Leaving teaching and just getting a normal job

[threepiecesuite]

I've had enough. I want out. I hate what the education system has become, I hate how it's going and I hate being belittled by teenagers, and line managers day in day out.
I accept that I cannot get anywhere near the salary I am on without much retraining or working way up quickly.
Did you or do you know anyone who came out of education altogether, and went into something different? I'm browsing job sites daily but not coming up with much.

[ruddynorah]

What do you mean by a normal job?

[threepiecesuite]

Outside of teaching, mainly, but interested in alternatives as a career.

[strawberryshoes]

3 of my friends have left teaching, one went from secondary MFL teaching to a series of admin posts before starting her own business belly dance teaching and performing. Another went from primary teaching to working in an outdoor activities centre, think rock climbing and mountaineering. The last went from secondary English to working in a Schools Liaison Dept in a University (recruitment, basically).

Not sure how that might help you - other than evidence that its possible to get out.

[SeptemberBabies]

Officially I consider myself 'on a career break' from teaching while I bring up my family. But I left in 2007 and think it unlikely I will return after this length of time.

I've been running my own online business. At times earning more than my M6 salary. At other times not, as is the case when self employed.

My business is not teaching or children related.

But should I need to get a "proper job" in the future it is likely to be school related since this is where my heart lies. Probably office staff / office manager / school manager (I have these skills from my business) or maybe technician with a view that I might offer supply if I wanted to / likes the school.

I know lots of ex-teachers who are TA's or HLTA's.

I also know secondary teachers who have moved to primary.

I know one primary teacher who went to secondary as a SN Year 7 Basic Skills coach.

[threepiecesuite]

I certainly would consider moving into primary, but surely it is still very competitive in terms of vacancies? I live in an area with various teacher training universities nearby.

Strawberryshoes, these are the kind of ideas I was after. I also teach Secondary MFL. I would like to incorporate my languages skills in to a role if possible.

[bindiboo]

My friend was a teacher, he got a job as a postman for the summer holidays. Postmen/women are well paid and he realised that it's actually better paid when you consider all the hours you have to put in to class prep out of working hours. He left his job as a teacher and never looked back, says he can't believe he gets paid well to be outside all day and home by 2.30pm.

[boogiewoogie]

I've recently got a job as an LSA after teaching for 7 years. The pay is nearly half of what I used to get but it's low stress, the hours mean that I can pick up the kids or drop them off some days and it means that I don't take work home either. I don't consider this to be a step back but a new beginning with opportunities to learn more about the different areas of specific needs.

[phlebasconsidered]

I moved from secondary to primary and it is MUCH more workload heavy, so if it's that you hated, don't even go there! Plus, it is just as target ridden, if not more so, and much less supported. You wear many hats, and don't get TLR's for being subject leaders, it's par for the course.

[periperisun]

I'm currently looking into this.

It isn't the work that bothers me but the abuse from teenagers and the pressure from senior management and ofsted. I suppose my heart isn't in it anymore.

I don't have a mortgage but am single so have outgoings and can't rely on a partners salary which is a bit scary. But I'm toying with nursing or social work.

[Haggisfish]

Change schools first? Management at my school is excellent and kids ok on the whole.

[Haggisfish]

Both nursing and especially social work would be worse in terms of impossible targets and ridiculous workload. Social workers get hideous abuse from everyone!!!

[Teaguzzler]

I know lots of primary schools use mfl teachers to provide ppa. Could you work as a self employed mfl teacher for several primary schools? The workload would be far less and planning would be easier as the same lesson could apply to more than one school.

[QuickQuickSloe]

Ex social worker here currently working as a primary school teacher.

I am far more stressed now, I work ridiculous hours and the parents are driving me crackers. That said, I no longer have to worry all weekend that anyone on my caseload will die and I will be blamed.

[periperisun]

Haggis - I did say in my post that it wasn't the workload that got me down.

Absolutely social workers get abuse but not from 30 at a time.

I've already changed schools seven times in 10 years (partly due to relocation) and been promoted several times. It just isn't for me.

[EATmum]

My husband left primary teaching for an academic support role in higher education. He was "taking a break" but it's been 7 years now and I can't see him ever going back. He says teaching 8 year olds and teaching 18 year olds isn't as different as you'd imagine!

[nomorecrumbs]

I don't understand why people think it is harder or more unusual to move out of teaching than to say, make a career change from any other profession.

[Haggisfish]

Fair enough. There are lots if jobs you can transfer to-I applied to the legal ombudsman, the gambling ombudsman and various gov depts. education officers in charities and organisations, and private tutoring.

[sleepdodger]

EWO?

[Mrsgrumble]

Definitely change schools first. Worth a try.

[partialderivative]

Have you thought of teaching in an International School?

There are dangers, but I've been doing it for 20+ years and have had some fantastic experiences in 7 different countries on 4 different continents.

My pension isn't up to much, be that's another day.

[MyOneandYoni]

Would love to hear more ideas... One of the problems for me is the amount of notice. i want to leave but MUST obtain a permanent job elsewhere. However, if I don't find one in the next two weeks, I'll be stuck in my school until Easter.

[DownByTheRiverside]

'I don't understand why people think it is harder or more unusual to move out of teaching than to say, make a career change from any other profession.'

As has been said, there are only three times a year you can put in your papers and quit. So you resign at half term and leave at the end of term. Like so many other things in teaching, the inflexibility can be a problem.
So you either manage with savings or support from your partner, or you go with short term contracts or onto supply and then another job. Either way, financially it can be tricky.

[Haggisfish]

I'm sure in the burgundy book, there us a clause that says you only need to give six weeks notice at any time if you are going into a non teaching job.

[concernedaboutheboy]

As the owner of a civil service desk job I would absolutely say "go for it" if work-life balance is important to you. I imagine my salary is a little more than a main-payscaleexperienced teacher and If you are even half-way efficient you can easily do said job in contracted working hours.

One word of caution though: the sill set for many of the jobs with NDPBs or govt. Departments is really quite different to that of teaching.

Nannying/ governess can pay about £30 grand a year. Would that be up your street?

[concernedaboutheboy]

Skill set, not sill set.... It's a good job we have spellcheckers at work :)