To leave the Civil Service and go back to teaching?

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I'm earning less than 25k, and many places have been told that overtime will be cancelled imminently. I do it most weekends and rely on it to top up my salary, so this is disappointing news.
As of September, my mortgage and utilities will be increasing by £200 a month too, so I'm really worried ATM, as I live alone.

Being in the CS really has its perks, like WFH and Flexi. I have applied for promotions, and have recently ended up on 2 reserve lists with scores that weren't that great.
I follow the STAR method as best as I can but I just feel like these interviews are all about answering questions in a certain way rather than what skills you actually have.
I have an offer to work in a prison, but still thinking about it.
I resent how much harder the AOs have to work than our line managers. They are hardly rushed off their feet, they're often sitting around talking, on their phones etc.
Most people are very nice, though 95% of my colleagues are very young, in their 20s and it does feel a bit like high school cliques a lot of the time.

Considering going back to teaching, even though that comes with its issues too, but at the end of the day money's needed. Any roles that are high 20s/nearer to 30k. Has anyone else done this?
I am just fretting atm.

Apparently the EO role I just got put on the reserve list for had 14,000 interviews for 285 roles. I got 4s, a couple of 3s and a 5, there's no chance I'll be offered a job anytime soon.

How long ago did you leave teaching? Secondary or primary?

I left a year ago, and I did supply teaching as well as tutoring.

What department are you in? Are you applying for EOI vacancies? What have you been offered in prisons?

Well, you'll certainly have your pick of roles - every where needs teachers.

Maybe try a special school if you left because you were unhappy. It is still stressful, but it can be much more rewarding.

Can you pick up another evening/weekend job?

The CS job pay isn’t great but it seems less stressful than teaching or a prison, plus when you add up commuting time and costs you might not be that much better off.

Why did you leave teaching? Things are unlikely to have changed in the last year.

All I can say is, I'd have to be in the shittiest job from the planet shit to want to return to teaching.

I know the grass isn't always greener, but just thinking of finances.
I have worked in SEND before and applied to some schools this week.
Sadly very few EOIs due to freezes, I think we've had one in several months.

There’s a reason teachers are leaving the profession in droves, so I’d stay where you are and do tutoring on the side. The WFH and flexitime are massive perks and would allow you to provide a good range of time slots for tutoring without eating too much into your downtime. Could you make £200 a month tutoring? If you did that for a year and then see how the land lies once the new govt have had time to bed in (not that they have a magic wand but anyway). You might feel like a promotion is out of reach atm but ultimately you only left teaching a year ago, you’d be doing well to get a promotion in a new industry that quickly.

What is the role in prisons? Teaching? Admin? OSG? PO?

Be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking teaching is your only alternative. You have position in the CS (which a fab achievement) so now it’s about finding right role for you. Have you checked out all the support on offer for job applications? There’s a fab group on Viva Engage full of resources & persons willing to help. Get onto sifting panels. Look for any buddy/mentoring schemes or groups focused on offering support to people similar to yourself, e.g. Women in Tech, improving social mobility. Are there any roles you could move sideways into which could offer more OT (not everyone wants to/can do these) or better promotion opportunities?
If you’ve already exhausted all of these, look at what is available to you in other companies now that you have CS experience.
Finally, think back to why you left teaching in the first place. Do those problems/issues still exist? If not, perhaps that is the right move for you after all. However, if they’re still there, then I would explore other options first.
Good luck!

If you enjoy the flexibility of your current job, don't change it for teaching - possibly the most inflexible job there is.

I was so enjoying being retired and being able to go on holidays whenever I wanted then OH goes and gets a bloody job where the place closes down for a week at Easter and Christmas and 2 in August. I'm very very seriously pissed off!

More jobs may come up as the new Gov settles in and priorities are set. Which Dept are you in and what profession?

I transferred to caseworking on promotion to EO, I've never relied on overtime top ups as I get PIP paid alongside, but the current wage I don't think is too bad. I could never work without flexi now tbh and will stay in the civil service until I retire.