People that left teaching and went into another job and ended up coming back? Tell us what job you left to go into and why it didn’t work!? Let’s share so we don’t all make the same mistakes!?

[Se12345]

Hi, let’s share why we left teaching, where we went and why it wasn’t a good decision or if it was a good decision, why it was a good decision.

So many of us are trying to leave different professions. But then we ready and people in other professions are also trying to leave: What is really the best job to get into?

I suspect that there isn’t a “best job” and actually just different roles at different times suit different people.

I left teaching and now write copy/analyse data. I now earn a little more than I would had I stayed in the classroom, but initially I took a pay cut.

I would return to teaching, but possibly a different subject. I didn’t leave teaching because of pupil behaviour, but because of inflexibility around childcare/my HOD.

What is your role called ?

I’ve got a daft title, but the reality is I write short pieces for a B2B publication and do data analysis (but v lightweight analysis - most of what I do is writing copy).

Bumping for you - was watching with interest. Perhaps the lack of replies is reply in itself? I left teaching (I enjoyed it, it was purely a financial decision) for law and I occasionally daydream about the holidays (albeit law has allowed me to work pt for more than ft teaching £ which has given me 2 days per week with the dc while preschoolers)

Every one of my friends who has left teaching has enjoyed what they do next enough to stay out of it, sorry 😬 I think I'd highlight they're not all super happy with their jobs - some may change to other careers in the future, but none will go back to teaching.

In terms of what they did though:

A PE teacher left to become a sports psychologist (obviously retrained)

A primary school teacher left to retrain in medicine, qualified as a nurse and now still works with children

A science teacher left to tutor privately (makes more than he did as a teacher for less hours/stress)

And an International Visit Co-ordinator (private school) left to become a communications manager.

I went into journalism but struggled to find topics to write about, so I started making stuff up on the Internet to get people to write my articles for me.

I’ve got a mate who took a pay cut to work with children and young adults via a charity. Hates the management likes the job
another who went to be a chartered surveyor another who does safeguarding for an organisation

When your children are older, but when you still need holidays to put your kids into holiday clubs, they’re bum

I see what you did there! 😃

I left teaching 7 years ago and now work in higher education. I took a huge pay cut initially but I've progressed and now occupy a role not too far away in salary from my old teaching job (UPS 3). The flexibility is fantastic, I'm not micromanaged, there is no expectation to work beyond contracted hours, and I still get to teach.

I wouldn't go back into schools for all the money in the world. The school holidays aren't worth it - I honestly don't miss them (and yes, I do have a school aged child who goes to holiday club).

Yes, holidays are great if you can afford to actually go anywhere during them.

I don't know anyone who's left teaching for another job and regrets it tbh. They are all hugely relieved. I'm still teaching...

And that’s why you’re here?

Oh God of course. Sorry @randomchap, I have a heavy cold and it’s making me a bit slow on the uptake

Hope you feel better soon.

I don't know anyone who has left teaching and went back to it including myself.

I think I’ll be leaving teaching in the next couple of years. I’m not sure what to go into though. For me, money is the issue. I do like the holidays but it would also be nice to take them when I wanted. But moving over and keeping a good wage and a what puts me off; the risk of having to work back up to it.

Do many ex teachers go back to teaching?

@BusyPoster No, and statistically, returners have a much higher rate of leaving than those who are doing it for the first time - as they've already done it once.

I left 4 years ago to a Civil Service policy & strategy role, didn't have to take a pay cut. It can be boring at times, and horribly fast-paced (esp. with all the staffing cuts and headcount controls, we're expected to do more with so much less) but it's nothing like the demands of teaching. I'll stay I think.

I do know someone who left years ago and did supply teacher recruitment, she ended up coming back after a year and going part time in the classroom.

Having been out for a while now, been made redundant once and currently finding it difficult to get a new job (despite years of experience), the only thing I would say is that the pay, pension and security of employment within teaching are not to be taken lightly. This is despite loving my post-teaching career!

But, whenever I begin wondering about going back into teaching I think about it for all of thirty seconds before I remind myself of the lack of flexibility and the unending labour of planning! It just wouldn’t be worth it…

However, what I would say is that I had jobs before teaching so it was fairly easy for me to consider and apply for external roles. I think that even more teachers would leave if they knew what life could be like in the world outside schools!

I don’t know anyone that has left teaching and gone back!

It’s become a horrible job with no flexibility, continual illness amongst staff (with parents being pressured to send children in no matter what’s wrong with them), high/pointless workload, Ofsted fear and the fact that once you are over 50 or on UPS, your card is pretty much marked-in primary, certainly.

Once you’re forced out, SLT happily take your pay to fill the gaps in the school budget, cover your class with a TA and just spread out your workload amongst the poor staff that are left, causing more stress and pressure for them.

Is this AI?

Not me, but someone I know left teaching to join the police and then went back to teaching.

Wow that’s quite a change! Did you have to spend a long time retraining?

I can’t imagine much worse than being in the police or healthcare