Teachers who have left the profession

[Poniesandgin]

What did you go into instead?

Currently humanities senior leader being managed out. Excellent results but still not good enough. Toxic work environment and colleagues and have had enough.

What else is there post teaching?

I work for the civil service. Am so much happier. I took a pay cut initially and now I'm back up to the salary I was on when I left teaching (Primary and not leadership). Definitely worth having a look on CSJobs. Maybe some roles at DfE?

Nuclear industry. I came into it on the salary I was earning as a teacher (M6 as was). Now I earn a lot more and nobody is rude to me or tells me I'm shit at my job (I wasn't shit when I was a teacher either but someone on SLT didn't like me).

Academia - was a teacher for almost 10 years, new head came to the school and bullied me out along with 8 or 9 other staff who wouldn’t just say yes to all his shit schemes. Much happier now! Did take a pay cut tho, but now I have longer holidays and less work overall, so not really a pay cut in real terms as I do less work for less money if that makes sense.

If you still love teaching I’d move schools, I thought I’d as done with teaching but I said I’d try one more school and it’s been a revelation!
If you’re done, that’s fine too. I’ve seen ex teachers do all sorts! One set up her own cleaning business, she’s doing really well.
I think I’d struggle to find anything else that pays me this much and that I love this much, despite all the down sides of teaching.

Currently being bullied out by a new head who hates everything I do despite no cause or reason behind it! No problem with results or behaviour and always worked hard. Previous head had nothing but praise.
He’s bringing in new less experienced teachers into senior posts that are making life a misery.

Are all schools the same, certainly sounds like it

@Poniesandgin I literally could have written your post word for word (I also love ponies and gin but that is by the by). It's so awful isn't it? Knowing how hard you have worked and for what? Seeing all these inexperienced people get TLR after TLR, only to delegate back to and ask for support etc from... you've guessed it, muggins here.

I have a fair few teacher friends and they report similar things (not on the same level by any means), so I am seriously looking for a way out now. Fed up of being unappreciated, under paid for my experience and qualifications etc.

I went into supply teaching. Everyone said I'd hate it, but in fact, I really enjoyed it. I had so much more time to engage and enjoy teaching without any other paperwork based responsibility other than a note to the teacher I'd covered for. I marked all the work and left everywhere tidy, job done!
After a while I just went to the same few schools which was even better.

@babycornfortea so sorry your in the same boat.

My head wants me gone. He’s just promoted someone with no results or experience above and yet I’m supposed to help her At the same time I’m not experienced enough for my own post.

I’m thinking of taking a pay cut and going to be a plain classroom teacher with no responsibility at all. There’s nothing out there though!

Between now and Easter is a good time to scour your local council website for jobs in other schools.
Supply isn't the worst!
Do not help this person more than is necessary. The person promoted above me used my resources and schemes of work and were praised for them when I'd been told the previous term they were shit. It sucks. But 5 years later I'm told by the few remaining original members of staff that it's a terrible place to work and they wished that they had jumped ship!

Into university academic support (on admin side, not teaching). Took a paycut initially but loved the 9 to 5 office hours and could walk out the door and leave work at work.

I sometimes look at the Civil Service jobs site but it gives me imposter syndrome. It's very hard to know what area / level to consider.

Join exit the classroom and thrive on Facebook.

Are you on Facebook?

There’s a big, very supportive group called Life after teaching - exit the classroom and thrive

There’s been some really good threads about what various people are doing now.

I’m not leaving teaching fully but it really helped me leave a toxic school. I’m doing supply now and it’s brought back my love of teaching. Plus there’s a lot of work right now! It’s definitely worth considering. If you hand your resignation in by half term you can leave at Easter.

I went from Head of Faculty to mainscale.
It wasn't easy, especially after 20 years of being in charge, but my quality of life is so much better.

Still in a toxic environment, and have toxic line manager, but I'm far less involved and have a much better quality of life.

Went self employed as a virtual assistant and then gained bookkeeping qualifications so I now run my own bookkeeping practice. It’s wonderful never having to ask permission to attend my dc’s nativity play again

Education advisor in Charity sector. Took a paycut but lots of scope for promotion. 9-5, no paperwork.

I’ve gone from head of humanities to classroom teacher. Now work in an awesome department with an excellent head of subject and head of faculty and none of it is my responsibility!

Can highly recommend it!

Following.... we don't seem to have civil service jobs around here and the local gov advertise jobs at 24k for graduates with project management experience and knowledge and experience... eek.

Sorry to jump the thread, but if the adults don't like being in the school, can the children tell? Are they all miserable and stressed too?
How as a parent would I know that this isn't a happy place for my child to be?

I think the children would generally be the last to see. On the whole the teaching is the bit teachers enjoy. And working with the children and supporting them etc. It's all the other stuff. And the stress (IMO) is in the evenings and weekends and time around it.

I left teaching, deregistered my own children to home educate them and I now work in hospitality and events in evenings and weekends. It's by no means my dream job, I have no idea what I do want to do long-term, but even on half the hourly rate I still take home as much as I did after childcare. So don't be put off by a lower pay if it means you can be more flexible.

Educational psychologist trainee but it’s a long training path so you have to be committed… otherwise I’d echo a PP about looking at civil service (not the imposter syndrome bit though!)

I looked at ed psych trainee but I can't comit to the travel and the hours :(

DH left full time classroom teaching and now teaches peri music across about 6 different schools. He is so much happier.