To ask ex teachers...

[verytiredmummy1]

Is it super nosey of me to ask what job you are doing if you've left teaching?
My degree is very education specific but I find that I can no longer continue in the current education system.
Feel at a loss..it's all I've ever done or wanted to do!!

What about joining a company that offers training courses to teachers? There are jobs going in designing or writing CPD courses and there are a few big companies out there who do that sort of thing. You've probably been on their courses!

I'm a TA. Better hours, shit pay. Much happier though.

What about joining a company that offers training courses to teachers? There are jobs going in designing or writing CPD courses and there are a few big companies out there who do that sort of thing. You've probably been on their courses!

Could you give any information on the companies? Sounds interesting.

They seemed convinced teaching was uniquely stressful and were genuinely surprised and shocked when my sister and I started work and our jobs were every bit as stressful, but without the security, career progression opportinities and decent pay that accomany a career in teaching.

I think it depends. I have worked in a few different areas before teaching (all paying a lot more than I earned teaching), I've also taught overseas, teaching in England has, by far, been the worst and most stressful job I've had. But then maybe I've been lucky before.

That, or teaching in England is a really shitty job.

England has, by far, been the worst and most stressful job I've had. But then maybe I've been lucky before.

I was working for social services, working with young offenders and care leavers, getting spat on, sworn at and threatened wasn't uncommon, tables and chairs. And because the way the funding worked, I was only ever on a six monthly contract and the service was hopelessly under-resourced. They were genuinely shocked that any other job could be as stressful as teaching. I think part of it stemmed from the fact that their entire social circle consisted of teachers ( of a similar age who similarly had only ever taught) and would periodically get together and complain. They had no real reference for the world outside teaching.

For clarification I don't think teaching is an easy number and fully acknowledge it is an extremely demanding job and have seen first hand the toll it can take on people. However at the time I resented their belief that it was far and away the most stressful and demanding job.

I don't think for a second that teaching is the worst job. I know that there are other stressful jobs.
I too deal with being sworn at, being spat at, had stuff thrown at me etc but that's not the reason I want to leave. It's more the fact that it has become all about the data not the students which is not what I qualified to do.
Thank you for so many ideas x

My feelings echo yours verytiredmummy

I work with Children in Care.

I have been thinking what else I can do. My school has just been taken over by a academy chain and we are facing redundancies. Chances are as I am the oldest and most expensive in the department, it will be me. Not sure what to do next. I love teaching but unfortunately experiences isn't valued anymore

Try moving overseas. Dh is a teacher and we have been overseas for 8 years. Much less stressful than UK teaching

It's not the only stressful job. But I don't see solicitors, bankers etc leaving those professions in droves.

It was the kids, it wasn't the behaviour, the swearing. It was the constant scrutiny, over burdening data, and the toxic fear culture that made me leave.

Just posted this elsewhere, but I'm about to start a much lower paid, PT assistant clinical role in the NHS. There are prospects for qualifying on the job to band 5 (the entry level for qualified nurses, AHPs etc) so I feel like I've landed on my feet. I've been searching the NHS jobs site, my local council's jobs page and indeed for a few months, but this was actually one of the first jobs I applied for. The process has taken ages and in the meantime I've turned down three other opportunities (two teaching in other schools). I kind of think you just need to hand in your notice, live as frugally as you can and get searching and applying, especially with May 31st approaching.

Anyone fancy moving to Scotland to be a teacher? I'm not one, but we need you and IMHO Scotland is a great place to live and work. Though good to get feedback from teachers in Scotland if you can.

What about joining a company that offers training courses to teachers? There are jobs going in designing or writing CPD courses and there are a few big companies out there who do that sort of thing. You've probably been on their courses!

I don't know a lot to be honest, only mentioned it because I know a teacher who left secondary teaching and went to work for one. Desperately trying to remember the name but my brain keeps throwing "Teach First" at me which is an entirely different thing and not right at all. I just googled teacher CPD though and quite as few companies came up (sadly didn't help the original company name come back to me though).

I've taken on a franchise of a children's activity class - still vaguely teaching, but much, much less stressful than trying to get bored sullen teenagers through exams and getting criticised for one kid missing target!