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Original poster

I want to live in a rural village and be a primary school teacher

309 replies

MrsCremuel · 21/11/2021 11:52

Or something of that ilk? I have a DH, baby and toddler and want to overhaul our lives. I’ve never really done anything drastic in life, mainly because family (parents etc) circs but I’ve always hankered after a different sort of life.

I hate the southeast. So busy and over priced. I desperately want to live somewhere rural. DH could take redundancy, sell a flat he owns and we could live mortgage free. I’m planning on retraining anyway so could get a job so could do anywhere. We recently had 6 weeks off together with the new baby and it was bliss. After wfh stops DH will be back to being out of the house from 7.30-7.30 4 days a week with one day wfh. I don’t want to go back to that, it’s been so good for our toddler and me to have him around more!

Anyone done something drastic to overhaul their lives? Am I being a whimsical fool?

OP posts:
Suprima · 21/11/2021 11:54

Why do you want to be a primary school teacher? Confused

From a primary school teacher

sybillalle · 21/11/2021 11:55

If your priority is not being rushed and more family time then absolutely rethink the teacher part!

Profilejacket · 21/11/2021 11:56

But if you were a primary teacher you wouldn’t be around much either!
Especially if it’s a small school in the rural village where each member of staff has to take on multiple responsibilities because there are less of them.

FrancescaContini · 21/11/2021 11:57

You’ll regret being in a rural village once your children are older. There’ll be nothing for them to do.

RobinPenguins · 21/11/2021 11:58

What’s your DH going to do for work in this rural village?

If you’re unhappy with your current set up then absolutely look to change it - the SE is not the be-all and end-all. But do it led by your head and make sure you’re not being led by an unrealistic idyllic dream.

stalkersaga · 21/11/2021 11:58

Have you any real idea of what you'd be dealing with as a primary school teacher in a rural area? Or are you imagining ushering your healthy, rosy-cheeked urchins out the door at 3pm and the rest of the day's your own?

I'm all for being brave and going after the life you want, but this doesn't exactly sound like a realistic vision.

Original poster
MrsCremuel · 21/11/2021 11:58

I do love kids that age bit aware that is not an easy option. Primary goal is having a job I can do anywhere that isn’t linked to being in London. Have also considered training as a OH. Just really dread going back to where we were before, work and communing and living for the weekends with the kids hardly seeing DH. He isn’t fussed about his job and would give it up (for the redundancy).

OP posts:
PinkWaferBiscuit · 21/11/2021 11:59

Have you actually thought any of this through?

Honestly I'm not trying to be unkind but if you want him to take redundancy so you can spend more time together a primary school teacher in a rural area where you're likely to have to travel a distance to work and home again sounds like the worst possible job you could choose!

You definitely sound like you're looking at it all through rose tinted glasses.

Original poster
MrsCremuel · 21/11/2021 11:59

Ok shouldn’t have put that in the title, the teacher part was tongue in cheek!

OP posts:
crochetmonkey74 · 21/11/2021 11:59

Village sounds good. If you can be mortgage free, teaching assistant would be better than teacher. As your child/ren get older you would be more available for lifts etc

MoreAloneTime · 21/11/2021 12:01

It does sound rather whimsical but I get why you want to change things. This rural teacher idea might make a good thought exercise. What parts of this fantasy appeal most? What parts might have some realism? Are there other things you could do to get the same results?

Original poster
MrsCremuel · 21/11/2021 12:01

God feeling so disheartened now.

OP posts:
Whinge · 21/11/2021 12:01

After wfh stops DH will be back to being out of the house from 7.30-7.30 4 days a week with one day wfh. I don’t want to go back to that, it’s been so good for our toddler and me to have him around more!

Does your DH actually want to take redundancy? I'd be bored out of my mind going from being that busy to being isolated and stuck at home.

Also being a primary school teacher would mean you being out of the house / working for pretty much the same hours as this. Possibly even longer, depending on placements / travel to uni ect.

Oftenithinkaboutit · 21/11/2021 12:01

You have honestly described my worst nightmare! Grin

stalkersaga · 21/11/2021 12:02

What's your DH going to do rurally in this scenario, or are you both going to live off your wage and he's the SAHP?

DietrichandDiMaggio · 21/11/2021 12:02

Not sure why you think being a primary school teacher means you will be around at home?
If you live rurally, chances are you would need to travel to work and back, as unlikely you would get, or want, a job in the nearest school, so you would probably be out of the house 7 am- 5 pm minimum, and then have work to do at home.

Luredbyapomegranate · 21/11/2021 12:02

I think you and DH need to sit down and get some big bits of paper out and think big.. sounds fun… Christmas project?

But as a general golden rule - test the water first - liking the idea of something isn’t the Same as liking it - so try some teaching assistant work, rent rurally for 6 months

Villages can be intense or dull and are a bastard with teens - living on the edge of a market town is usually better

If you want to stay broadly close to London, beyond the Home Counties ring, the counties just north are usually the best value.

Think very very very carefully about going somewhere super rural - rent for a year.

Suprima · 21/11/2021 12:04

Before you answer, I would see if you actually like the job in an urban area for a bit.

Rural schools often don’t have posts, unless someone retires or dies. They also might not have the infrastructure to support ECTs.

I also, and I apologise to my rural colleagues (I know it’s not all schools), believe that if you acquired a post- they might not be the most dynamic place to start your career. I have colleagues who have moved to tiny schools in Cornwall who can’t believe that an out of date SLT advise them to use worksheets from Twinkl (a generic resource website) and lazy ‘make a poster!’ type activities for foundation subjects. No thought to curriculum design- do what you want. If you are an experienced teacher, you’ll be able to craft lessons that are low workload for you, but with brilliant outcomes for the kids. If you start work in a place with low expectations, you would have a huge shock if things were overhauled or you move locations.

Again, not all rural schools- but I think the city is the best place to train.

MrTumblesEyebrows · 21/11/2021 12:05

God, don't be a teacher.

Suprima · 21/11/2021 12:06

@MrsCremuel

Ok shouldn’t have put that in the title, the teacher part was tongue in cheek!
I’m sad to tell you but I very much live for the weekends as a teacher, and I’m out the house 7:30 until 6 at least 4 nights. One evening I leave at 4:30 but that means a manic morning the next day.

As I have said in a PP, rural schools might be slower paced, but you still won’t be out the door at 4 each day.

Original poster
MrsCremuel · 21/11/2021 12:09

It was said as more of a starting off point that an actual plan, obviously I’m not uprooting us all on a whim!

@MoreAloneTime Thinking exercise is an excellent way to put it. A job that has some meaning and helps people as soft as that sounds, my office jobs kills my soul. I love my volunteering work at the Samaritans. The countryside lifts my soul and DHs, we feel so happy there rather than a albeit lovely SE town. More family time in the week. DH has a very specific set of skills in a dying industry so will likely need to reinvent himself in the next 10 years anyway. I crave community.

OP posts:
Furzebush · 21/11/2021 12:09

If by ‘drastic’ you mean move countries, quit jobs and do something different etc, then, yes, I’ve done it a lot. And in a life where I’ve lived longterm in five countries on three continents and enjoyed pretty much everywhere, by far the most unhappy I’ve ever been was my seven years in a prosperous, chocolate box village in England.

SarahAndQuack · 21/11/2021 12:09

I agree with the suggestion about renting, if you can.

FWIW we moved from living in a very busy city centre in the South East to living in a rural village in the north east, and it worked for us. We rented for a few years but recently bought the house. I live next door to the village school, which has about 60 children; I would not be a primary school teacher for love or money as I have no patience, but I think they are amazing.

It is really noticeable how much more affordable life is. Our rent was less than half what we'd been paying down south, and the house is about twice the size with a massive garden for DD. I do think people are generally happier and less stressed because you don't need two high-income jobs in a household to feel you're coping.

It's absolutely not all perfect, but I quite like it TBH.

RaRaReba · 21/11/2021 12:10

Small rural primary schools tend to keep their teachers for decades. I’d have a look at job postings and see where there are vacancies, you may find that the jobs aren’t in places you’d want to work. You can probably live in a small village but are likely to have to work elsewhere with a significant commute. Also teaching has a very heavy workload, I think perhaps you’ve romanticised the lifestyle a bit?

Meandmini3 · 21/11/2021 12:10

I’m running away from primary teaching BECAUSE I have my own children Hmm

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