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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

Where to look for a new non teaching job?

33 replies

tilliebob · 28/09/2014 19:30

I've had it, totally had it with teaching/parents/staff room politics blah blah blah. Where do you start looking for a job outside of teaching? I must have lots of transferrable skills - but don't know where to start looking/who to ask for advice.

You know it's bad when you have back to work blues on a Sunday night but don't actually work Mondays......Sad

OP posts:
mrsmilesmatheson · 28/09/2014 19:47

What about supply? Tutoring? Childminding?

Or working for an educational publisher or resource/training provider?

Let me know if you find anything Smile I'd love to get out but we need my income Hmm

Original poster
tilliebob · 28/09/2014 20:04

I only work 3 days just now but I've hung on as we also need the money and the holidays worked with having dc. However, I am ready to snap. Over 20 years in the job and facing over 20 until I can retire - I can't bear it!

OP posts:
areyoubeingserviced · 28/09/2014 20:06

What about private tutoring ?

chocoshopoholic · 28/09/2014 20:14

Museums/galleries or teacher training?

rollonthesummer · 28/09/2014 20:31

I feel the same. We are also feeling the pinch as DH hasn't had a pay rise for ages and I could do more days (only PT at the moment) but as I come home in tears most days now, I'm not sure my emotions would be able to handle it?

I would love to work in educational publishing. I would love to work as a teacher in the children's ward of a hospital, but have no idea how to find out about either of those roles?

I have done tutoring and for the amount of preparation required to be good, the pay was appalling. It also has to be done outside of school hours which is pointless when you have 4 children of your own.

My pension is going to be awful as I've been part time for so long, so the thought of either working until I die, or upping my days so I can work full time to give me a hope of a pension, but being sacked for being an emotional wreck who can't cope, doesn't appeal either. I am being OTT and dramatic, I know-it's a Sunday night! I feel that I've only managed to get such good obs and PMRs because I have half the week off to prepare! If I went full time, I might not. The stress is unbelievable and I have a really really hard class this year with management who don't care. I need to get out. I've been teaching for 16 years and if the retirement age of 67 is to be believed (though my pension forecast predicts I'll get about 20p a year), I've still got 30 years to go...

Sorry to be no help at all...

honeysucklejasmine · 28/09/2014 20:35

I left teaching at Easter, and work in medical needs now, tutoring. Great fun, no planning, no marking. Variable hours, but if you don't mind then that's great.

rollonthesummer · 28/09/2014 20:46

How did you find the role, honeysuckle and what exactly is medical needs?

honeysucklejasmine · 28/09/2014 21:41

Its the people that teach the sick kids who can't get in to school. Physical or mental health needs. I got in to it by talking to the pastoral leaders (HoY/equivalent) at school about it and asking for the contact details of the person who runs it. There should be one in every lea.

honeysucklejasmine · 28/09/2014 21:46

By variable hours I Kean very part time. Its only during school hours. No evenings etc. But can be cancelled etc if the child is too ill or the like. And amount of children varies through the year. Some are very consistent but you also get the odd kid who broke their leg needing lessons for a few weeks. Not a consistent income, but I get paid my hourly rate ( found on your school payslip) so its great. Ideally schools provide work. In practise I have my USB of all the lessons I ever taught and just crack them out to the child. No planning, just talking through old lessons I taught previously. I'm not paid to mark, so the main contact asks me to make sure I don't so I'm not having the Mick taken from me. I ask them to do things like read through the chapter, or make a list of questions on things they didn't understand.

rollonthesummer · 28/09/2014 21:47

That sounds really interesting-I'd like to find out more about that. Can you possibly tell me the job title of your line manager or your job title? If I contact the LEA to ask about such roles, who do I ask for?

honeysucklejasmine · 28/09/2014 22:10

I'm technically a self employed "supply teacher" but it really is called medical needs. So ask the lea to speak to the coordinator of the medical needs provision. My "line managers" email address is as simple as [email protected] sort of thing.

rollonthesummer · 28/09/2014 22:20

Brilliant, I will do that. Did you find the role through a supply agency or are you properly 'self employed and have to do your own taxes' etc etc!?

Thank you so much, that's really helpful.

misslaughalot · 28/09/2014 22:27

I'm a former teacher and now work for an educational software company, I found my job in the TES under the 'other workplaces' section. There's always a wide variety of jobs there, but might be worth a look?

www.tes.co.uk/other-teaching-and-lecturing-jobs/

honeysucklejasmine · 28/09/2014 22:30

I am fully self employed and do my own taxes. Smile

Original poster
tilliebob · 29/09/2014 08:00

My friend, bless her, spent last night googling away too and sending me links! I suppose I've always been wary of leaving the whole local govt excellent pension/sick pay arrangements too. I've looked at lots of things but there's nothing either at the moment in the areas I am looking or that I am qualified for. Guess I need to just keep looking.

OP posts:
TuTuTired · 30/09/2014 15:06

Have you thought about FE?

My last job was in an FE college. Our Safeguarding Officer, Student Services Manager, one of the student advisors and two of our library staff were ex-teachers.

Charities working with young people often ask for QTS for the better paid education/welfare roles.

Local authority? Education welfare officers, SEND officers etc?

geogteach · 30/09/2014 21:29

LEA's have non- medical tutors as well as medical. I'm one! We deal with kids who are out of school for non-medical reasons, mostly exclusions but also pregnant school girls, kids waiting for places at SEN school and some who simply move into the area and are hard to place. I have a zero hours contract so hours are variable but don't have to do my own tax or anything. We mostly work one to one, we have to plan as kids are not in a school so no one to set work, marking I do with the kid as the work is done. I like it, lots of variety but you need to be flexible, you are teaching all subjects to whoever you get given!

rollonthesummer · 30/09/2014 22:17

That sounds exactly the sort of thing I'd like to do, geogteach. Can I ask how you found the role? Is it within school hours-how far in advance do you know you'll be working? How many days approx do you work and how are you paid-is it an hourly rate? Supply type rates?

Sorry for all the questions-obviously, you could PM me if you don't want to share details on here?

Original poster
tilliebob · 30/09/2014 22:20

I should prob have said I'm in Scotland and we have different systems up here - no LEA's etc. I have on various websites but can't see anything I'm remotely qualified for.

OP posts:
threepiecesuite · 30/09/2014 23:39

I am desperately looking to get out too. 11 years and I'm at breaking point.

rollonthesummer · 01/10/2014 08:10

It's so depressing. Do other jobs have so many people so desperate to leave?

I know lots of nurses, people that work in IT, a few dentists and doctors and lawyers and they moan about red tape but aren't wishing go leave. Predominantly though, I know teachers-lots of them- and they are not working at full capacity because of the changed in the last 3-5 years. It's not even sustainable how it is and things are getting worse.

I want my kids taught by happy, motivated teachers free to teach HOW they think works for each class. Am happy to follow a NC (well, when it's not a stupid one like the new Y1 curriculum!) but let me teach a lesson how I want to, without having to teach every lesson in the same boring way you've deemed 'right'.

Have you seen Nicky Morgan's promise to reduce our workload? Just before an election, too.

Didn't they say that at the last election...?

geogteach · 01/10/2014 16:22

I think the role was advertised on either the LEA website or eteach (sorry can't remember which). Pay is hourly rate based on your point on the teachers pay scale. We fill out a weekly availability form and then when there is a student to place we get called by the office. Work is very variable, can go weeks at this time of year with nobody, then later in the year as more kids get excluded can get very busy. You also never know how long the placement will last (depends when they get allocated a school), can vary from days to 6 months+. Also you can get kids / families who don't engage which has an impact on your pay. I would say I average 10 hours a week (but I have another role 2 days a week so am technically only available for 15 hours). You can claim a max of 5 hours a day, which are worked between 9 and 3. Feel free to ask more if you want.

rollonthesummer · 01/10/2014 16:33

That's great-sounds very interesting!

Are you based in one secondary school? Or a PRU?

threepiecesuite · 01/10/2014 18:26

I've been looking at education jobs outside of standard secondary teaching. I love working with children, don't love all of the other crap.
The pay is very low though. I saw a Learning Officer post, putting on workshops for groups of children at a local large visitor attraction. It looks like something I'd absolutely love, but £17k for 30 hours a week is awfully low.

geogteach · 01/10/2014 18:38

No base as such but support staff work out of an office. We work in students homes or libraries if home not suitable. We are essentially lone workers, one possible downside, I don't see my colleagues except at training days but there is help available via phone or email.
3 piece suite my other role is similar to the one you describe, leading school group visits, pay is absolutely pants. Love working outside but there are several downsides, mostly to do with accompanying adults... staff who think its their day off, parents who take phone calls while your talking to name but two.