New career after teaching science

[chocolateroses]

I've been a teacher for ten years. I now want to leave but have no idea what I could do instead.

I got a good science degree and went straight into my PGCE and teaching.

We have a mortgage and bills to pay, i can't afford to have months off retraining.

AIBU to think there must be something out there where I could earn a similar wage, but I can walk into easily without a loss in wage?

Has anyone done this, what did you do?

How about learning to be a web developer/designer? There is a company called Tech Returners in Manchester (but there may well be others similar around the country) who do a three month course for women. It’s part of the push to get women into IT.

My colleague went from science teaching to buying - lots of useful knowledge for in manufacturing/chemical/engineering sectors.

You're being a little unrealistic I'm afraid. There are few jobs that you can walk into easily in a new field without a drop in salary. If you have never left the academic world, it is doubly difficult.

Maybe look at something transitional. All large organisations will have at least some degree of in-house training, so a training role moving into L&D thereafter wherever your ambition takes you could be a route.
The Ministry of Defence is often looking for civilians who can provide technical training in things like electronics. Teaching RAF personnel for example. Still teaching, but a mile away from schools and a good stepping stone.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Do you look at the TES forums at all? This topic comes up on there a fair bit (as you can imagine). This thread has lots of ideas:

community.tes.com/threads/possible-other-careers.723480/

Pharmaceutical sales/marketing? Medical editing? Healthcare communications agency working (advertising).
Pharma is well paid compared to teaching although you may have to take a decrease in salary whilst you’re in your first year.
I have a good science degree and a PGCE in secondary science and work for a pharma company. I think I have a better work life balance than my teacher husband.
Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener though as I’ve had several colleagues leave pharma for education.
Good luck!

Thank you so much everyone, I will look into all of these! Xx