Need to escape the classroom

[stressedteachersos]

Can anyone help please?

I work 2 days as a primary teacher and I’m on UPS3. I earn roughly £1300 per month which is about £18k per year. My other half is a teacher too but in management ( class based) so has a lot of responsibility. I have three small children and I/we am/are really struggling to manage it all.

The lack of flexibility and stress of having such young children is really taking its toll on our stress levels and we simply cannot manage. I need to find an alternative job but I think I am going to struggle to find something that is paid similarly with the holidays.

Has anyone been in a similar position? I have the option of doing 3 days in a year or so.

If it's £18k for 2 days a week then the equivalent annual salary is £45k.

You'd be hard pushed to find something on that salary with no experience or training.

Do you need the £18k?

Part of the conundrum is that so many part time jobs are low paid or minimum wage. Realistically, you'd be looking at £10k for two days a week plus you wouldn't get the holidays. People assume part time low paid is low stress but it doesn't always work like that.

What about the education department at the local council? Experience might get your foot in the door then you could potentially move within the council if there's something else you fancy later on. Mind you. I work in social care and that is stress central!

This is what I find hard to answer when we discuss it at home. I went into teaching so I could get the experience to be apply to be an Ed psych but that ship has well and truly sailed. I enjoy working with adults the most I think. I'd love to do lecturing, parenting classes or even something like basic skills ( don't think it's called that) but I'm not sure I have the experience for that either.

Could you teach adults in a college?

You won’t get a job that pays as much which is a lot less stressful. Your options are work more hours in a less stressful job or find a way to cope. It is tough when children are little but it does get easier.

I need to find an alternative job but I think I am going to struggle to find something that is paid similarly with the holidays.

You don’t particularly need the holidays for childcare if your DH is a teacher. Why not long for a job all year round?

I know teachers who are making more tutoring than they do teaching. Might be something to look in to. Although maybe not as big change as you'd like?

Teaching is probably one of the worst jobs for parents of very young children - you never escape the stress of delivering something necessary to your own offspring or someone else's. The kids themselves are usually lovely - but not always! - yet it's hard. If you can find something on the admin side, preferably surrounded by rational adults, for a couple of years it might help. You would have still have to cover part of the holidays, though.

This is what I was expecting to hear!

It's 3 because they are at school, nursery and childminder. This will be a bit easier when my middle child goes to school in 2025. We have a brilliant cleaner who does make things a lot easier. Yes I think we need to look at distribution of jobs tonight. Thank you.

I think you're right. I was looking for a unicorn. We have looked at 1 day a week and it's still an option but I need to find a way to make up some of the shortfall. We could probably manage on about £1k income I think.

Be careful what you wish for here. Teaching on that salary for 2 days, with the holidays, is not bad at all. Maybe get a cleaner rather than dropping your salary.

What about looking at other types of teaching? Lots of online schools have appeared recently, or look into special schools? I moved into special just over two years ago and would never look back! The workload is definitely reduced, though it was a big change at first. I know you've said you don't particularly enjoy teaching, but it could be something to consider?

Thanks @GranPepper . I really do know that we actually have a brilliant roll of the dice in some ways and other people have it much, much harder.

Could you go down to one day a week and then do tutoring on a Saturday morning to make up the money?

Thank you. I think you're right. I think I'd like to work with adults perhaps.

I don’t think you’re going to find a term time only job on that salary outside of teaching with flexibility.

How about a change of school or even sector? Secondary or FE might suit you - there’s often more opportunities to branch out simply as the schools/colleges are bigger and you’re not stuck with the same class all the time so you can gain experience elsewhere. Some schools are happy for you to swap non-teaching periods so you can get to school plays etc. (That is very school dependent though!)

Good idea. I will keep my eyes peeled!

I think he'd divorce me 😂

Might you consider a cleaner as a medium term solution, to clean on the days you're teaching?

I have definitely looked at this and spent hours researching. It's the fact that most parents want tutoring after school which in some ways makes it harder to manage.

You almost need to hire a granny to help get them sorted and drop them off in the morning. I know someone who did this after school. I sometimes feel there is a gap in the market for a girl Friday do anything sort of person!

I'd chuck some money at the problem if you can while you work on a longer term plan to get out. Work is so difficult these days that it might be out of the frying pan into the fire.

I wouldn't bother with Ed Psych. That takes forever to qualify.

I needed to hear this. Thank you. I think I need to try to reframe and be grateful for all the things that do work in our favour.

I felt the same way you did when the kids were younger. But I've also found they need me more as they are older. Taking them to clubs, being around.
3 of that age is HARD.
But it's not forever. And to have that salary on 2 days a week is ideal.
I earn that working 20-25 hours a week. But I do it because it's flexible.
I could only suggest teaching in the school your children go too as an option. Or hope your OH steps up a bit more.

absolutely!! It would make all the difference. Yes I've heard EP is just not worth it anymore and we can't afford the huge cut in salary.

@stressedteachersos that's the whole thing about teaching - the term time hours are SO intense, hence the pay is reasonable!

If you want a less stressful job you will need to either take a pay cut or work more hours. If there was a less stressful option with the same holiday and pay we'd have no teachers!

You need to establish WHY you find teaching so stressful. You may find with childcare drop offs with other jobs are just as stressful.

I teach 4 days a week and have 3 kids. On my day off I do my planning and marking whilst the kids are at school (youngest now 8) which doesn't always fit in so I do some work at weekends. Last week I have worked 48 hours due to marking Y11 exams.

What about working evenings in a supermarket or pub? That way you don't need any childcare for the younger two, can do all the school runs, and your DH can manage the bed time. At minimum wage of £12.21/hour you could do 4 evenings a week say 6pm til 11.30pm which is 16.5 hours so £201 a week. The amount you'd save on childcare it would probably be MORE than you get doing 2 days teaching.