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Original poster

Teachers who have left the profession - what next?

56 replies

kkelly82 · 28/01/2023 13:08

Hi there. I’ve been teaching for 15 years and more and more I’m feeling like I’m ready to leave the profession. I know lots of teachers are currently feeling like this. Only trouble is I’m not sure what else I’d do as I work full time and have two children of my own so I rarely have the head space to think through alternative career options properly. It would be interesting to hear the stories of other ex-teachers. What did you go on to do and how did you get into a new career? I currently teach Psychology so if anyone has a background in teaching this particular subject and went on to a related career I’d be really interested to hear what you’re doing now.

Also how did you decide to leave teaching? It seems like such a significant thing to do after being in the profession for so long and I’m worried I’d be making a rash decision! TIA.

OP posts:
Thechoccieorange · 28/01/2023 13:46

Im not a teacher so can only tell you about the two teachers I know who left the profession.

One left after less than a year of teaching primary and went back to their old job which was in the entertainment sector.
Another teacher who did two years post qualifying (sorry if not the correct term) with teenage kids gave up- nothing to do with the kids she taught but more the toxic atmosphere within the school she was at. She now has an admin job in a university which starts at about 25k (I didn't ask her if that was more/less than she got as a teacher as I don't know her well so feel nosey).
She has taken to her new job really well.

biscuitcat · 28/01/2023 13:49

I'm an ex Psychology (and science) teacher - I left several years ago and trained as an educational psychologist (you apply for the doctorate through the association of educational psychologists), which I'm now a few years into doing. It was a really good move for me, and definitely the right decision - I definitely miss the holidays, but work far fewer hours overall and have so much control over my diary that it's worth it, and it's a really interesting, fulfilling job.

I had only taught for 2 years and didn't have kids at the time, so it was probably an easier decision to make as I wasn't taking a huge pay cut to train, but I know plenty of people who have trained with kids and managed it - you have to be more organised, but I'd not have thought much more so than in teaching. The salary cut might be quite big for the 3 years training if you've been in teaching that long, but you earn quite well once you've qualified.

Other ones to look into could be speech and language therapy or occupational therapy - there are plenty of jobs in all three areas and all really interesting!

ellerman · 28/01/2023 13:59

With psychology, you'll have some stats, data and research skills. You can use these to work in local or national government or industry in research, evaluation, engagement roles. You may have to do a post grad or certificate in research methods or similar or not!

If you really want a change, learn Power BI, alongside Excel or R... NHS data intelligence teams all use R.

If numbers are not your thing, what about a Family Support role in social services, lower paid, but you could move towards a social work diploma.

I made the leap, best wishes.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Jobs
maddy68 · 28/01/2023 14:00

I took a complete break for a year. I needed it. Now I am someone's PA. No stress whatsoever

BG2015 · 28/01/2023 14:05

I'm a primary school,teacher, I'm 54 and I've been teaching for 27 years. I'm looking to retire from teaching in the next 2-3 years and would like to do something part time but not a clue what I could do.

I'm drawn towards charity work so that's something I'm investigating.

clareykb · 28/01/2023 14:10

I was a primary school Sendco and am now a Social Worker for Disabled Children. Still stressful but I can plan my diary, work from home 2 days a week nd my work life balance is much better. Pay wise I had a bit of a dip but 2 years in am back to the same ..don't regret leaving for for a second. Took my 2 years to retrain, I went back to uni but there are work based routes so u get paid while you do it.

VioletaDelValle · 28/01/2023 14:11

Careers adviser.
I know lots of ex teachers who have trained to become a careers adviser and are either working in schools or universities.

Treadlightlyly · 28/01/2023 14:15

ellerman · 28/01/2023 13:59

With psychology, you'll have some stats, data and research skills. You can use these to work in local or national government or industry in research, evaluation, engagement roles. You may have to do a post grad or certificate in research methods or similar or not!

If you really want a change, learn Power BI, alongside Excel or R... NHS data intelligence teams all use R.

If numbers are not your thing, what about a Family Support role in social services, lower paid, but you could move towards a social work diploma.

I made the leap, best wishes.

Can i rudely jump in and ask..... What sort of job titles do you mean in terms of NHS? This is the type of job I'm looking for but i can't work out what to search. Thanks.

beezlebubnicky · 28/01/2023 14:19

I taught for 8 years as an Early Years teacher, then went into the Civil Service as a Senior Executive Officer policy advisor. I was lucky that I didn't have to take a pay drop. I didn't have experience in policy, but teachers can write and communicate well, work expertly with a variety of stakeholders and persuade people of things effectively. Plus many other things! In my job I work with a lot of school staff, contractors and do a lot of communications work within government, as well as drafting briefings and advice for ministers and senior officials. Every day is different.

The applications for the CS are a bit arcane and in their own league, but if you do some reading online about the process there's a load of good advice out there.

Just remember that your skills are very transferable. I liked a lot of things about teaching, but the workload became untenable and I just couldn't physically handle the job anymore for a lot of reasons. My work life balance is so much better now and I'm also able to work flexible and compressed hours.

I'd start thinking about what you'd like to do, but don't discount the Civil Service. There are so many different jobs and different departments - have a look at the CSJobs website as a start.

UnicorseTime · 28/01/2023 14:23

Another ex psych teacher here! I think part of my problem is I've lost confidence since teaching and end up applying for low paid jobs I'm overqualified for and then "dont fit." But don't have the confidence to apply for some of the civil service etc roles.

I also now wouldn't manage full time training otherwise I would be applying g for Ed Psych training!

UnicorseTime · 28/01/2023 14:24

Having said that. It's full time teaching I can't handle. Maybe I could manage home based roles for a bit longer. It's really tough. I love teaching but regret qualifying and wish I'd trained as an Ed psych/something else pre kids/ill health!

musicinspring1 · 28/01/2023 14:47

Google 'Education mental health practitioner' with a psychology background it might be a good fit and way in to the NHS and those professions - it would be a pay cut and some further study

Mombingo · 28/01/2023 15:05

Stand up comedy? Seems quite a few are ex-teachers! Grin

ellerman · 28/01/2023 15:13

NHS roles include Intelligence Analysts, Population Intelligence Analysts, Research analyst... Data and Evaluation Analyst.. Performance Officer etc

Signing up to Indeed and using those key words, you'll stay to get an idea of roles available.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 28/01/2023 15:17

I taught science for 5 years and then went into the nuclear industry. I had done a bit before I did my teacher training so it wasn't totally unknown to me. I didn't take a paycut - I matched M6 at the time. I've never made a better choice tbh.

stayingaliveisawayoflife · 28/01/2023 15:18

There is a Facebook group called life after teaching which has lots of people who have left or who are leaving giving advice and support.

Original poster
kkelly82 · 29/01/2023 08:20

@musicinspring1 This sounds interesting, thank you for pointing it out. I think overall I still like to work in the field of Psychology so this sounds very relevant.

OP posts:
Original poster
kkelly82 · 29/01/2023 08:26

@beezlebubnicky Thanks for all your advice. I have considered jobs in the Civil Service as I’d heard lots of ex- teachers go in to this area of work but when I’ve looked at job adverts I found it hard to understand what the jobs fully involve. I’m so used to reading teacher job posts that it’s a whole new lingo!
Do you know of a good starting point to be introduced to the different areas of the Civil Service so that I can be directed towards more specific jobs that suit my interests and skills set?

OP posts:
Original poster
kkelly82 · 29/01/2023 08:26

@stayingaliveisawayoflife Fab, thanks. I’ll look this up!

OP posts:
hryllilegur · 29/01/2023 08:30

There will be roles in staff learning and development where your teaching qualification and psychology background are very useful. There are lots of these roles in the civil service and private sector. Companies need to develop their staff.

hryllilegur · 29/01/2023 08:32

Or you could potentially take your psychology background into behavioural science consultancy (some organisations have in house teams too, but there are lots of consultancy roles).

Singleandproud · 29/01/2023 08:39

I was working as an instructor, decided I didn't want to go through formal teacher training and now work for the Environment Agency in an admin role. Although not a Civil Service career most of the benefits are the same as its part of Defra, a good LGPS pension. Like the civil service once you have your foot in the door there is lots of internal movement available, I took a paycut but it has been worth it.

pompomdaisy · 29/01/2023 08:45

DH left secondary school teaching and has gone into FE teaching T levels. He's much happier.

ClassroomRunaway · 29/01/2023 08:49

It is not quite the same, but I was a TA and I recently left. It was too much work for too little pay and my DCs were having to do ASC most days as I had to stay at my job till after their pickup. So, financially it was a bit different to teaching as it doesn't feel like a big loss of income.

I've built up savings and am going to some bits and pieces from home for the next few months. No idea what to do after that, but I have decided it won't be in a school as I've had enough of being treated like crap by some of my students (I know it isn't their fault as a lot had SEN, but it was still very draining at times), occasionally staff, but most of all, the government.

Anyway, a teacher I know who left the profession recently now works for a children's charity (think it's Barnardo's). I'm not sure exactly what it is she does but it's a remote job with the odd meeting. Others who left a while ago work for the civil service. A music teacher I know is planning to leave to do music therapy.

There are a million jobs in schools being advertised where I live. Admins, TAs, LSAs etc. But the pay is not good.

Pipsickl · 29/01/2023 08:55

I know 5 ex teachers

one set up a home tutoring business with a a mix of uk students and does some online overseas work

one volunteered with a mental health charity and became a psychological welfare practitioner (had to do additional learning for this)

3 left for New Zealand to be a teachers there. All have never returned to uk teaching.

in the first 2 cases both of them were frightened by the actions of students and parents, threatened and treated very badly at work.