To not want to teach

How does a teacher on goodish money earn the same money on a completely different profession, I wouldn't think it was that viable. I have an MA and prior to my first child had a very good job in central London but then had to completely retrain to work in info sec/ data privacy as the job was much more flexible with regards to childcare, it has taken me 7 years to get back up to comparable pay!

🤣

As for every child ‘deserving to be taught by someone who wants to be there’ - really? Professionalism isn’t enough, rapid joy is now a demand as well?

I, like most people I think, have always thought teaching is a vocation? You don’t agree?

If you don't want to teach anymore then you need to do something else before it drives you mad. I've decided to escape and can't wait to get out!

SEN/local authority jobs with wfh.
Psychotherapist/counsellor (get a masters loan, study, qualify, then go self employed).
Tutoring.

I moved back to Ireland. Teaching here isn't perfect but it's a hell of a lot than it was in England. School finishes at 2.30pm for the day, the standard is high but the expectation isn't ludicrous so the children aren't overworked and exhausted and their behaviour is much better, while still getting an excellent education. Teachers are happier and morale is much better, meaning we can dedicate our full energy to the job but have a normal life too.

@Milkandacookie

DWP work coach
Loads of transferable skills from teaching and similar jobs.

Salary range 30-40k and a civil service pension and a foot in the door to civil service progression
https://dwpjobs-eorecruitment-microsite.co.uk/vacancies.html

Also from the ad - Role Type: Operational Delivery

Role Title: Executive Officer

Detail of reserve list: 6 Months

Post Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full-Time, Part-Time, Flexible Working, Full-Time Part-Year, Part-Time Part-Year, Job Share

Salary Range: £30,001 to £40,000

Salary Minimum: £33,979

So many jobs I've looked at are around 23k. Even ipsea legal advice... And sendiass advising families about send rights.

Rjen early help is often around 27k

So many post teacher jobs either only require gcses or they require a ton of experience (uni working with disabilities was full of ex sendcos and deputy heads so I couldn't compete even though salary was 30s..)

Its such a hard point to jump out at and yes further comkciated if you cant manage full time and work up in the way you could when younger.

I'm screwed

You just typed out what would have to happen, proving it is 'doable', then said it isn't doable.
Yes it is doable, if your DH will step up and make sacrifices for you, and you both agree to move to a cheaper 'not as nice' place.
But if DH won't make the sacrifices, and you won't radically re-think your marriage, and you are too attached to your nice house/area, then you have to stay in teaching.
But don't pretend to yourself that it isn't a choice you are making.

In an ideal world, if schedules, money etc weren’t an issue, what job would you be doing?

@dontbenastyhaveapasty This is the best response! Totally has to be about reframing and it's interesting to hear so many others feel the same way about their jobs.

I totally hear you! I've had to go back to full time teaching because of a divorce. 4 weeks in and I already want to leave again but I can't afford to at the moment. It's just the total lack of flexibility and stress. The holidays are the saving grace, but so far I've felt like I've just not been there for my kids at all in term time, which makes me want to cry.

Anyone saying change jobs, it would be great but you can't just move sideways after 20+ years in a profession.

I know there's no answer, just wanted to show my solidarity.

I'm not sure if I'd want to be retraining in my 50's either. You didn't say your exact age, but it sounds like you might only have a few years to make the jump out of teaching or you'll be in hitting 50 before you know it...
I retrained when the kids were little, bloody nearly killed me and nearly finished off my marriage, so I'm not exactly the poster child for the way to do it. Nor is my new career a post teaching pathway particularly (any more than day being a nuclear engineer would be). But I am now in that 50's phase and I am so so glad that the next 15 years of work aren't in the industry I started out in.
It's a bit 'if not now when ...' there's unlikely to be a 'good' time let alone a perfect one to make the move?
And sorry to push the point, but you really are in the trenches of young kids, work, domestic merry go round...Are you sure sure that dh is lifting as much of the load in all of this?

What is the FB group? Teacher here and curious.

‘As for every child ‘deserving to be taught by someone who wants to be there’ - really? Professionalism isn’t enough, rapid joy is now a demand as well?’

no, it’s not -‘d there’s a huge gap between doesn’t want to teach and ‘rapid joy’

I would add op , some of its age/juggling young kids etc. I used to enjoy my job but often dread it at the moment, its stressful, i have the same issue with deadlines being shorter when you're part time.

I'm not a teacher either.

I think when you hit 40s, you've been slogging away 20 plus years, know you've another 20+ to go, it feels relentless. The big hamster wheel. I don't think its just teaching, its the juggle of work/stress and family & money and feeling like it'll never end.

Teaching is one of the most important, underrated, ungrateful professions there are out there. I completely get where you are coming from OP, and also the rationale to stay. Just try to carve some me time more often and look at the bigger picture, preferably whilst enjoying a very expensive glass of wine or a nice cake or whatever littlest thing makes you happy💐

This is the thing about teaching. The pay doesn't look amazing compared to a load of graduate jobs, especially 5-10 years in when some corporate jobs will really take off pay wise.

BUT. For loads of teachers, especially the ups ones in non core subjects, they would struggle to get another job paying anything close to £40+k with school holidays off & a DB pension. You have to really see the long game to retrain, and if you've a young family you often can't afford to have two or three years earning little/less while you transition.

OP all you can do is make life outside work as nice as you can. Could you afford to ask to go 4 days? Often the tax at that level (and any childcare & travel costs saved) means you aren't loads worse off & it could improve your quality of life.

Look into special schools, OP! I made the leap two years ago and would never look back. I hated teaching in mainstream by the end but love it again now.

You've got two very young children - you're in the thick of it so go easy on yourself. Going back to any job is hard. Are you just back after maternity leave?
Are there other schools you apply to for a shorter commute/better conditions?

Nice.

Ever considered why teachers with amazing holidays and a pension still want to leave?

If you've got young kids and you're in your 40's unless dh is an investment banker I don't think the senior school years are the start of you winding down are they? At 53/54 you might still have 12 to 15 years of working life left (hate to break it to you)....Why wait? Are you really saying your going to suck up 5-8 years of hating your job? That doesn't sound tenable.....

Nailed it!