People that left teaching and went into another job and ended up coming back? Tell us what job you left to go into and why it didn’t work!? Let’s share so we don’t all make the same mistakes!?

Yes, I'm sure some people prefer police/NHS care work etc to teaching. Totally depends on the person.

For me, I know I'd hate the hours and constant interaction with the general public with policing or for example NHS care work. They'd be my worst jobs (personal opinion)

I know someone who left and retrained in beauty but came back. I'd imagine it was money related.

Are you going to share as well?

I left and returned. In the meantime I had been self employed and delivered contracts for a few different providers. It was great but I missed the pressure and the kids and paid holidays! I went back to an intercity failing comp and have really enjoyed it. I will move soon to a different school that is ‘easier’ then will do something else. I am on management so pay is ok and the job is made or ruined by your team.

I know teachers who have left and gone into the NHS and the police. A couple have gone into retail as well and been very happy-they obviously work hard when they are there, but preferred not having to also do lots of work when they were at home.

Yes, the guy I knew who left teaching didn't even finish police training before he went back to teaching.

I know an LSA who also went to work for the NHS doing some sort of wfh admin. She also came back to work in a school as she found the NHS work a lot worse.

I think police and NHS, maybe retail or hospitality too, would be the only things which are usually harder than teaching

I can’t imagine much worse than being in the police or healthcare

Wow that’s quite a change! Did you have to spend a long time retraining?

Not me, but someone I know left teaching to join the police and then went back to teaching.

Is this AI?

I don’t know anyone that has left teaching and gone back!

It’s become a horrible job with no flexibility, continual illness amongst staff (with parents being pressured to send children in no matter what’s wrong with them), high/pointless workload, Ofsted fear and the fact that once you are over 50 or on UPS, your card is pretty much marked-in primary, certainly.

Once you’re forced out, SLT happily take your pay to fill the gaps in the school budget, cover your class with a TA and just spread out your workload amongst the poor staff that are left, causing more stress and pressure for them.

Having been out for a while now, been made redundant once and currently finding it difficult to get a new job (despite years of experience), the only thing I would say is that the pay, pension and security of employment within teaching are not to be taken lightly. This is despite loving my post-teaching career!

But, whenever I begin wondering about going back into teaching I think about it for all of thirty seconds before I remind myself of the lack of flexibility and the unending labour of planning! It just wouldn’t be worth it…

However, what I would say is that I had jobs before teaching so it was fairly easy for me to consider and apply for external roles. I think that even more teachers would leave if they knew what life could be like in the world outside schools!

@BusyPoster No, and statistically, returners have a much higher rate of leaving than those who are doing it for the first time - as they've already done it once.

I left 4 years ago to a Civil Service policy & strategy role, didn't have to take a pay cut. It can be boring at times, and horribly fast-paced (esp. with all the staffing cuts and headcount controls, we're expected to do more with so much less) but it's nothing like the demands of teaching. I'll stay I think.

I do know someone who left years ago and did supply teacher recruitment, she ended up coming back after a year and going part time in the classroom.

Do many ex teachers go back to teaching?

I think I’ll be leaving teaching in the next couple of years. I’m not sure what to go into though. For me, money is the issue. I do like the holidays but it would also be nice to take them when I wanted. But moving over and keeping a good wage and a what puts me off; the risk of having to work back up to it.

I don't know anyone who has left teaching and went back to it including myself.

Hope you feel better soon.

Oh God of course. Sorry @randomchap, I have a heavy cold and it’s making me a bit slow on the uptake

And that’s why you’re here?

I don't know anyone who's left teaching for another job and regrets it tbh. They are all hugely relieved. I'm still teaching...

Yes, holidays are great if you can afford to actually go anywhere during them.

I left teaching 7 years ago and now work in higher education. I took a huge pay cut initially but I've progressed and now occupy a role not too far away in salary from my old teaching job (UPS 3). The flexibility is fantastic, I'm not micromanaged, there is no expectation to work beyond contracted hours, and I still get to teach.

I wouldn't go back into schools for all the money in the world. The school holidays aren't worth it - I honestly don't miss them (and yes, I do have a school aged child who goes to holiday club).

I see what you did there! 😃

When your children are older, but when you still need holidays to put your kids into holiday clubs, they’re bum

I’ve got a mate who took a pay cut to work with children and young adults via a charity. Hates the management likes the job
another who went to be a chartered surveyor another who does safeguarding for an organisation