To ask ex teachers for advice?

[desperateteacher]

I am a very experienced teacher looking to exit the profession. I detest it. There was a time not too long ago when I felt I was doing a good job and had clear career progression, but the last six months I have been bullied mercilessly and my confidence is at rock bottom. That, combined with the state of education (no budget for necessities in schools - I’m talking glue sticks, exercise books and supply teachers to cover, erosion of time to fulfill the extensive requirements of the role and an increasing number of SEND needs) and I’m looking to get out. My question is what can I do?

I’m after practical advice and pointers; I’m well aware what transferable skills we have, but where do I find these jobs? Has anyone left the classroom successfully and what did you do? I’d love some success stories to stop me spiralling! And without meaning to offend, I’m not really after stories of ECTs leaving the profession and starting again, because I’m nearly 40 with a salary of nearly 50k!

Peripatetic advisory teacher for your local county council?

I took a significant pay cut in my 40s and went to work for a charity. I also retrained in another area and I'm self employed now.

I left recently.

Of my friends, some have:

Changed school
Changed to private sector
Stepped down from hod to just teacher (usually alongside changing school)
Gone into tutoring

A few have gone into curriculum design and writing materials/textbooks for use in schools.

Exam boards are another possibility although I don't know anyone that has done that.

One has become a potter (she was an art teacher)

I work in Compliance, deathly dull but much less stressful than teaching and similar pay.

Exam boards have lots of jobs where you might bring your expertise. Secondary typically. Also see: ofqual, DfE, local authority etc. civil service- you can browse all jobs in one place here: www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi

Can I ask why you left?

Private sector doesn’t interest me as it seems a potential frying pan / fire move;

I would LOVE to go into curriculum design as I really enjoy that side of the job; it’s the coal-face part I’ve had enough of. Thing is, I’ve no idea how to get into this! I’ve scoured the internet and can’t seem to find anything relevant!

Can I ask how you got into this? I feel that I’ve done so many years in this profession that I have no idea how I’d begin looking for something like this!

I went into tutoring because I can do the bits of the job I love and feel passionate about without jumping through anybody's hoops. I won't hothouse. I work with families whose values align with mine and largely speaking it's wonderful.

What about lecturing? You could use your experience and qualifications to teach the upcoming new teachers. Just don’t tell them how bad it is out there.

My issue with tutoring is the hours (not a typical 9-5). I used to tutor a few years back to top up my part time salary, but I honestly found it boring. I enjoy the pace of leading a team and staff development; i just despise the nature of classroom teaching now!

I had a nervous breakdown.

Not joking.

My school had a new head. She decided to go for a particular whole school accreditation.

It involved a rewrite of the whole curriculum and a change in lesson style.

They offered me 5k to lead on the project within my department,

It later transpired that two SLT leads for the project had resigned and gone elsewhere. The project was massively behind and the whole school aspects hadn't been done. It was then made clear we were expected to lie to the accrediting body.

In addition it became clear that the accrediting body wanted lesson plans on file for every lesson in year 7 8 and 9 and they needed to match what was happening in the classroom for every class. The paperwork was horrific.

We had a "half way" to accreditation meeting at which I had a serious dissociative episode at which point I went to see a doctor who told me it was due to stress and I needed to leave.

I was worried about my department and didn't leave and a few months later had a full on breakdown,

I was just lucky and saw the job advertised at a tiny start up, they really needed someone to check their written content for basic grammar which as a teacher I told them I was ideal for =) Then I worked hard, said yes to everything and didn't get involved in the insane levels of batching that went on.

Can I ask where you’d see adverts like this?

I honestly don’t mind taking a slight pay cut (I’m currently part time so bringing home around 25k; a 30k full time salary would be a real-terms pay cut but actually a pay increase for me in terms of take-home. I’d happily do this and work my way up.) and know I could easily succeed in a variety of roles; I just don’t know where to start iykwim!

This is not particularly easy to get into! Consultancy work would be the dream, but no roles available currently - at least where I’m searching!

You are not alone, I see posts like yours on a near daily basis on here

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5177317-to-not-want-to-teach?reply=138703683

Have you looked at the Exit the classroom and thrive Facebook group?

My husband left and s self employed with a gardening franchise. He regrets it however and is back teaching part time in a college

I know of people who have gotten jobs in the civil service but I'm not sure what exactly they do. I also know someone who left and works for a company selling educational software

I have but unfortunately I find it fairly unhelpful in terms of practical advice as opposed to moaning! It’s also difficult to differentiate the teachers leaving under duress (capability procedures) and those who have simply had enough of the toxic environment that is education these days! Im
under no pressure from anyone but myself to leave this job - in fact my SLT would be horrified if I was honest with them about this!

Have you ever done exam marking? Three people I know have left the profession recently, one writes material for an exam board, one works for an online education provider, and one works for a teacher coaching company. I have seen similar jobs advertised on LinkedIn.

Yes, I understand. My SLT know exactly how I feel but they are lovely and feel the same themselves! I think we all feel trapped by the salary.

That FB page videos pretty much just tells you to leave and do supply and tutoring and I don’t want to do either of those!

The civil service suggestions look interesting but the whole process seems so lengthy!

It’s also difficult to differentiate the teachers leaving under duress (capability procedures) and those who have simply had enough of the toxic environment that is education these days!

That would be because they are often linked.

I left teaching in September 2023 (after 35 years) and am into my second year as a school secretary and I love it - being at the heart of the school liaising with teachers: admin ,pupils, parents, LEA etc etc but having none of the reponsability.

What about moving into research/higher education? I am currently doing a part-time PhD supplemented by private tuition and exam marking, with some (albeit low paid) undergraduate/masters teaching. Then hopefully will get a faculty teaching post, or a post-doc position.

The civil service. My friend left teaching and now works largely from home for more money and is having her post grad qualification funded through work (she chose to do it, wasn't mandated). Worth a look.

I was bullied out by a truly awful HOD at the end of 2011, got a part-time job at an exam board which I loved. I gradually increased my hours by luck and working really hard (though it was a breeze after teaching - a lot was confidential so couldn't bring it home!) and was FT by 2014.

I then applied for a G7 role in a very closely related Civil Service Arms Length Body on a wish and a prayer and have been doing that since 2016 and love it more and more each day. I make a difference for students but am several steps away from the chalk face. My exam board and teaching experience continue to be useful. I earn a really good salary, work from home 3 days a week and do nothing work related outside of work hours.

Good luck!

I took a large payout and worked in a university (pay was 20k). Then looked at the Civil Service, and went in at EO level (£26k), and then got promoted to HEO within 9 months. I'm now on £35k. You can definitely get out, but you might need to take a pay cut at first. I also tutored online on the side for a few hours a couple of nights a week. There is also the opportunity for further progression in the Civil Service.