Has anyone left teaching and regretted/ not regretted it?

[MidoriKobayashi]

I just wondered if there's anyone out there who has left teaching and how you felt about it in hindsight. I'm thinking of quitting at the end of my current temp contract; mainly because I've been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (constant worrying basically) due to stress and the fact that I've had a series of temporary contracts since I qualified so I have no job security. I have no idea what else I would do at the moment and feel like a complete failure but was wondering if anyone else had any experience of having left teaching.

[scurryfunge]

I left teaching 16 years ago, after 8 years at it. Never regretted it. I was totally bored by teaching and it was the best decision I ever made.

[itdoesnthurttohavemanners]

My biggest worry too...I've had a series of temp contracts too, which keep getting extended, but still....not the same as a permanent job. Honestly, I don't think there's enough permanent jobs out there.

What particularly are you finding stressful? What did you do before teaching? Could it be the school not suiting you, rather than you not suiting education?

[Putthatbookdown]

It depends why you are leaving it and what you go into next If it is just because you have no permanent work then you are not really leaving of your own accord are you?

[MakesCakesWhenStressed]

My dh. Best decision he ever made

[MidoriKobayashi]

Thank you for the replies!
Glad to hear that leaving teaching was the right decision for you scurryfunge.
I agree that there's not enough permanent jobs around itdoesnthurttohavemanners. At the moment I find the workload stressful and the pressure to achieve the required results, in some schools the pressure has been different e.g. children throwing chairs during lessons/ swearing at me/ hurting other children and staff. The fact that I've never completed a whole academic year in the same school or even same year group probably doesn't help.
Putthatbookdown I meant leaving in the sense of making a choice not to apply for any teaching jobs after the end of my current contract.

[MidoriKobayashi]

MakesCakesWhenStressed Glad things worked out well for your husband.

[AlmostAHipster]

I miss the kids and watching them grow up but I most certainly don't miss anything else. Life's too short to dread going to work.

[HarrietJonez]

My dh left 2 years ago, best thing he's done.

[Putthatbookdown]

My friend left teaching and went into HR(personnel) Teaching in Fe or a private school or overseas are also possibilities
I was a teacher for 20 years and trained teachers too If you are starting out you need a supportive school and going from one to another is just no good

[MidoriKobayashi]

AlmostAHipster you're right about dreading going to work. HarrietJonez glad things worked out for your husband. Putthatbookdown glad things worked out for your friend, I wish I could find a supportive school!
Thank to everyone who has replied

[itdoesnthurttohavemanners]

It definitely sounds like you've not had the best of experiences so far. :(

What do you fancy going into?

[mercibucket]

Emigrate and teach abroad? Could be fun

[mercibucket]

Emigrate and teach abroad? Could be fun

[MidoriKobayashi]

itdoesnthurttohavemanners I've had some good and some not-so-good experiences so far, I'm not sure what I would do if I didn't teach. I like the variety in the job, interacting with the children and the fact that I'm always busy so the time never drags. I don't like dealing with extreme behavior, aggressive parents, relentless pressure to get results, 80 hour weeks, pointless paper work and always feeling on edge because I'm not doing enough.

mercibucket I have thought about teaching abroad, however I can't see myself settling abroad permanently and I'd always have the same problem about what to do for work when I eventually came home :(

Thank you to everyone who's replied

[Putthatbookdown]

Actually teaching abroad can look quite good on your cv and there are some good jobs to be had especially in the International schools
It can be enjoyable and you could use it to get away from the treadmill for a while Do you think you are suffering from burnout?
Also could you possibly set yourself up as a private tutor as an alternative or do it alongside part time main stream teaching?

[itdoesnthurttohavemanners]

I'm the same, and echo the pointless paperwork!

[BackforGood]

I left, but after 20 years+ and loads of happy memories alongside all the hassle. Mine was more of a "next step in my life" / going for another job, than a decision based on a need to leave teaching though.
What I miss - the children, the things they say, seeing them grow and mature and learn and respond to the work you put in, the families, the personal involvement. I especially miss Christmas in schools.
What I don't miss - the hours, the paperwork, the fact every Gvmnt interferes and changes things on a regular basis, the fact you can never have just one morning when you aren't feeling so good / your mind is elsewhere / you are tired or going down with something - you have to be on top of things at all times, the parents that think it's your fault that Darren has lost his un named jumper again, the fact you can never get to your own dcs 'special' things that parents get invited to.

[jumpinghoops]

I l

[jumpinghoops]

Sorry about that- I left last July after 4 yrs. I had an unusual experience I guess in that I was quickly promoted- and quickly knackered. The relentlessness of paperwork and target setting is what I really don't miss. I had my daughter a couple of years ago and realised I wanted to spend my free time with her, not working. I'm now working at a uni in a policy/admin role involving teacher education. I've got my life back!

[MidoriKobayashi]

Putthatbookdown I just googled burnout and you could be right, I will keep an eye out for part-time vacancies but I think PT is very sought after.
BackforGood I know what you mean about always having to be on top form - the thing for me is that I know I'm not, even though I try as hard as I can I just can't manage to do everything I should and it's my actual teaching that suffers because I'm so tired and anxious all the time. I hope your new job worked out well.
jumpinghoops It really is relentless, I know other people who had/ have stressful jobs with long hours etc. and they mainly seem to think that I don't understand "what it's like in the real world" or "what stress is actually like for people who work a full day and don't get loads of holidays" so it's good that other people understand. Glad that you got your life back and can enjoy spending time with your daughter.

[Serafyn]

Hi, I know. This is an old thread, so don't know if I'll get many replies. I can sympathise with others here. I have been teaching 16 years and that seems like a long time. Some of that full time which I found virtually impossible and some part time. I handed in my notice last week from my 'much sought after' part time post, I did 2.5 days per week and have no other job to go to, either stupid or brave, didn't tell my partner I was doing this either and it came as a shock to me too.

Part-time isn't really part-time you still get drawn into a lot of other work, surrounded by NQTs who seem to be very enthusiastic and up with current methods, I felt I was learning a lot just through them, I've also been passed over for promotion time and again and one of my observations was RI. In essence I cannot stand to go in any longer, I can't even face my notice period. For the past two years I've also had two very demanding classes, my current class have two children that even kick, punch and swear at adults on a regular basis and I'm required to restrain them then fill in the relevant paperwork extremely stressful. I have adults who work on a one to one with them but even they are at a loss, stand there and look at me....On top of the abuse I was required to deliever lessons where 'all pupils make progress at all times' how do you do that when you are constantly taken up with some very needy children. I thought it only a matter of time before I go into capability.

I am totally burnt out and jaded. I think to stay in teaching the answer is to go into smt or authority work as soon as you can.

So what's my next move? I have no job after Xmas at all, lol. I do feel excited though about possibilities of what might be out there. Currently looking into one to one work with SEN but the pay isn't the same however I will just have to cope. There is also supply, was offered a permenant post full time but the thought of it makes me feel ill, I cannot do it at all. I know I have to go into full time work but to be honest I was working my 'days off' anyway. I'd love to do family support work so hopefully there will be something out there soon around that.

I just wondered if there was anything else I could do?
Thanks for reading x