Any teachers who have left teaching?

I was a secondary teacher for 10 years and left last summer. It was destroying my mental health and I didn't realise that was the cause until I left. I'm self-employed now and finally feel like I have my life back. I can go to my daughter's school assemblies, needing a day off sick doesn't fill me with anxiety, I no longer have the Sunday night dreads, and I can even go to a GP appointment in term time! I didn't realise how poor my work-life balance was until I got it back.

I gave my notice on the last possible day you could in order to leave at the end of the year (I wanted the summer hols paid!). I did say I would be happy to work part time from the September for a term if they needed it, and they asked me to teach two classes, which I actually did for the whole next academic year as that worked for me. It was very different as it was on my terms - I was doing them a favour - but I wouldn’t have felt bad just leaving as I wouldn’t have been in breach of the contract.

I didn’t need a reference at that point but I have asked for references a couple of times since (like when I was applying for my masters), and they were happy to give one. I asked a deputy head I got on well with rather than the head. Most references these days are factual though so I really wouldn’t worry about that.

I’m a support worker with children who have disabilities in a residential care home. I’m one of 3 former teachers in a staff team of 12. Lots of transferable skills and obviously we’re well able to cope with the paperwork. Our DCs are all older though. Early shifts start at 7am & late shifts finish at 9.30pm, so no good if you have children that need you before & after school, unless you have family who can help with your own child care.

I didn’t even think of asking for a HT’s reference tbh. Instead I asked for testimonials from people I’d worked with or supported from in my own school and others, focusing on particular skills that I thought were the most transferable.

I’ve also come across business coaches who will give you some great advice - and confidence - to move out of teaching. If you can afford £100-150 for an hour or so with someone like this it could be invaluable moving forward.

I left and I had only been teaching a couple of years, but I could see what lay ahead. I was already starting to feel the same as many veteran teachers and I could not imagine staying. The constant feeling of never being good enough, or constantly failing. I miss the very few moments that made teaching that wonderful career, but they were so few and far between. Leaving teaching is akin to leaving an abusive relationship, you try and hold on to those ‘magical moments’ but the negatives soon wipe them clear. Get out for the sake of your health and mental wellbeing! Life after teaching on FB and the pit pony video is a great place to go. Good luck…you soon will be free!!

I was a secondary school teacher for about 12 years. I did a bit of supply which I hated then got a job in the charity sector. The pay is much less but I can do it full time and still be doing less hours than I was putting in part time teaching so in real terms it’s much better. I do a little bit of tutoring to supplement my income

I left teaching last year for the Civil Service. Frame it as an exciting time for you as you're looking to use your skillset in a new arena. You've faced plenty of challenges and overcome them and you're keen to find new opportunities to evolve your capabilities. You've got heaps of experience and useful skills and I wish you all the best for figuring out what you want to do next. I personally tried tutoring for a few years and it's not for me-a lot of hustle, a lot of admin, and fewer opportunities for daytime work that's paid well. I second joining the Facebook group about leaving teaching as there's so many resources.

Non- teaching roles seem to just ask for confirmation of dates etc - not a personal reference. It doesn’t have to be the Head either.
Notice periods vary too so it is not unusual for people to have a 1-3 month notice period.

Not quite the same and not always possible for everyone but I left teaching "in England" about 7 years ago. We moved abroad. I still teach (just about to go back after maternity leave and have reduced to 0.8 for now) and I enjoy going to work. I've never had that feeling of dread here, I've felt supported and "my kids" are lovely.
I'm working my 40 hours a week (now 32) and not much more. I get loads of prep time (I'll have only 20 teaching periods across 5 days when I get back, but I'm going back as class teacher...not returning as HOY) and I earn more than I did in England. Even on my reduced hours, I'm on 50k+. We are quite low key in regards to planning and marking. There's no Ofsted and lesson observations tend to be few and far between. Book looks and learning walks aren't really a thing.
I'm currently looking into moving back to a state school here and responses have been quite positive so far. I'll be on more pay then, and I'll have tenure.

I left teaching last month. I was a primary school teacher for 12 years. I was utterly sick of trying to teach children who had been dragged up by utterly useless parents. It became an impossible job and destroyed my mental health.

I'm currently working as a tutor but it's not my long term goal.

Interestingly I started flying lessons a couple of years ago for fun, scraped every last penny I could find to pay for it and now I'm qualified, I'm seriously considering training to go commercial.

We're very lucky we have a lot of savings. I appreciate not everyone can have such an opportunity.

My point is, the world is your oyster now. Teaching doesn't define you, and I've realised after creating a cover letter and application for a job recently out of education, I have a lot of transferable skills and my personality and drive alone will be attractive to any employer in any field.

Teaching was the worst thing for me, but also the best. You have a lot of desirable skills, you just need to think about what you're interested in, what your passions are, what you like doing, and seek out opportunities. Think about how your skills translate to other jobs (the usual planning, communication skills etc you have reams of).

Definitely join that Facebook group and watch the 'Pit Pony' video. Trust me on that - was a game changer for me.

Good luck.

I left teaching (and SLT) last summer after 31 years. I was an English teacher. I took early retirement as I was 55 and took the biggest chunk I could on top of my lump sum. Apart from just investing it I used it to help buffer me in setting up my own consultancy. I initially thought I’d be doing g school improvement but it’s taken a different and very interesting turn and I e ended up with 3 jobs, working very flexibly and I’m super-happy.

I deliver NPQs for a teaching Hub, which I did before I left teaching, but now I get the money instead of the school. This is nice as it gets me working with other people and is very sociable. The second job I have is working as a freelancer for an educational company that create STEM projects for industry that need to be made suitable for children. I map them to the curriculum and create content. I’m also delivering in schools in a few weeks. Because I had lots of experience in curriculum design, in doing school developments plans and supporting teachers, it’s been very straightforward despite it being in STEM and me being an English teacher!
the last thing I’ve done is to pay to take a course to qualify me as an executive coach. I’m taking an ILM level 7 qualification (masters level). I’ve really really enjoyed the coaching and I’ll be able to take paying clients on when I finish in September.

this all sounds super-busy but compared to teaching it really isn’t. I can work on one thing at a time and FINISH THINGS, which you never get to do in teaching! And I work now in my garden office which I love. I honestly don’t miss teaching one bit even though I thought I would. Do it!

Have you thought about prison teaching? Same holiday allowance but you can take holidays when you want. All work done onsite- don’t take any work home. Set hours- probably something like 8am till 4.45pm and usually Friday afternoon off.

I left teaching. Initially worked for the exam board I was marking for as a curriculum advisor. Found my way into Product Management. Took a career break, retrained as a holistic therapist to spend more time with my son. Am now back in Product Management with an educational publisher. I have taken a big step down in seniority. Money isn't everything but I do earn more than most primary headteachers. I am an individual contributor, so have no line management responsibilities and I work really flexibly. The company I work for is amazingl. The work is hard sometimes, but interesting, but I have a life! School makes you feel trapped, but you can do anything you set your mind to, or at least work towards it. Don't be under any illusions that corporate life is easy though, the challenges are just different.

I always used to think that the a teacher’s job advert made it sound very challenging but it was part and parcel of our day job. Remember that a job advert is the wish list .

My child taught in different Academy schools for many years and eventually became an empty shell. They didn't want to give up what used to be their passion and have been HoD in a boarding/day private school since last September. The difference in their MH in that short time is amazing, they feel valued, listened to and appreciated. The students have boundaries (and everyone knows where they are and the consequences of overstepping them!). I was sure they would look for a different career path but, fingers crossed, still doing the job they love.

Universities ate cutting jobs massively.

I left teaching and now work in admin /HR in the charity sector. I lead on recruitment and most of our staff are young (early 20s), so organising stuff for them does seem that different to teaching really. But I work 8-4pm, have never had to bring work home, can take holidays when I like and manage my own flexi.
I've just taken the CIPD level 3, and interviewing next week for a similar position with a different charity but a grade higher

Join ‘life after teaching’ on Facebook. There’s loads of info and support on there.

i applied for civil service jobs. I was offered 4 different roles. CS is fab compared to Teaching.

My DH is a virtual head (for children in care) and frequently has teachers apply for roles in his team - if you have some leadership experience and/or inclusion experience they can be great roles to apply for. OP just to say I think you thought about social work - just to say as a sw frying pan and fire comes to mind.

To answer OP, I am doing supply now but Im have been in and out of teaching over th yeears. I love teaching but hate what the job has become now, the Mumsnet/DoE campaign to encourage people to teaching is pathetic. I would not recommend anyone go into the profession, stear clear anyone reading this.
Schools are underfunded, many turned into toxic establishements where bullying is rife, pupil behaviour is low, parental engagement dropped since covid.
It's really not worth the stress and hours you need to put in, and whatever you do it is never enough.