Do you want to/are you going to leave teaching?! What would you do instead?

[LauraPashley]

I think it is a pipe dream but for the 1st time in 10yrs I am thinking I want out...but is there anything out there that pays roughly the same and would want an ex-teacher? Feeling stuck!! Am primary btw.

That's exactly it.

I think the education system is breaking me. I am considering supply even though I won't get to do my subject and it will be awful I would have some flexibility and I wouldn't take work home all the time. I want to try and do something self employed just can't quite figure out what.

I'm really considering supply - I might even phone an agency today... if I get a minute. I would be a SAHM, if only DH would agree.

So sad that there are so many teachers desperate to leave the proffesion.

Kingthistle we were all just momentarily frozen through complete jealousy!!

It is sad isn't it? I came onto mn the other day and one of the thread titles was "I have whooping cough" and my immediate reaction was oh I wish I did too!!

I am trying to work out how much my current class is making me feel like this as opposed to the job itself, but it's a long time even till next summer to be this miserable. Would be a SAHM in a heartbeat, my last mat leave was one of the periods of my life that I've really enjoyed the most.

I had a similar thought the other day! Was walking down the stairs and I was thinking it would be nice if I fell and broke my ankle. Definitely time for a change ASAP.

I did. I left after about 10 years. Secondary.
I initially went into prison ed and become an advice and guidance worker.
I now work as a TA and HLTA in primary - love it. Keep wondering about going back into teaching as a primary teacher and then think of the increased work load. I already do a lot of work outside of work hours as a TA - but it;'d be even more as a teacher wouldn't it?!

The prison paid roughly the same and I had 12 weeks holiday but chose when I had them. the TA work is rubbish pay and the HLTA not much more - but less stress :)

Somewhere on MN there are the thread about me contemplating leaving and when I finally did leave.

Mine too!

What's it like teaching in a prison Hula?

I had those exact thoughts about wanting to break a bone when I was a new teacher. After that I was just delighted when the childminder phoned in sick

I do feel like I have to defend my decision to people though; I need to care a little bit less I think.

Sunday night...I'd pay good money for a broken bone right about now!

IHeartKingThistle - It's different but I enjoyed it. I actually only taught there briefly before becoming an advice and guidance worker there instead. Still within education and still required to have any teaching qualifications. I did one to one interviews with the men, discussing their education and work choices both in prison and ready for release. With long term prisoners and lifers it was about managing their time in prison. There were a whole load of security implications but it was also very interesting and could be very fulfillying. But wyou can get a bit weighed down with the whole prison environment.

I taught for five years and from three years in wanted to do something else, even though I was a good teacher and my classes did well (Y6 mainly). I set up my own business with my DH.

We now live in a rented house, having sold our house of two years to set up the business, we're paying back lots of loans and struggling with several years of shitty summers in a weather-dependent trade. Occasionally I wistfully think of the salary and security I left behind me - you need to think very carefully about that, because I don't think we did enough. However there's light at the end of the tunnel, some of the loans are about to be paid off, which will free up a load of saving money. And at no time do I ever wish I was back in the middle of OFSTEDs, parents' evenings or dealing with 34 children who really, really don't want to learn about a Sikh Gurdwara or a subordinate clause!

My dh has come up with an idea. He set up his own business recently and I do his paperwork, he's going to send me on bookkeeping courses and has suggested that in time I could work self employed as a bookkeeper. Anyone think it could work?

Oh I don't know but to be honest any alternative sounds good?! I bet there would be people on here in that line of work who could advise? Good luck if you go for it!

I resigned today! I feel a huge sense of relief. I've no idea what I am going to do but at the moment I just don't care.

Well done ohnevermind. How did they take it?

Oh congratulations!! What a wonderful feeling that must be!

I was so bloody miserable teaching. I now tutor about 25 hours a week and keep being asked for more. Planning to open a centre in future, so I can accommodate all my students. No childcare to pay. I pick dcs up every day and drop them at school every morning. I get to SAH with ds. Love it! No stress, no paperwork, I'm good at it and I'm appreciated.

It was an awful class and horrible management that gave me the push. So glad I did it!

Oh God Icepole. I too had the ankle thought the other day. I live teaching and working with youngsters.
I hate box ticking exercises, management putting lots of extra work on us and constant monitoring of every bloody thing we do.

I have those thoughts a lot teamedward, I work 3 days a week and don't ever intend to teach full time ever again! I love the kids mostly but can't stand the politics and what it does to the rest of my life, impact on family etc. my dd tells me she wants to be a teacher, I tell her no she doesn't

Don'tcallmehon, do you work mainly evening and weekends as a tutor? How do you fit your family, child are etc around that?

Finding this thread interesting, because I'm thinking of coming back in!

I qualified in 1995 (secondary, English) but only managed 2 horrific terms in mainstream before fleeing to teach in FE for a decade. It was ok as no classroom management issues, small classes, lots of variety, but the management was awful, poor support and terrible pay. So after having dc1 I trained as an antenatal teacher with the NCT and then got out of FE after having dc2. Have been doing NCT part-time ever since.

Recently I've been toying with the idea of returning to teaching English. Not because I've stopped enjoying NCT but because I'm sick of being self-employed and not having a regular wage. Problem is that permanent fractional posts in FE are now so bloody rare, and I'm worrying that my age and lack of recent experience will count against me (I'm now 46).

Actually what I'd really like to do is be a TA (secondary?), and was thinking that combined with my NCT work I might just about manage to keep body and soul together. (I'm at the top of the salary scale for NCT now, and the work is pretty easy - very little preparation and no marking!!!!)

Have to say - teaching seems to be primarily a young persons job these days. About 3/4 of the teachers at my dc's school are under 30. My sister, who is 50, has just returned to f/t primary teaching (reception) after being a children's centre teacher for 4 years and she's almost on the verge of physical collapse already!

I am wondering if I should see my dr. I am so miserable I am not even enjoying the nice bits of the job. I feel like I can't stand to be there anymore.