Have you left teaching?

[crochetmonkey74]

I think I'm there decision wise. Am considering a move to part time first. Anyone here done it? What are your experiences?

I moved into alt ed. I'm capped at mps 6 but my biggest class is 8 students. It's been a game changer!

Yep! Retrained in a different sector and opened my own business. Have never looked back 🤩

Moved to a different public sector organisation, love it, hybrid working and wellbeing is a priority.

Yes - the best thing I've done for my health and wellbeing. Just turned 50 and there's a whole new world beyond the classroom.

Yes. I tried retraining - did a 4 year university course but had two catastrophic events on my qualification year so that career has finished. I'm now back in schools as an exams officer.

What are you up to now?

Yes left in April 2019. Now work for a charity. Far and away the best thing I ever did. I still give thanks daily that I don’t have to go back.

@crochetmonkey74 I work for a dementia charity. A combination of group therapy sessions and safeguarding/ signposting home visits. I thought I couldn't do anything but teach, but it turns out I had loads of transferable skills. It felt like such a big move, now I feel like a different person without the stress.

Moved back into industry, Much better work/life balance, Considerably less micromanaging.
And much better Mental health.

I dropped down to 4 days and it made zero difference, so I'd say 3 days or less to make it worth while.

Yes, I moved into learning and development. Had to make my peace with taking a pretty significant pay cut, but after 2 years was earning more than as a secondary HOD. You just have to hold your breath and leap!

I went into HR, then L&D, and now back as a generalist. Also took a pay cut initially but I’d overtaken the teacher pay scale within 5years of leaving teaching.

I don’t miss teaching. Sometimes I dream that I’m back in the classroom and I’m so relieved when I wake and it’s not real.

I'm still in SEN but now three days a week, retraining into a specialised LSA role. Less money, not such a good pension but loving the opportunity and also NEVER having that Sunday sinking feeling.

I did, but I was in early education/preschool teaching which many view as glorified babysitting (incorrect) and has a salary so unlivable, many preschool teachers would laugh if they weren’t crying instead. Ended up in an admin job, moving up into HR, and within 3 years, I’m on more than double the teaching salary. I literally started as a part time admin on a higher salary than I got as a full time educator

Kinda. I left completely for a few years and retrained in something else, but I can’t earn enough in the other thing so I’m working in alternative provision now to supplement it. I’m so much happier and mentally healthier!

Yes, I left after 22 years. I now work part-time as a TA and and studying part-time as well.

Yes- I went part time for a year after having my son. (0.6) I found it a little more manageable but ultimately it was still working full time hours for part time pay. Still had all the stresses of observations and parents evenings and counting down until the next holiday.
Personally, I would recommend a move away from teaching. I got out a few years ago and life is so much better. Sunday night dread is a thing of the past, the constant of feeling of never being good enough no matter how hard you work has disappeared. Earn less now, but it's a small price to pay to have my life back.

Left Dec 2019 to work for a large private sector company. Took a very slight pay cut, but was earning more than double my teaching salary within 4 years.

I’m interested to hear what sort of roles people have moved into within the private sector, and what your subject specialism is (if you don’t mind sharing). Coming from an arts/humanities background I didn’t see anything I could have got into without paying to retrain because (just as when I was a recent graduate) there are so many people with those degrees that the interesting roles don’t seem available. (I did retrain but in something completely different and I don’t regret it, but it’s always piquing when someone says they earn double their teaching salary after a few years!)

I'm wondering this too! Where are these L&D jobs advertised??

Changed from Secondary English to Marketing Manager in insurance. Hugely satisfying, lots of good friends.

@bellocchild thank you. was it just a case of seeing the advert and applying, or did you have previous experience from before teaching?

Yes. Happy I've changed.

Yep! Never regretted leaving, even with a 20k pay cut to work in an educational charity. Quickly got pay rises and by the time you account for tax, I was only earning about £50 a month less before I went on mat leave.

@AlertCat to be fair I'd worked in project management before teaching, so just went for a low level PMO role after 10 years of teaching. I taught computer science, so also had that in my favour. I genuinely believe that if you're hard working and semi intelligent and can get any role in a large organisation, then moving around can be straightforward.