Please could you lot sort out my career for me?

[drownininplaymobil]

Here is a bit of my story:
Graduated in 2005 with a Psychology degree and trained as a teacher in order to pursue a career in Ed Psych.
Started teaching full-time in 2006 whilst also studying part-time for a MA in Education.
I was also on the Fast Track program for teachers aspiring to positions of school leadership.
2009 completed my MA but this was the year that the Ed Psych requirements changed so that a PhD is now needed.
2010-2019 spent either on maternity leave or teaching 1 day per week in between having children doing PPA cover.

I have recently increased to 2 days per week and next year my youngest gets her 30 funded hours so I'm starting to think about what to do next.

Can't afford to do a PhD right now and also now know that the Ed Psych path isn't the right one for me. I would love to do an EdD one day but again, can't afford to drop my income while the dc are little.

I'm really interested in educational policy and research but worry that I will miss the classroom too much if I leave the school environment. I know that the next obvious step would be to go for a job-share rather than PPA cover but I worry that this would leave me feeling frustrated as I never set out to be 'just a teacher' (horrible phrase I know and not at all reflective of my attitude towards teachers).

I don't want to be a head as am not business-minded enough for it.

I keep an eye on vacancies at the two universities that are local to me but nothing seems to come up and again I'm not sure if I would miss the children too much if I were to leave the school environment. Not sure how I'd feel about the switch to teaching adults!

I feel like my absolute dream would be to work in school as a researcher/policy maker. I have no idea if any schools have this sort of role though. I imagine probably not given the current financial constraints.

Any thoughts from anyone? I feel like I'm in such a muddle and finding it difficult to know where to go from here.

[Namechangers87171717]

If you liked the Ed Psch route potentially a SEnCO role might suit?

[noblegiraffe]

Do you think you have enough classroom experience to be a good researcher/policy maker? Trying to progress your career from a decade of barely any teaching would be tough. Can you go full time? Take posts like SENCo or SLT?

[looondonn]

What puts you off the doctorate ? To be an EP
It is challenging yes
You could self fund potentially or get a scholarship
Great opportunities once you are qualified

[drownininplaymobil]

Do you think you have enough classroom experience to be a good researcher/policy maker?

Interesting question. How much classroom experience do researchers and policy makers tend to have?

[Soontobe60]

Have you thought about jobs with DFE or NFER?

[noblegiraffe]

How much classroom experience do researchers and policy makers tend to have?

I don’t know, tbh, I imagine it varies from none to lots. But the ones who have none often come under fire for it.

How up to date are you on current classroom developments?

[lovelyjubilly]

Completely up-to-date. I've only been on a 0.2 contract but have attended every professional development meeting and every inset day throughout that time (with the exception of the time I spent on mat leave).

[behindthescenes]

I’ve had quite a similar career path in some ways and have also decided EP isn’t for me but I like the academic/educational theory side of things. I’ve decided I would miss school life too much going into a university and have stayed teaching part time but really enjoy being involved in training and mentoring new staff, running CPD and doing various slightly more senior roles which allow me to be involved in decision making. For now it’s been enough to keep interested. Obviously I’m not making national policy, but I work within a MAT and so it feels like there’s potential to think strategically beyond one school. The huge MATs like Ark might have jobs that interest you if you don’t want to go and work for the Dfe. Teachfirst have policy people too.