What other jobs can I do?

[Worried123456]

I am sick of teaching now, absolutely sick of it. I've only been qualified for 14 years, but the job has changed beyond belief and there is absolutely no scope for any creativity or fun. :( Every week brings new initiatives, if not from Gove, then from the management who are terrifed Ofsted will put us into RI. There is no time to cement any of these ideas and then they are thrown out for not working!

Everything is an absolute priority in my school at the moment-marking, assessment, success criteria, Learning objectives, mini-plenaries, next steps, intervention, extra-curricular clubs, Outstanding lesson observations (if we are not Outstanding, we will be repeatedly observed until we are, or we go on Capability!), targets for the children which they must be able to parrot off to whoever asks, displays...the list goes on. I can't do it, I hate it. I've always been rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, but quite frankly, you are only ever as good as your last observation and I can't face being hounded like some of my 'unsatisfactory' colleagues have been, should I have a bad day in the future.


I'm a Y1 teacher and need to get out! I have a fairly unhelpful (English) degree and don't know what else I can do. I've wanted to be a teacher since I was 5 :( I'd like do do tutoring; there is a big call for 11+ tutoring down here and I have tutored my own older kids successfully through the 11+, but I still have little children and committing to after school/weekend work right now is not going to work (but is an idea for the future).

What can I do!? Is it just my school-are other primaries better? I don't know whether to change schools and see what's out there, but frankly my confidence is low at the moment after being constantly told things aren't good enough (not me, particularly, but as a whole staff) and I'm not sure I can face an interview of spewing blue-sky thinking and whatever is en vogue at the moment and then teaching a lesson whilst 4 members of SMT watch me (which is what happens at my school) right now.

Help :( I'm nearly 40 and my pension age says I can 68-there is no way in a million years I can carry on like this for 30 years...

[storynanny]

I got to this stage 2 years ago after 33 years of teaching for all of your reasons and more. Ive only ever wanted to teach and have never had any other job other than student vacation jobs.
I am doing supply teaching in several local infant and primary schools, including a few in which I have previously taught, about 5 days a month. It cuts out all the ridiculousness but doesnt give an awful lot of job satisfaction. I thought it would be enough and fulfilling but there is something missing. However I am definitely never returning to the treadmill of full time teaching. Ive witnessed all the stress and strains, easily visible the minute I walk into a staffroom and have quickly weeded out some schools that I dont want to work in even for a day. The best sort of supply is becoming a regular at a school so that you can build some sort of rapport with the children and regular staff.
Although I am grateful to be off the treadmill Im just not sure it will be enough in job satisfaction terms to keep me going until im 67 which is my pension age.
Why dont you give supply teaching a go? If you work in several different schools it will give you a feel of how it would be to work someone other than your current school.
Best of luck, I will follow the thread with interest as Im still considering a career change!

[cherrypiesally]

Omg, it reads as if I posted all of that but I am secondary. Have no advice just hugs. Xx

[stargirl1701]

Move to Scotland.

[Mrspebble]

I moved out of secondary teaching years ago .. Nothing was good enough.. Push push push.. Parents not supporting etc.

I now teach in a special school..wonderful atmosphere, supportive parents.

It is all about the children. I can be creative and am still motivated every single day... I love it. Yes we have to adhere regulations but there is greater flexibility.

Could you work for an exam board ? Advisory teacher ?

[BrigitBigKnickers]

Primary teaching is no better...

[Finickynotfussy]

I do think you should try another school before chucking all your training and expertise away. You could consider the independent sector?

[bigTillyMint]

Have you thought about specialist settings? IMHE, there is much more room for creativity, and really making a difference to the children who need it most.

[pickledsiblings]

If you live near a Uni, check out the teaching associate posts.

[BrigitBigKnickers]

Nah-I work in a specialist setting- it's no different- I still have to jump through all the same hoops as mainstream teachers- next steps marking, success criteria, mini plenaries, AFL, talk partners -( ha! that's an interesting one for pupils who have severe communication difficulties .) I sometimes wonder why I spent two year gaining extra qualifications to work in my field... Chuck em all in mainstream with no TA- they'll do as well...

My performance management target is for all my pupils to attain 3.5 points progress per year ( the same as mainstream children...) Apparently that is considered to be "good" progress. Well for some of my pupils "outstanding" progress might only mean a few extra points ticked off on an APP grid.

When I pointed out to my line managers that the OFSTED progress guidance documents advised that other areas of progress needed to be taken into account for SEN children (ie not just NC data) I was told, no they still expected 3.5 points progress. They hadn't even seen the document- didn't even know of its existence. I am being judged by senior leaders who know nothing about the needs of the pupils I teach and don't even know about the guidance that inspectors have to follow.

And my pay is dependent upon the judgements of these clowns...

Oh and in the last OFSTED inspection (where the inspector was qualified and extremely experienced in my field of expertise) my provision was rated as outstanding in all four areas of the report...

Interesting about Scottish schools. We keep being told that research proves this is the best way to teach children, that these are the best methods to use to ensure the best progress and the highest standards. So what is different in Scottish schools? Is their research different???

[bigTillyMint]

Euphemia NO GOVE

[stargirl1701]

What is different? Everything. The two systems are further part than I have ever known.

Scotland now has a curriculum based on social constructivism. No external testing until post 16. All state schools are still controlled by local authorities. One pay scale for teachers nationwide. No performance related pay. HMIe (our OFSTED) have moved to a supportive inspection framework. Individual schools can alter the deliver of their curriculum to suit the needs of their school. No league tables exist. Most children go to their local school (Edinburgh does have a high proportion of children in private school). No unqualified teachers can teach in state schools. No academies or free schools exist.

It is not an educational utopia though All of the stressors mentioned by the OP would be eliminated. The only fly in the ointment might be the GTC. Everyone I know who came from England to teach in Scotland had to complete a probationary period as an NQT. It means starting at point 0 on the pay scale.

[Orangeanddemons]

I feel the same too. Have been looking for something else for 3 years, but cannot find anything. Eventually had a long time off with stress 2 years ago. Can feel it starting again....

[stillenacht]

Snap. Have been teaching 20 years. Its killing me. I came into this job to teach music, to inspire, run clubs and enthuse and instil a passion for my subject. I did not come into this job to justify at every step data which has no baseline relevance to my subject

[AmelieRose]

I'm so sorry you feel like this Worried. I taught in England for the first 7 years of my career after training there, but moved back to Scotland (where I'm from) 6 years ago. I despair at what Gove is doing - many of my friends that I used to teach with in England are feeling similarly to you. They too are fantastic teachers who feel their professionalism is being undermined completely.

I much prefer teaching in Scotland, although it was quite a shock to the system at first as it's so different. Of course we have problems here too - the new curriculum stargirl has described has caused lots of problems in the secondary sector in particular.

I didn't have to complete a probationary year when I moved back - I don't know if that was because I was an AST and went back to classroom teacher though. I couldn't have got a promoted post here straight away despite my experience so had to take a mahoosive pay cut for a few years.

I know a couple of people who have reduced their hours to keep their foot in the door, and taken on consultancy work to top up their income - would this be an option? One advantage I found about teaching in England was the range of options/schools/responsibilities available - in Scotland it's much more streamlined.

Otherwise, what about working in a non-school education setting, like museums or charity? I know it's not as well paid but it might be worth it if you can afford it.

I am an English teacher so sympathise with feeling your degree isn't that useful! As a final note, a former colleague that I trained with gave up teaching and went into recruitment - not for everyone, but she loves it and has never looked back. If you are serious about leaving, remember you have a huge range of transferable skills - sometimes teachers are very hard on themselves as we feel we are pigeonholed into one area. It sounds like you'd be an asset to a wide range of things.

Hope things improve for you soon.

[snowmummy]

Its so sad to hear that all this experience will be walking out of the door because of the idiots that run our education system. I've just gone back to teaching after 8 years at home. I've done half a term and am not sure I'll make it to the end of the year.

[storynanny]

Im seeing so much stress and strain on teachers faces as I travel around on supply. I suspect that teachers will only be able to work at this level of pressure for a small number of years unlike in the past, or in my case over thirty years. It is a disgraceful and very sad reflection of all the nonsense that goes on in schools now.
Im disappointed that my current and future little grandchildren will not experience the fun that my own children and I enjoyed at primary schools. None of the schools I work in have an art area permanently up and running! Most don't have time for story at the end of the day. How can that have happened in infant schools?

[ipadquietly]

I'm with you worried.

I've been in the job for 20 years and love the teaching part - thinking of a creative and meaningful curriculum and seeing the progress of the children. I passionately believe that primary education should provide children with a love of learning.

However, looking at the new curriculum, I see years of drudgery stretching ahead for teachers and children. I really can't bring myself to get involved with it! I've just announced to the HT that I'm leaving next summer.

We're in the process of buying a small-holding and we'll be living in penury...

... but I feel liberated.

[stillenacht]

Ipadquietly good for you!!!!!

[barmybunting]

Worried I have to concur with the info on Scottish schools. We are in the process of moving to England just now, and I am applying for teaching jobs there for the first time having only taught in Scotland. I have to say I'm horrified looking at some of the details of the curriculum, observations etc in comparision to what we have in Scotland.

[barmybunting]

Sorry, I didn't manage to finish that!

What about a role in learning & development in the council or for a larger company? I worked in L&D prior to retraining in teaching, and a lot of former colleagues and been teachers in a previous life.

[snowmummy]

barmybunting comparing the two, would you say the Scottish system is better than the uk? I ask because we may have an opportunity to relocate and I'm thinking from a parent's perspective what would be best for our children. I am also a teacher but whether or not I can teach in Scotland is a secondary issue.

[Arisbottle]

Would your English degree allow you to move into secondary education? seems much less work to me.

[stillenacht]

Secondary education much less work? You are having a laugh aren't you??!!

Have you seen an English teacher's marking pile at secondary??!!