Beginning teachers' expectations of teaching

This study explores the expectations of teaching as a career held by beginning teachers who undertook a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) teacher training course for secondary schools at three institutions in the North of England. Over 300 student teachers completed a questionnaire at the beginning and at the end of their PGCE course. A sample of 28 students were then tracked through their first 2 years in post by e-mail communication. During this 3-year period, the most frequently cited positive factor was the pleasure generated by pupil success and the most frequently cited negative factor was workload. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.