I want a job that will pay 35-40k (leaving teaching)

[Pestopastamad]

I'm a teacher, thinking about leaving the profession. I've got a 1st class education degree, and I've been teaching for a few years. Ive enjoyed it so far, but I fancy a change now.

Ideally I want a job that will lead to a 35-40k salary in the first 10 years. I've taught since graduation, so don't really have any ideas what I would like to do other than teach. I would like a job that matches or exceeds my teaching salary. Any suggestions about what I could work as? I'd rather not retrain, but wouldn't be totally adverse to a master's conversion course for the right industry/role.

I’m in at 7.30, leave at 6 and then do 2 hours in the evening
Sounds awful. I quit teaching straight after my NQT year as I didn’t like feeling lazy and guilty (compared to most colleagues) for “only” working a 9 hour day 8-5 (no breaks, 10-15 mins for lunch) and doing very little prep at weekends. I thought I was very efficient with my work, but still there was always that feeling of “oh so and so was in until 7pm again last night doing another wall display, writing lengthy written individual feedback (etc, etc) - shouldn’t I be doing more for these kids too”. But quitting was definitely the right decision for me, Ive never regretted it one bit.

My daughter is also an English teacher and has a Masters degree. She taught in Dubai for two years, came back to the UK and taught in a private school. She has just applied for a job in Munich, tutoring for a family for $135k for four days - Friday to Monday.

For the pp that asked about civil service policy jobs and where they're based.

Most Central Gov Departments have policy jobs, although DWP and HMRC are much more operational. They are not all based in London although many will be as that's where Ministers are based.

Am slightly amused by the suggestion that the OP consider a headteacher role...

However, as a a ‘senior head’ I’ve counselled many colleagues over the years who wanted a change. People have gone into banking, administration roles, recruitment and even dog walking in one case. Mostly driven by a ‘leave at any cost’ desire. Those who were bored tended to return to education in some way and take roles that were connected whist the others took whatever they could get. My advice is always to be very cautious. August is a long month when you HAVE to work every day....

Seriously though, I’d recommend a change in sector perhaps. Things have changed now so someone with a BEd. who may have only considered primary can easily get a secondary role now. And it’s a hugely different role too. Or what about alternative provision?

I’ve worked in pretty much every educational sector throughout the course of my career in age ranges from 5-25 and there’s such a variety of responsibilities available I think unless you hate young people and want to sit at a desk particularly I can’t see why you’d not start with looking at TES alternative or supporting roles.

I was going to suggest accounting.
You don’t need to be good at maths at all!
Then after you qualify you could teach and that’s a good salary!

Wow hmrc part time grad programme sounds amazing. Not many are available part time (why I couldnt pursue psychologist training. So wish I had a career pre kids...)

Ooh, I just had a look (my sector and grade) but sadly wrong part of the country. Interesting to know you're not inundated with applications, I think universities are generally good employers (at least for those on lengthy/permanent contracts)

If you are really good at editing, perhaps consider copy editing scientific publications? You can start as a freelancer while you are teaching, get the odd assignment, build your network with Medical Agencies and Publishers and then go freelance. Full time positions in big publishing houses will be around £30k minimum, rising with managerial responsibilities and content management. Or you could stay freelance and enjoy the flexibility.

I always wanted to be a spy...

Police officer?

In case you're North West based, BBC North has Education based roles that some ex teachers go into.

Drug dealer?

It’s very hard to leave teaching. In my experience interviewers say stuff like “you’re too academically oriented”, “you have no commercial experience”, “you wouldn’t understand the need to make a profit”, “you’re too used to being in charge and standing at the front so you wouldn’t take directions well”, and even “you’re too teachery”. Public sector roles are your best bet, perhaps the local council? Or another type of teaching eg being a trainer in a company?

What about working in education still, but for a teacher’s union. My sister left teaching as an English teacher in a secondary school to work at NTL (now merged with NUT) and is on a better wage (with great benefits) than her teachers job.

*teaching (not teachers) job

Or what about teaching in a hospital school? I know it’s teaching still but would be completely different.

You are about to discover what a cushy job teaching actually is! Good luck though.

Another vote for the Civil Service.

Don't be put off if you aren't London based. Many HQ roles are national (although regular travel to London is needed as that is where Ministers are). I am over 200 miles outside London and WFH three days a week and commute two (on average).

Left teaching after qualifying, became a PA then EA in an investment bank (salary £48k plus bonus), then TV production company then major charity. Degree not essential but report writing, proactivity, being articulate and accurate, definitely. Lived in London which helped. All I did was go to a good recruitment company initially. Don’t regret leaving teaching, respect those that do it.

I have been working in a job with a professional accountancy degree (required) for 12 years and my salary is not that high even now.
So YABU

I was going to suggest accounting.
You don’t need to be good at maths at all!

I don't know where on Earth you get that idea from! I'd be very quickly screwed in my job if I was no good at maths

If you are a secondary school teacher then plenty of companies would bite their hand off to hire you for training / management roles that involve young people.

Work in a university very flexible and open to other career backgrounds. Good luck

You are about to discover what a cushy job teaching actually is!

Cushy?

Police officer?

I'm slightly bemused that so many people think teaching equips somebody to be a police officer. My husband was a policeman for 30 years and dealing with drug dealers, prostitutes and gangs in a mixed race - Afro Caribbean, Asian and Eastern European inner city environment with open gang warfare is a world away from teaching in a school.

One of the failiings of the police service - note it's no longer a police force, more's the pity - is this policy of accepting graduate recruits and elevating them into senior posts. They don't come up through the streets. They have little knowledge of real life and a significant criminal underclass where the rules of normal behaviour are very different and, frankly, these people with their 'learned in a book' theories create difficulties and dangers for old school coppers.