Stuart Fuller, 64, teaches graphics, design and technology in London. At age 60, I returned to school to pursue a teaching career. I find teaching rewarding, even if the profits are small.
This telling essay is based on a conversation with Stuart Fuller. Edited for length and clarity.
After a decades-long career as a graphic designer, at age 60 I decided to pursue a career in teaching. Although the pay is lower, I find this profession much more rewarding.
I studied 3D design as an undergraduate and graduated with a degree in product design in 1983. When I finished school, a friend of mine who had a studio in Cambridge, England, offered me a job. I’ve been working in graphic design ever since.
My last job before teaching was at an advertising agency called Saatchi & Saatchi. What I love most about working in this profession is that every day looks a little different. I had the opportunity to travel a lot, and every day there were creative problems to solve.
I joined the company in 1999 and worked in the London office for over 20 years. During the pandemic, there were lockdowns and the advertising industry suffered. Customers dropped, funding dried up, and the agency made several rounds of layoffs.
As December 2020 approached, I was laid off from Saatchi & Saatchi. Retirement crossed my mind, but I didn’t like the idea of doing nothing.
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A conversation with my brother sparked my interest in education.
After I got fired from my job at an advertising agency, I spoke to my eldest brother on the phone. He served in the Royal Air Force and now teaches mathematics and electronics. He knew I had recently left my previous job and asked, “Have you ever considered teaching?”
After the call, I Googled the profession and found Now Teach. Now Teach helps people develop their teaching careers by connecting them with schools that offer teacher training and the opportunity to earn a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) alongside other education professionals. An educational charity that supports
I called them to find out more about the next steps to get involved. They identified schools in my area for teacher training and asked me if I wanted to do a PGCE, which I decided to do at the same time.
I still remember the first time I walked to the entrance of the training school. I always wore jeans to work, but this was my first time wearing a suit. I hadn’t been in an environment like that since I was 16, and all of a sudden there were kids in the hallway. The fact that I was back in a school environment was really shocking. During your teacher training, our staff will guide you and guide you. My mentor introduced me to the class for the first two weeks, and by the third week I started teaching under my mentor’s supervision.
When I wasn’t in the classroom putting what I learned into practice, I was experiencing the academic side of everything as I worked towards my PGCE. I was taking classes at university to learn about academic theory. We were learning together from people in their early 20s to people of the same age.
The income may be low, but teaching is very rewarding
I completed my teacher training and graduated with my PGCE in 2022. There was certainly a demand for teachers, and I was able to get the first job I applied for after graduating. I started teaching at a school in Loughton, England in September 2022 and stayed there until December 2023 before arriving at my current school.
I have been teaching Graphics, Technology and Design in London since January 2024. My current school focuses on design and engineering and is a GCSE and A level school. I teach students between the ages of 13 and 18. One of the specific topics I teach is digital imaging for games, videos, and movies so that kids can learn these skills.
When I started thinking about going into teaching, I thought, “Well, I’ll see what happens.” I took things step by step. I never thought that sitting down and teaching would be my life’s work, but now I feel that way.
Financially, you earn less as a teacher than a professional career in graphic design. Although I made good money for 40 years, I never felt that money was my motivation. I always felt that the work itself motivated me. I’m making half as much now, but I don’t look at my salary and think, “Oh my god, is this all I have?” I’m pretty secure financially and what I’m making now is a bonus.
Financial considerations aside, teaching has been incredibly rewarding. I had the opportunity to work with talented students. Their understanding of graphics, strong ability to apply processes, and knowledge of creative work is exceptional. I specifically told a couple of my 18-year-old students that if they came to my office in this industry, I would give them jobs.
My wife used to be a social worker, and although she sometimes came back with scary stories when we talked about her day, her day also seemed to have been very rewarding. While I was selling things to people, she was providing services to help people. I remember thinking, “Oh, I wish I could do a job like this.” I wanted to feel like I was actually making a difference in someone’s life, and now I am.
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