To not want to teach

Most teachers don’t want to be there though.

I was a teacher for 25 years. I didn’t know anyone who wanted to keep on doing it.

Schools are quite peculiar places to work in that you don’t get the kind of exposure to other jobs that you might in a different kind of workplace. But there are other things that you could do, some of which have also been mentioned on this thread.

Why not try a low key online course (try Future Learn or Coursera) or just applying for some other jobs and seeing what happens?

I left teaching in my mid thirties (having been turned down for flexible working after maternity leave - yes it happened!) and found it absolutely fine. I got a job in a different sector and was earning the equivalent of the middle of MPS. This was a significant pay cut as I had been on the bottom of the leadership spine, but I now absolutely loved going to work! I didn’t miss the holidays at all, began postgraduate study and my life/interests really opened up. It all went really well for about twelve years and I successfully moved from one job to another.

But things can change as you get older and life can become more complicated. I am job hunting right now and have been for a while. It is really tough as things are quite different in the post-Covid job market (plus AI on the horizon) and I suspect that ageism is also a factor for me now, despite years of experience in my new sector and qualifications falling out of my ears. I have been made redundant once and been at risk of redundancy on other occasions, so there are some advantages to the continuity of employment generally offered in teaching.

Of course it's not going to be possible to side step into something as well
paid as what you've spent 20 years working up to and with the same great flexible benefits.

But if you really want to get out, I wouldn't let that stop you. You'll have to take a pay cut in the short term, yes, but you can progress and earn more in the longer.

What kind of thing would you like to do? In an ideal world? That's a good starting point for thinking about it.

YANBU for not wanting to teach.
YABVU for being so defeatist about it, and it's not fair at all on the kids you teach.
Plus, teachers moaning that they can't match their teaching salaries outside of education really serves to further undermine their status, the idea that they are overpaid, lazy people who can't hack it elsewhere and that's why they teach.
Which is obviously hugely unhelpful to the current crisis....
I'm an ex teacher.

Be careful moving around schools as well. I was on UPS3 with a TLR and I changed because I wanted a bit less stress. I ended up on UPS1! Then the school closed and most of the jobs out there now are MPS so I will have to take another pay cut as I need a job!

I would strongly recommend against this-it’s just a whole different set of problems. Yes, some schools might let you WFH occasionally to get through a massive backlog of paperwork but many won’t. You are also the only one in the school, so when it comes to Ofsted, that’s all on you.

But not that classroom based and writing applications can sometimes be done at home. There is also a lack of marking and teaching small groups can be better than a class of 30.

God that's even worse. Senco roles are SO pressurised.

What about a part time non class based SENDCO or assistant SENDCO role?

I walked into a 40k job with no degree (full time, but as posters have said I had a lot more free time than I would have teaching). The jobs I listed have straightforward progression routes, they do not require a degree in a specific field, so you could enter as a graduate or work your way up through vocational training. Eg. I. Networking you could go down the CCNA/CCNP route, you can read a textbook, sit your BA exam in a few months. It takes 3-6 months to qualify as a PT.

Like ALL things you have to put in the effort to train and learn your way around the industry - once you've made the leap, how quickly you progress is up to you. Perhaps you take a slight hit for 2 years as you build up skills, but then you could be on more pay. (Teachers are notoriously underpaid!).

If the OP was on 50k in a job that gave her lots of free time with her young children, I would understand this post, but instead the OP is saying its not much different to working full time? Teaching has many transferrable skills and careers that you could switch to have comparable/higher salaries?

I honestly think this is not a question of there 'being no other option' but a combination of fear, burnout, and feeling trapped on the OPs part because of a lack of awareness about the alternatives to teaching, and how to make the switch.

Absolutely - a lot of teaching is acting. And when you know how to do something well you often do it to high standards even when you feel like garbage. I think most people in vocational jobs are conscientious - at least the ones more likely to burn out

You can be a good teacher and still not want to be there - especially female teachers - I've seen many want to leave having lost the love of it, but still be exceptional practitioners because they are professionals.

Part of the problem is that it is seen as a vocation. Most teachers try to give their all so schools then take advantage (extra hours, regular weekend marking, parents evenings and meetings that run way over time, exam sessions during holidays, zero flexibility regarding so often our own children miss out etc), and this is why there is now a teaching crisis with staff leaving.

Yes the 5% pay rise is a step forward, but it needs better structures such as bring able to empty more staff so that flexible time could be an option for a start. One of the things I hate most is that I miss my child's special school events. This is just a starter.

Ibiza how would I get into that? I'm happy to work my way up but I'm not currently in a line management role (although have coordinated etc.)

I manage project managers in the public sector. We have a lot of ex teachers, mostly secondary, mostly science.

I agree with this.

Been teaching since 2000 and nearly 47. Some days I enjoy my job, some days utterly bored and fed up. I think it’s just bloody working for 25 years for paying bills that’s the issue! I think I would feel like this in any job.

DH is leaving teaching at Xmas and he’s supportive of me doing so too but I can’t imagine doing anything else. Plus I’m used to the holidays now! I do have an edit plan though. I’m only going to teach until my youngest has left school (so another 6 years).

It may not be teaching per se that’s making you fed up. Is it really just money that makes you feel trapped?

Hooe you’ve woken feeling more positive!

Oh god it's a profession not a vocation. Turning up and doing the job properly is enough.

I've been where you are - teaching is shit with a young family. Whinge away!

I left and work in an unrelated field now.

The idea teaching is a vocation is what keeps the profession low paid and reliant on good will.

(@oustedbymymate Well done for getting out. what are you doing now? )

I don't need to be a earning huge amounts as I've already dropped but would like the potential to work up. I'm worried of getting stuck in sideways jobs and at my age not have time to sort it out.

But I'm realising my mental health is shot.

I guess teaching is one of those jobs you can't just plod in it takes a lot out of you to keep going. I need out. But Im looking at jobs less than my friends kids will earn in a couple of years when they finish uni...

You do see jobs where it needs to be OT/mhn/SW (ie mental health education) and it's great those roles have scope to go sideways but so frustrating that despite all our "transferable skills" and the skilled work we do it's so hard (as evidenced by that Facebook group) to actually jump into something else.

I left. After 12 plus years. Gave up the wage the holidays the pension the sick pay. I couldn't be happier. I have two very small children.

I took a wage cut. I took our income protection to cover sickness. I have a shot pension. I have to pay to cover school holidays.

But. My mental health is worth it. There is always a way out

I agree to an extent but I'm not sure if this a public sector thing. My DH is an Architect at Director level and still loves it, it is a Labour of Love for him. I have a friend who is a Designer and she loves her work and enjoys it so much she prefers working on stuff on the evening to relaxing.

Hercisback1

Seriously, why is the idea that teaching is a vocation so funny? I don’t understand.
Its a job you’d have to really want to do, surely?