Is it too soon to leave teaching??

[1944dadhelp]

I am an NQT + 1 and tbh have had enough. I trained as a mature teacher (now am 43), I love the school where I work. My team is amazing BUT my family life is suffering loads more then I thought it would. I have 3 dd's aged 10, 13 & 16. I never have time in the evenings to see them:(. I have been head hunted from an agency from my previous life offering more money, only set back being no school holidays off! Would you leave so soon?

[WombatStewForTea]

Do it. I've been teaching 6 years and each year the workload has got worse.
If I could walk into something that payed even close to teaching I'd do it. I can't imagine how I'd manage a family. I'm in awe of my colleagues who manage it.

[JenniferYellowHat1980]

It is never too soon to leave teaching, especially with an offer like that on your plate. Good luck to you

[noblegiraffe]

Bloody hell, go for it. So many teachers would like to leave but have been doing it for too long that they'd find it hard to match their salary so are trapped.

It doesn't get any better.

[timelytess]

Do it! Leave now!

[CultureSucksDownWords]

Do it! I left after 10 plus years and don't regret it. The tipping point for me was family life too, nothing's worth that stress.

[Whensmyturn]

Absolutely. Leave while you still can. Teaching looks a lot more attractive from the outside. I left and could not be happier about my decision despite a much lower salary.

[IguanaTail]

Yes - it will get worse and worse. Get out.

[Twowrongsdontmakearight]

Go for it! Mind you I packed it in before my final placement as I could see the way it was going

[ImperialBlether]

Get out as fast as you can!

[TwllBach]

I'm in my fourth year and can only say if I knew then what I knew now I'd have quit the course, no question. Leave and don't regret it.

[ImperialBlether]

It doesn't mean you won't have school holidays off at all, just that your holidays will be reduced. How much of your holidays in your previous life did you spend working and how much of your teaching holidays did you spend working?

I'd pay the 16 year old for extra responsibilities in the holidays, I think.

[KyloRenNeedsTherapy]

This is so .

What on earth is going to happen to schools with the teaching profession losing staff by the day?

I'm a QT but working as a TA at the moment - lots of job vacancies coming up soon but I'm not planning to apply for any of them for all the reasons above.

I used to love teaching .

[ImperialBlether]

I used to love teaching and actually do love being in the classroom with the students, but the job is just impossible now, in my opinion.

[KyloRenNeedsTherapy]

I agree Imperial - I've been out of classroom teaching 6 years and even in that time it's changed completely. The workload is insane.

[albertcamus]

This is a no-brainer, AFAIC. Take your chance of escape & you won't look back. I too loved teaching, but agree with all of the above comments. Good luck.

[timelytess]

I agree with Imperial and Kylo

[FranHastings]

Do it, the last few years have seen a ridiculous rise in workload and pressure. I will never go back to teaching and I absolutely loved being with my pupils. Losing your family time is just not worth it.

[NanaNina]

What's wrong with teaching is all the work that has to be done outside of the classroom - the planning, marking and god knows what else. This bloody government have a complete disregard for teacher (Gove used to call them the blob) and I think his replacement (Vicky Morgan?) is just a mouthpiece because Gove is still pulling the strings. She was channelled on one of these morning programmes about times tables and she backed off at a rate of knots, saying "no because if I got one wrong it will be headline news" - liar - she didn't know them. The topic was because the govt have decided all primary school children should know their times tables up to 12.

Most teachers say it's nothing to do with the children it's just the volume of work and OFSTED that causes such stress. The govt don't really vale an public servants, and then there's the academy shite - privatising education, along with all other public services.

So OP I too say YES...........go!

[jellyfrizz]

Your children won't be children for much longer. It's not going to get better soon. Escape while you can!

[ArmchairTraveller]

Teaching paper workload isn't going to get any easier, so I'd leave now if you have a permanent job offer to go to. It's often surprising to people that teenagers need their parents as much as younger children and are often much harder to help.

[MrsUltra]

Yes, go.
You have your NQT + 1 so in years to come you could still do supply/part time etc if you want to on your own terms.
I was a mature career changer and decide not even to do NQT. I chose to do supply which I enjoy because I have flexibility to be with my own teenage DC when I want to (eg uni visits) and have the fun of being in the classroom, but leaving every day at 3/3.15 pm and having a whole other life outside work. I also considered going back to my old job, and if I had needed the money I would have done it, no question.

[hollieberrie]

I still enjoy it but mainly because I've gone part time (am fortunate enough to be ok with a reduced salary). Full time is impossible and totally unsustainable. I reckon leave and go for it. If you really miss teaching later on (am sure you won't! ) you can always go back to it.

[1944dadhelp]

Wow thank you every-one, what an unanimous verdict!! Think I know what I'm going to do!!!
It's just so rubbish though that teaching has become such an overwhelming profession :(

[Haffdonga]

Do it. I left teaching thinking I would go back when my kids were older. Of course I didn't. I now know so many teachers who ask how they can make the jump too. It seems the longer you are in, the harder it is to get out.

The grass is greener out here.

[Hiddenwarrior]

Totally agree I want to do the same but I enjoy the interactions with my pupils but everything else including the paperwork is exhausting...also scared about getting the same respect in another job from my colleagues!!