If you’ve left teaching what do you do now?

[Volcanoexplorer]

Just that really. I’ve been teaching for 15 years. I’m currently part-time working as head of Geography in a secondary school. After Gavin’s latest ‘possibly’ on Andrew Marr this morning I’m seriously considering a career change. I enjoy the teaching part and I’m really good at it, but it is becoming clearer every day that the government think of teachers as robots and not actual people. This isn’t a thread about the current situation or an opportunity for more teaching bashing (so walk on by and post on one of the hundreds of other threads). I genuinely would really like to know what other people have done if they’ve left teaching. Thanks very much.

DH is in tech now- software development etc. He's much happier. The salary is much better however the work life balance is the real winner for us.

I left in November after 14 years. Was completely sick of how it had taken over my life and I was getting more and more anxious about going to work.
I got a permanent job at the civil service. I absolutely love it so far...much better work life balance, very supportive environment and no stress.
Go for it. There is life after teaching and you'll be much happier for it

Bellesausage that last sentence is perfect😢

I teach abroad. I work less (usually no work taken home during the week and perhaps an hour or two on the weekend). I have PPA daily and a small, lovely class plus a full time TA. I earn more now as a class teacher without additional responsibilities than I did when I was phase leader on UPS and a TLR. Bonus is that DS gets to attend my school. It means no worries about applying for a school place or wrap-around care.

The trade-off OP will inevitably be less stress for less pay.

1. call centre: tech analyst (+ shifts - not well paid. Q - ICT skills)
2. supply agency: recruitment/sales (+ shifts - cold calls/pimp Q blag)
3. supply (+ flexibility/delivery - not secure/classroom management)
4. postie (+ exercise/shifts - weather/minimum wage)
5. nursery nurse (+ shifts/kids - minimum wage)
6. small group private tuition (+ plan own curriculum - pushy parents)
7. TA (+ different kids/staff - can be tedious/low-paid)
8. reception (+ varied/shift - can be hard to find permanent position)
9. Cover supervisor (+ delivery/keep to hours - classroom man./pay)

It comes down to what your childcare situation is and what your outgoings are. Good luck

Left to work as an outreach officer in HE
Full-time funded PhD/had children
Examining/examining resource writing freelance
Now work for an exams board

My colleague left time primary to run a franchised drama club

I did 8 years as a Maths. I left 18 months ago and am a self employed Wedding Cake maker. Not ideal timing with the pandemic but have managed to keep the business afloat.

@Fuzzyspringroll That sounds like heaven!

Left teaching in 2006 to set up an online business (wedding industry). Did well for ages but Covid has been terrible.

I’ve questioned my choices recently but reading this thread reassured me it was the right choice despite a tough year.

Can I ask the SALTS how old you were when you retrained? Am I too old at 47? I did my first degree in 1995 and feel completely out of the loop.

If the two ex teachers I know, one is a technical writer for a software company, the other is a claims manager in an insurance company

I’m a vicar!

(I used to be a secondary school teacher)

I have been teaching for a lonnnggggg time. I must admit- I always wanted to teach SEN.
Halfway through my career, I switched to SEN.
I have never been happier- I could never imagine teaching mainstream again. I have the most fun everyday. I love the kids and the people I work with and feel like I actually make a difference.
I adore my job- love going to work each day and can’t imagine anything else I would rather do.
I wasn’t ever that happy in mainstream although it was a job I wanted to do.
Maybe switching to a different area/school would be of benefit?

@CurlyhairedAssassin I'm not teacher but I am a very experienced SALT - you're not too old.

I trained with someone who was 50 and she spent a solid 15 yrs on the job before retiring and won some awards for the work she did.

Tbh, age and experience of life and all the communication expertise that comes with it is a massive blessing and will take you far.

That said, I'd look to do the 2-3 year courses rather than 4-6 yr (part time) courses - just to speed things up!

This doesn't look good, I start my primary pgce in September at the age of 44. It sounds awful.

And as a parent as well I would not support a change of hours/terms, my 2 DC would not cope with a longer day and as a family we need the 6 weeks summer holiday.

Retraining as an ed psych- happy as a clam!

Oh wow Burnshe. I wanted to do that and did the psych degree.... but where I now live is too far from a relevant uni... 🙈

I wouldn't worry about the longer days and shorter holidays thing.

Gavin is under pressure to show he's seeing the fact come children will be behind and that he's looking at possibilities. He knows that most of these ideas won't come off, but a couple of million for some tutoring or catch up schemes which won't be run by the class teachers. Most children will just move on beyond this. Gavin and his ideas will move on too....but sadly there won't be more money for education so it's better for the kids or less stressful for teachers.

Civil service. I left a ups1 role in the north a few years ago and now earn more than if I was on ups 3 in London. Was working in an office environment and loved it as a change from teaching. Been working from home for the past year and likely will for some days each week from now on. Less holidays but each weekend feels like a world away from teaching weekends and each evening is free to relax, so over the year I work a hell of a lot less and have less stress

My friend went into Air traffic control. Very well paid. 4 days on 4 days off.

I was a teacher for 12 years, mainly part time around offspring. Recently I bagged a permanent hlta post at my kids' school which is pretty cushy. Then I was asked to do a full time teaching secondment to cover maternity. I'm actually really enjoying it but maybe because I can go back to my hlta role afterwards.

I gave up in Feb 2019 and started back at uni in September 2019 to retrain as a pharmacist. Loving it!! I still do supply teaching when I have a "day off" and not a massive amount of coursework/studying to do, but it confirms that giving up teaching was definitely the right decision!

Retrained as an education mental health practitioner- lots of ex teachers on the course !

@musicinspring1

Retrained as an education mental health practitioner- lots of ex teachers on the course !

This interests me as well-can I please ask which course you did? Please feel free to PM me if you don’t want to share anything like that on here.

I’m mid thirties and am starting teacher training in September as a career changer from another stressful career. I’ve always wanted to teach and the career progression and holidays are better than my current job so I’m hoping I can make it work.
This thread is giving me anxiety though! I hope you all find something that makes you happy.