18 months? (I include the 6 months applying and finding a training provider.) The thought of packing a suitcase again?