To leave a job I don’t hate even though I’d be jobless?

[Awkwardusername]

I teach, and whilst I enjoy the day to day teaching, I can’t stand the rest of it. I love working with the kids, I hate the subject leadership (I’m primary), the observations and the constant threat of Ofsted.

My husband and I are going to start trying for a baby soon, and he earns enough to support me if I’m jobless for a while. I could always do supply?

AIBU to leave my job at the end of this academic year? I’m very torn.

You could always see it as a temporary break rather than leaving for good.

sometimes a break helps you think clearly and work out what you actually want and need.

You'll need the maternity pay though surely?

We’re comfortable enough to not need the maternity pay, plus I’d not be returning to work after having a baby anyway so I’d have to pay a large proportion back.

I'd wait until you were pregnant then just take early maternity leave as soon as you can, then just don't go back afterwards

You only like a bit of your job, don't need the money, won't need the maternity pay.. yes leave.

Could you not just tell them you won't be back and just say you want statutory mat pay instead of the school mat pay

I would say stay. At the end of the year, take the six weeks to think about it. If it's more than 50% good, you are doing ok. Plus if you get pregnant you can then take a year and get maternity and have a job to go back to.

I would keep your job until the last moment you have to hand in notice to not go back tbh. Your husband could lose his job. Anything could happen.

Anyway if you do want to switch jobs then do it sooner rather than later as I think there's a length of time you have to be there to get any benefits.

Bad advice. Take the pay, put the excess in a savings account and then pay it back if you don't go back.

I could never be jobless, as I'd get way too bored, so this is only something you can answer.

Is private tutoring an option? You would earn more per hour, could choose your clients and work less hours, it's certainly more flexible.

Really???? Why are you even thinking about it? You have a back up plan (supply) if you feel the need to do something 'useful' or if you get bored being at home.
Life is too short and you have a choice - take it and good luck.

Maybe leave and get a job you enjoy more? Even if its part time or less pay it will give you something to do. It might a bit a bit of time before you're pregnant and you'll be stuck at home feeling obliged to do housework forever more. There's also the social side and adult company you get from work.

Is he earning enough to pay into your pension for you as well as support you? Personally I wouldn’t give up work and rely on someone else for money before even having kids, I’d focus more on finding a job I enjoyed more. You never no what will happen in the future or how long you will enjoy being unemployed, especially as yo ur husband is working, sounds boring.

Have your baby first, I think.

Generally speaking, I’d only advocate leaving a job without another to go to if the job is causing you significant health / mental health problems. Health comes first. But employment a close second. Sounds like you’re in a position to keep going long enough to find another job before leaving?

What if it takes you years to conceive? What if you don't? I'd stay knowing that you're in the fortunate position of being able to give up work after maternity leave, you might change your mind anyway, your job might seem a lot more appealing after a year at home

Yeah, he’s earning enough for both, and also I’ve got about £30k in savings of my own.

I won’t never work again, I’ll definitely get a job in some capacity (unless I get pregnant immediately, in which case I think supply until the baby is born maybe?).

Is it possible that you’ve joined the life after teaching facebook group / watched the pit pony video and possibly are getting a bit swept away by the thought of chucking it in??

I have to let my head know by 31st May, otherwise I’m trapped until Christmas!

Yes I’ve definitely seen it, and this exact thought crossed my mind. Our “bottom line” is covered without concern by my husband (he’s a barrister) so I know we’d be okay, but I worry I’m dramatising the whole thing?

I got offered a job in September outside of teaching but turned it down, but I guess that shows it’s been on my mind since before I joined the group haha!

I also think part of the issue is that the notice periods are quite long, and I would like to avoid leaving mid-year if possible (the first class I ever had asked me if I was going to “leave in a month like the rest of them”!) so I would prefer to leave at the end of a year. Theoretically I could leave at Christmas or Easter, but that just confuses me more because i’d have the guilt!

I can’t put my finger on it, but something about that video makes me slightly uneasy. The main woman doing the talking seems to take it beyond “you CAN leave teaching” into the territory of “you SHOULD leave teaching”. It felt like a sales pitch- she’s working sooo hard to persuade teachers to jack it in. She practically calls anyone who doesn’t love teaching and chooses to stay in it a coward / a mug! There was something very pushy about it. My friend had a life coach like that who pressurised her into quitting her job to “manifest her dreams” and it all came to a rather sticky end when she couldn’t may the mortgage.

Lots of people don’t love their jobs, but it puts food on the table. And that’s okay. If you’re unhappy, re-train or look for a different job. I wouldn’t just chuck it.

Oh and btw I quit teaching, and I retrained as a speech therapist. So I’ve done it. I lived on my ‘bottom line’ while I was a student and it was F*ing miserable!! Okay when there’s an end in sight. Okay if the alternative is a mental breakdown. As a lifestyle choice, I wouldn’t recommend.

Don't assume everything will go as you think it will..
putting yourself in a financially vulnerable position is not a great idea.
Also,if your dh lost his position of was unable to work,you would need the maternity pay if you are successful at ttc.
just don't put all your eggs in one basket,you may dislike parts of your job but it's manageable so keep going whilst you think it through carefully.