If you are working in education...

[LorlieS]

With the current staff retention crisis, I just wondered how many of us are (or have recently) made the decision to leave our roles in education.
Is it as bad as we really think it is?

I'm planning an exit. However- that's after 25 years in, so it's maybe time for a change.
Behaviour is the drive for me to leave sadly.

I'm 55, been teaching for 28 years in primary.
I'm planning on retiring in the next 2 years. Just need to get my finances a bit more organised.

I'd leave tomorrow if I could. Totally worn out with the whole job.

And if I hear.....Ofsted ready again I'll scream!

I'm leaving after 20+ years. It's an open secret in the staffroom of my very lovely primary school ‐we're all looking to get out in the near to mid-term. It's galling, because our school is a good one in so many ways, but the pressures of Ofsted, local authority and maintaining results in a challenging setting is just too much. We're all on our knees. What has made us collectively 'snap' in terms of workload is the subject leadership expectations which, with all of us having multiple middle leadership roles, just feels insurmountable combined with the regular workload of 'simply' class teaching.

I'm 20 years in and moving on...

well, I am ok at the moment, but keeping an eye on the latest "new" initiatives to "drive progress" - of course not new at all, and only drive us round in circles. Potentially a deal breaker for me if it starts to dominate the school. Been there, done that, not up for doing it again.

I don’t miss the insane expectations compared to the pay, I don’t miss being beaten up. I love being able to take holiday whenever I want, I love the flexibility of my new job (WFH, flexible hours).

Can I ask what it is you do now please?

Taking early retirement in 18 months, will look for something pt ideally wfh. I have nothing left in the tank for teaching.

Ive just started in a new role, it’s absolutely insane, the workload the lack of support from county (I’m SENCO), my head is lovely but I’m giving it 2 years, although I’m fairly well paid I can’t imagine I’ll be able to carry on in this role long-term.

I'm leaving at the end of April to be a SAHM. Can't cope with the job and parenting four little kids at the same time - two of whom have special needs. I'm off sick with stress and migraines at the moment - I've had a headache every single day for at least two months. It's not really work that's the problem just a combination of work and home together. I'll probably go back to teaching once my kids are older.

I’m in the process of starting a business. I attended a free business workshop run by the local council and more than half of the attendees were teachers who wanted to get out or had recently quit.

Also to add recruiting has always been a challenge in my area, for various reasons including being close to outer London weighted areas but not actually included, and currently it’s really awful, restricted gcse options due to staffing, lots of schools reducing MFL in ks3 due to staffing, even non-shortage subjects tricky to recruit for. My dc has had multiple teachers in most subjects during GCSE years. My school had 50% turnover last year and only has reasonable staffing now (only a couple of teachers down) due to a charismatic head. We have been teaching double classes in the hall for science ks3 because there just isn’t a teacher.

I'm 50.
My initial plan is to retire at 60, when I can take a chunk of my pension without it being reduced. Then either take the rest at the same time reduced (probably) or wait a bit and take it then.

BUT...they are changing the min retirement age to 57 in 4 years time, and a big part of me thinks stuff it, I'll just go then!

@Meredusoleil I was a TA and now do an admin job in Children’s Services

I do love teaching but I'm in a job share doing two days, and it's more than enough for me.

I'm planning to do a bit of supply and tutoring on the side.

I will never go back to having sole responsibility of one class. Far too much stress and expectations.

Yes. I've recently handed in my notice. I'm tired of the expectations, responsibility and behaviour management for such little pay. I think I've just lost the spark unfortunately.

I have been a teacher since 1988. I took voluntary redundancy in 2019 as the best way of dealing with burnout, then took my pension with actuarial reduction. After a break to address the worst of the burnout and anxiety I moved house to be near more schools and did supply, initially working more or less full time on short contracts. That became too stressful too (not really the pandemic itself, but it's worse since) and now I just do a day a week with adult learners. When this contract ends in May I'm really planning to get out completely. I'm a good supply teacher who gets lots of repeat work and requests, but even that is becoming unsustainable. I'm 59, so the government would really like me to work full time in teaching for another 8 years. That would be utterly impossible.

I left at Easter. Now working in a SEND admin role for county. I just couldn’t keep going any more.

Just to add, I did have to take a 10k pay cut…

I've only been in a few years and while it's tempting to leave with behaviour (At primary level!) I still love my job for the most part. I wouldn't recommend teaching to anyone unless they're childless or don't mind not spending the evenings etc with them.

send, I'm also looking at up to 10k pay cuts, but at least, I think I would be able to enjoy weekends and probably not work most evenings. I think that'll be worth it.
London, I know. I'm mentoring trainee teachers at the moment, and I really struggle to remain upbeat, especially as the pace of training is quite gruelling, yet I know it doesn't really let up once qualified. Their university tutor wryly referred to our trainees as 'lambs to the slaughter' and it felt so, so wrong.

I plan on leaving in the next two years maximum. Went on maternity leave after only ever working in teaching and my god the break has made me want to break up with the toxic relationship that is the teaching profession. I'm part of the FB group life after teaching and there are tens of thousands of teachers on there all seeking to leave ASAP. Many people will now walk without a job to go to or long term savings. Parents should be very worried!

I moved to a new school in September and actually feel more invigorated and excited about my job than I have in years. Just as well really, as i can't afford a pay cut and I've got at least 17 years until retirement.

I've been working for 26+ years in the same leafy primary. I've never had to work so hard with behaviour management techniques. It's gone from maybe having a really challenging pupil in a year group, but it being fairly unusual, to having 2 or 3 guaranteed in every class.

I left a long time time ago because of behaviour and stupid workload. I have to say, at the risk of being flamed, that if parents would be a bit tougher on their offspring, and demand proper behaviour in the classroom, it would have been easier. There were determined mums (usually!) in my school who expected their children to behave and learn. I would have done anything it took for them!