Quitting teaching

[Goblinita]

I’m fed up of teaching, fed up of SLT, fed up of workload. What other options are there for someone who’s got a background in teaching????

Hahahaha. You might want to read up a bit more about the state of schools if this is what you think they’re like! I do an absolute ton of admin, despite there being lots of support staff employed, who also do admin. There’s just way more work than the hours in the day. Everything needs evidence and it’s a pain. Also lots of support staff are also leaving due to workload and poor pay, which means teachers have to pick up even more since the admin staff are inexperienced.

@MissBPotter I agree with you and Buzzy needs a reality check if s/he thinks that there are staff to do admin. There have been a couple of threads on here recently about teaching and the situation with schools that should serve to enlighten anyone about the truth of the situation. After those how anyone could ask 'what's wrong with teaching' needs to open their eyes and read the news or specialist papers such as the TES.

Yep. Just finished my 4 year MPharm degree. Get my results on Tuesday. If I pass I start my trainee pharmacist year on 31st July 🤞

If you don't know why it is in crisis I would suggest you aren't suitable.

@EddieMunsen why not

I got out two years ago and I’ve been retraining in tech. I initially wanted to stay in the public sector, but now realise that that was a comfort blanket and I’m glad I didn’t as salaries are low and there are many of the same problems as there are in teaching. I found that my ‘soft skills’ from teaching (in tech soft skills means anything not code-based) are in demand in the sector. I did also need the coding skills, but I’m going to start a role that involves my so-called soft skills and hard knowledge and salary starts at about the top of what I could have earned in teaching.

If you can get out, do it. I needed a block of savings to do it. If you’re in your 40s/50s you may have at least another 20 years to work, it’s too long to put up with the shit and I don’t see any prospect of real improvement in conditions in the timeframe. (I’m 40s btw)

@smooththecat do you find that you’re earning significantly more

I don’t know if you’re primary or secondary but I work in mental health now with the same age group I taught (secondary). Wellbeing/mental health/youth work roles are great for ex teachers. The pay leaves a bit to be desired though, not gonna lie.

I must say I agree. If you need someone to explain to you what's going on in teaching and why they're leaving in droves...you haven't researched your future career enough.

I left last July, lucky enough to join our family business but the best thing I ever did. It's a real shame as i was a good teacher but I would never go back to it. Best of luck in whatever you go for.

@Kathyparr what made you dislike it the most?

@Buzzyboo In my new job (which will be my first proper job in tech) I’ll be on slightly more than I was when I left, but potential is there to earn a lot more over the rest of my career. I’ll also have much better working conditions, no coming home to sit down for 5 extra hours of work.

@Buzzyboo I was spending more time with school kids than my own family. I missed most of my dc primary school events like my dd playing Mary etc... The workload is huge, your best is never good enough, hours and hours of marking, pointless work which you know has no benefit to the kids but all for Ofsted, lack of public support generally fuelled by the media, lack of respect for the profession, constant scrutiny and the accountability for large numbers of children with a multitude of increasingly more common learning, behavioural and emotional difficulties, poor funding and lack of TA support.... I could go on. I was living with high stress levels constantly and burnt out after doing it for 19 years. I know many others who have left and thrived and many more who feel trapped by the wages. It's not a pleasant environment to work in and doesn't nurture and support the best to stay. We don't seem to want our kids to be taught by happy, relaxed, creative teachers in this country and I worry for the future of education.

I left two years ago and moved into an education based job in an arts organisation. I took a 50% pay cut to do so. Unfortunately I soon realised there is just as much shit and politics outside of teaching for much less money and fewer holidays. And I did know this deep down, as I quit my previous career to become a teacher because of how much I hated working in an office the first time round! I really hate being stuck at a desk all day, I hate the lack of creativity and the passive nature of a role where you're not actually 'doing' anything, I hate the pointless meetings that go on for so long, and the feeling that nothing I do actually matters. On the contrary, I love the fact I can get to work when I want and leave when I want (flexi hours!), I love WFH a couple of days a week, I love that if I work any over time I get TOIL, I love being able to take holidays when I like and have coffees/go to the loo/take a nice leisurely lunch break whenever I like.

Overall, I've decided I've had enough of office life now and am going back to the classroom in September, because I genuinely miss it. I'm not resuming my old HOF position, which used to fill my day with so much extra admin and meetings and stress - I'm just going to be a plain old classroom teacher, which I hope will make all the difference. I'm really looking forward to it and already can't wait to meet my new students. I will also add that I made the decision to only apply for jobs in private schools to make sure I retained the work life balance I've had back over the past two years - the massively reduced timetable and small class sizes mean that this job should be 8-5 without me needing to take any work home. Plus I'll get my holidays back, and my salary is going to double my current one - essential at the moment with a mortgage to pay!

My two years out made me realise that it wasn't the job I hated - I love teaching, I love the relationship you build with your students, I love my subject and I love being part of a school community. It was the toxic school I was in that I hated, and that had pushed me to leave two years ago.

So don't necessarily give up yet - it might be that a new school, and potentially a new role, might reinvigorate your passion.

I will say that for the first 6 months after I left teaching, I was in the real honeymoon stage of loving not being in a school and loving the flexibility of a job outside teaching - and a lot of the people who post on forums like the Leaving Teaching Facebook page are in that exact position. Do treat some of it with a pinch of salt - the grass of course seems greener initially, but once you're in your umpteenth deathly dull Friday afternoon meeting listening to Jenny in Marketing wang on about pointless shit you might find yourself longing for the buzz of a classroom again!

The arts are notoriously poorly paid though, often lots of family wealth behind those who work in the arts because who else could do it for the pay?

I’m not sure what your point is?

The reality for many teachers on UPS and SLT level salaries is that matching their salary outside of teaching will be very difficult, at least initially. The value of the TPS is also something to factor into the salary of any new job.

Yes of course the arts is notoriously badly paid. However I still earn a decent salary by most people’s standards - well above average, and enough to live on well. It’s just half what I earned as a teacher (and I was HOF) as teaching pays well once you’re experienced and promoted.

I think when you’re in the midst of it you don’t necessarily see the benefits. Teaching is a secure job that is actually very well paid compared to a lot of other industries, and has an excellent pension you won’t get elsewhere. Walking away from that is not a decision to take lightly.

There are lots of jobs in Mental health for ex teachers. You could retrain as an EMHP or be an Emotional Support Worker or similar.

So many teachers I knew (academic secondary) were very well qualified in their discipline and intellectual/clever. So if they'd taken another path in their 2ps could easily have out earned teachers.

The rub comes trying to change track in your 40s as despite being "clever" there isn't industry experience elsewhere.

@EnidSpyton, I wish you luck, I really do. This echoes what I did:
I'm just going to be a plain old classroom teacher, which I hope will make all the difference. I'm really looking forward to it and already can't wait to meet my new students. I will also add that I made the decision to only apply for jobs in private schools to make sure I retained the work life balance I've had back over the past two years - the massively reduced timetable and small class sizes mean that this job should be 8-5 without me needing to take any work home.

But a couple of words of caution. Classroom teacher is only fun when you are allowed freedom to teach. I had that for a few years but then my HoD started to micro manage to a level that was untenable. Generally, younger more inexperienced teachers seem to rise quickly - older staff are treated with caution and I never felt valued. I hope this isn't the case at your new school.

Also, beware the idea that you get an easier ride in terms of hours at a private school. Mine wanted their pound of flesh, and we had to work weekends a few times a term, as well as some evenings. The workload is intense because there is a lot of assessment and reporting, as well as being available to students as paying customers.

However, with luck this is just the shot in the arm your career needs!

My friend gave up teaching and retrained as a social worker. Sounds like out of the frying pan to me but she loves it.

Am trying to pluck up the courage to do the same.

I feel sick at the thought of going back in the autumn. I tried to resign in February, but was made a promise, which, low and behold... hasn't been kept.

And I know that I will be seen as the bad guy...

I know a few primary teachers who became childminders. Another one started an online small bakery business and does demonstrations and workshops with children now too.
(I do admin for the Local Authority now, but I know you said admin's not for you!)

FE teaching? I mean it's still teaching - and the pay is shite, most of my team are still on around £30,000 or less after 15+ years teaching - but less pressure.

If you have a local uni they have decent sounding jobs sometimes. Working in Admissions, for example.

Apart from the obvious answer of "Tories", why is the pay in FE so bad? Why don't the teacher pay scales apply?