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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

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

91 replies

LauraPashley · 20/09/2012 21:29

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.

OP posts:
mycatoscar · 08/10/2012 20:34

Icepole, you do sound quite down, classic symptoms are not even enjoying things you normally do. I've been there and maybe is an idea to go and speak to your gp. Are you sleeping ok? Enjoying your life outside of school?

Original poster
LauraPashley · 08/10/2012 20:40

I find I absolutely relish my "proper" life as I think of it, ie the days away frOm school. Even if I am bored/too busy/hacked off on my days off I just have to quickly remind myself that I am not at work and I suddenly feel euphoric! Pretty sure that is not a healthy approach either!
My dd wants to be a teacher too, I would do everything in my power to talk her out of that unless things change significantly.
Counting down to half term!!

OP posts:
mycatoscar · 08/10/2012 20:49

Yep me too laurapashley - 9 days to go for me Grin and love the feeling in my days off and only having to handle 3 days at a time at school Smile makes it bearable!

Whenisitmysleepytime · 08/10/2012 21:43

I have 4 working days left and then I am done with teaching! Grin

Dh thinks I'll go back to it once we've settled after moving north. I have a feeling that I'm going to enjoy not teaching WAY more than actual teaching!

Ice pole - do see your gp! Those don't sound like normal feelings. :( hope you start finding some positives somewhere soon!

icepole · 09/10/2012 07:57

I feel happy enough when I am not there. I feel very stressed and overwhelmed when I am there. I am wary of letting anyone know as I am looking for a new job and will need references.

mycatoscar · 09/10/2012 17:02

icepole, you're GP wont tell anyone so please do go and speak to him/her. I get where you are coming from with people at school, is there anyone you think you could trust enough to tell and them keep it to themselves? Then, they could at least be a shoulder to cry on on work days. What job are you looking for? Something else in teaching or something completely different?

mycatoscar · 09/10/2012 17:07

My school week begins tomorrow and I am already getting that dreading feeling inside of me. I've had several emails today from the head about various things - I swear she wants me to feel guilty about being part time! She has made all the INSET days this year on ym days off and keep asking me to book myself on courses which are 50+miles away on my days off Sad. If I moan, then I am not commited and have the wrong priorities apparently, she has told me that whilst I have a family they should not be my priority because teaching is a vocation and the children and parents at my school should be at the front of my mind at all times. I know when I do performance management in a couple of weeks she is going to badger me about being upper pay threshold and what am I contributing and I am soooooo tempted to tell her to put me back on main scale. I don't want my job to be my life and I dont think that is wrong - she does! Angry

sorry, rant over ... as you were LOL

mycatoscar · 09/10/2012 17:09

I already lead 2 subjects (one core) with no extra pay except being upper 1 and organise all the extra curricular/enrichment stuff for one of my subjects, concerts etc.

I just can't see how I can do anymore, or why I should.

ItsMeYourCathy · 09/10/2012 17:17

I've had a total gutsful. I feel at the moment I'm part of a system that's sets up kids to fail and I hate it. Sad

LaTrucha · 09/10/2012 17:21

Very interesting to read this thread. And quite heartening for me in a selfish way.

I left teaching when DD was bornn nearly 5 years ago and have been a SAHM ever since. WhileI don't regret it, I do find myself panicking that I am unemployable and really feel quite vulnerable.

Can I ask, those of you who tutor, when do you do it? I'm guessing it would be out of school hours, which is exactly when I can't do it due to looking after the DCs

icepole · 09/10/2012 21:04

I want out but initially will need to be in a school so we can relocate. Considering supply even though money is awful just so I can just clock in and out.

I didn't go in today. I don't feel 100% but normally would have gone in but I just couldn't face it, feel guilty now. Trying to make a decision about tomorrow now. I wish my dad was still around, he would give me good advice!!

TeamEdward · 09/10/2012 21:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Whenisitmysleepytime · 09/10/2012 21:42

Oh no! Sounds like it has been a bad week so far for everyone! :(

I can't believe heads actually say out loud that you needed to out your family second! Shock. I'm sure lots of them think it but to say it! Shock

mycatoscar · 09/10/2012 21:59

Oh, she's said it and written it in emails too! She is unmarried and lives with just her animals - hasn't got a clue what it's like to ever have to consider anyone else!

slambang · 09/10/2012 22:16

I escaped -hehehehe! Grin and the grass really is greener.

I was primary for about 9 years. I left when ds1 started school himself as I wanted to be around his first term or so. I always thought I'd go back but never did and now teaching is a distant bad dream memory.

For those asking what there is to do after teaching - I've done further education support work , tutoring and ESOL (yes, still teaching really), writing resource materials, benefits advice work for a charity, and am now an employment adviser.

The pros of being out - not a single one of the jobs since teaching has been anywhere near as time consuming, guilt inducing or stressful (despite evening hours, crazy deadlines and 'challenging' service users).

The cons of being out - not a single one of the jobs I've done since teaching has been anywhere near as well-paid, secure, occasionally rewarding or has had the close-knit supportive staff bonds of a school staffroom.

Do I miss it? Yes
Would I go back? Hell no.

TeamEdward · 09/10/2012 22:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SpudtheScarecrow · 09/10/2012 22:18

LaTrucha, I'm exactly like you, though 7 years out now and 3 DCs. I have times when I really miss being part of a school community and in a classroom but the thought of all the other stuff makes me not keen to go back.

I have taken on a couple of tutoring jobs in the last year, just a couple of times a week but like you say, they are out of school hours so not great for childcare. I'd like to expand that if there was a way of doing it during the school day but haven't worked out how yet.

I have also thought about going back as a TA once all my children are in school and I don't need to earn enough to cover full time childcare.

dontcallmehon · 09/10/2012 22:39

Tutoring doesn't fit perfectly with dcs, but it works ok for me. I do work weekends and do an hour or two most evenings in the week - often when dc are in bed. I rely on dh and help from family sometimes, but I get an extra hour at home with dc in the morning, get to pick them up from school and have tea with them everyday and have all day with preschool ds. Plus I get to go to every school play etc.

dontcallmehon · 09/10/2012 22:43

I do some tutoring online too, so actually working from home.

Original poster
LauraPashley · 09/10/2012 23:22

The cons of being out - not a single one of the jobs I've done since teaching has been anywhere near as well-paid, secure, occasionally rewarding or has had the close-knit supportive staff bonds of a school staffroom.

Garrrr this is the bit that keeps me here, especially the pay and security. Makes me feel very trapped. Even the FT jobs I think of don't pay as much as PT teaching.

OP posts:
LaTrucha · 10/10/2012 09:37

Online tutoring souds good.

icepole · 10/10/2012 14:54

How do you on line tutor? Part of my issue is I teach drama so not much call for tutoring.

I saw gp today as I thought my glands were swollen and felt rotten. Signed off for the rest of the week with post viral fatigue and blood tests getting done next week as apparently my thyroid is swollen. I embarrassed myself by saying 'it might be stress' and bursting into tears.

mrsbob · 10/10/2012 16:47

Like a lot of you I got fed up of the classroom. Took me 14 years to get really cheesed off! Then the opportunity to take redundancy arose and I was first in the queue lol! I now work for the LEA as a home tutor, going to homes and working with children who cannot go into school for a variety of reasons. It's perfect as I can fit it round school hours and plan my own timetable so can rearrange things so I can still go to school events. Can't see me going back in the classroom to be honest. Good luck to all of you looking for a way out!

dontcallmehon · 10/10/2012 16:50

I teach English, so obviously there is a heavy demand for tutoring in my subject. Basically I set work and mark it online, send over resources to students and supplement this with Skype tutorials (for an additional charge) where requested.

LaTrucha · 10/10/2012 18:09

Did you set up your own business or work for another?