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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

I want to leave teaching.

45 replies

Hugepeppapigfan · 19/12/2017 00:15

I have given myself 3 years to get out of teaching. This is when my DC will be school age. I want to be able to pick her up from school at least once a week and be able to spend time with her on the weekend instead of marking and planning. I am SLT and have been denied any form of part-time working. So I want out. Teaching takes over my life and life is too short. We couldn’t survive without my salary so I need a plan. Has anyone else been the main breadwinner and left? What do you do now? I would love some advice.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hugepeppapigfan · 19/12/2017 00:19

I should have said that I love teaching and I even love being on SLT. I just hate the workload that encroaches on every evening and weekend and the holidays too! Today I was told I should be spending all my lunch breaks helping pupils to catch up with their work (10 mins for a quick bite to each though!) and I think there’s something wrong with this job if we are expecting teachers to work every evening and at the weekends and during all their lunch breaks!

OP posts:
Lucyben14 · 19/12/2017 00:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

parrotonmyshoulder · 19/12/2017 06:54

I think there’s something wrong with your school. Why not look for a different one?

Thehairthebod · 19/12/2017 07:08

Today I was told I should be spending all my lunch breaks helping pupils to catch up with their work (10 mins for a quick bite to each though!)

You can and should refuse to do this. I recently had to look this stuff up with my union because we were being asked to do the same and teachers are entitled to a break the same length as the pupils, which they are not paid for, so should not undertake supervision of kids.

I am the least assertive person ever, but I said no and made it clear I knew my rights on it and since then things haven't been pushed as far. I think as teachers we all need to make our line in the sand clear, otherwise we just get shat on from an increasingly greater height.

larrygrylls · 19/12/2017 07:13

Remember that in any other job you will probably start with 4 weeks holiday a year, so you will need to sort out holiday childcare.

What are your qualifications? What did/do you teach.

You could find another school and drop to part time if you were prepared to give up SLT role. That would clearly means concomitant drop in earnings.

Teachers do have many skills common to management (I went the other way, from management to teaching) but the tricky bit is in getting employers to see it.

Another possibility is educational consultancy. There are quite a few roles in this sector if you research it.

PlateOfBiscuits · 19/12/2017 07:15

I’m trying to make a plan to leave because of my health but I keep chickening out and just say “next year” over and over again.

I think a plan is a really good place to start though. I’m just not sure what this plan should look like...

nuttyknitter · 19/12/2017 07:25

A colleague of mine left teaching to work for a children's charity who do a lot of developing curriculum resources and presenting in schools. She loves it, but the down side is that although she was originally on a comparable salary there's little pay profession or chance of promotion.

Babypythagorus · 19/12/2017 07:25

Try a different school. They’re not all like that.

Or try FE - in my (limited) experience it’s a bit less bonkers.

babysloth · 19/12/2017 07:32

I left, and do have several of my colleagues, I actually don't know one who regrets it.
I was teaching in London so have seen many of my colleagues ages 40+ sell up their London properties and down size or move out.
Quite a few now do tutoring, you can charge £40+ per hour in the area I used to teach and their is high demand for qualified teachers (at my previous school several TAs did tutoring as well). I know some who do education outreach work for galleries/ charities. One is now working at a university observing student teachers. One owns a b&b and another rents out holiday properties. One has opened a tea room. I have two former colleagues who are now TAs.
In my case DH was looking to set up his own company but isn't the most organised person (he works in a creative field) so we have set it up together, I'm loving it.

GoJohnnyGoGoGoGo · 19/12/2017 07:50

DH hasn't officially left. He originally worked in a rough academy over an he away. He left his school and took some time out and stayed at home look after our toddler. His MH was really suffering at the time so although we were skint it was totally necessary for him to start his recovery. Now he works part time in a local college and he loves it. A totally different atmosphere to his previous school and he's enjoying teaching again. He was convinced he'd leave teaching all together and had looked outside education for work. But he found it hard to find a suitable job that paid as well. We do live in the middle of nowhere so competitive jobs are hard to come by.

Paperdolly · 19/12/2017 07:57

I've not heard any of my teacher colleagues regret leaving teaching. I'm not a teacher but work in a school where I have observed more and more pressure put on them each year. More and more is asked of them as time goes on and unless they are assertive enough to express their rights they don't get a break. No job is worth this risk to your health. Where can you see yourself in 5 years if you stay? If you say " The same or worse" get out now. 💐

KTD27 · 19/12/2017 08:07

Following with interest- I would love to know what else is out there

Original poster
Hugepeppapigfan · 19/12/2017 08:11

Lots of good points that I will reply to after school today. Thank you.

But, Larry..., 4 weeks holiday is less than the statutory minimum so I highly doubt that will be the case in another job! ;-)

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tinypop4 · 19/12/2017 08:11

Could you try and move schools? And/or drop the SLT responsibility if it's adding to your workload? Especially if you love teaching.
A couple of years ago I felt like you. I did take a year out as it conincided with my DH sabbatical overseas. When we came back I took a job in a small private school which I wouldn't have previously considered. It's transformed my life - I'm still busy but holidays are longer, breaks are respected and you don't have the fear of ofsted/unrealistic target grades breathing down your neck.
It really has made me stick to my job - have a look around

mummyhaschangedhername · 19/12/2017 08:33

OP - I think it's 4 weeks plus bank holidays. Which really isn't much at all, in jobs like my husbands there is no degree of flexibility, so he needs to use his annual leave for any appointments etc and give a months notice for everything.

What's SLT? Is it ALNs?

I guess some ideas that come to mind are, advisory teachers, such as ASD teachers, not sure fully what is required for that though.

Home tuition for the council, can do full or part time and while you will cover a wide range from infants to secondary school, most of the work should be given via the school, so shouldn't be too much extra work.

Better still. Get to another school, a school that will support you and help you have some flexibility, not all schools are the same.

PinkAvocado · 19/12/2017 08:42

To those saying not all schools are the same, that is not my experience within the state sector in terms of the negatives (especially within counties).

No one I know has regretted leaving. Jobs they’ve gone to include; teaching in the private sector, working for charities (this seems to offer flexible hours as it is done from home), governors’ clerk, publishing and becoming a sommelier!

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 19/12/2017 20:34

I agree with others- try another school before you give up.

You could look for a Prep with a good staff discount if that is something you are interested in for your DD. Or my other tip is look for a school where the Head, and as many of SLT as possible, have small children. I hate to say it, but I would be looking for a female Head with small children as still, in this day and age, it's more likely a male Head will have a PT or SAHP doing much of his childcare for him.

Original poster
Hugepeppapigfan · 19/12/2017 21:54

I’m in primary and have been looking out for PT regular teacher jobs in other schools but none have been advertised in the past year. They have all been full time. Being the main breadwinner means that I can’t take the risk of supply work or tutition. I’ve given myself a few year’s deadline to get out so I’m hoping something will come up by then. It is a huge shame because I don’t hate my work. I do not want to have my life taken over by the ridiculous workload. Other schools are by and large the same. I know lots of teachers in this area.

OP posts:
BoldMcCoo · 19/12/2017 22:26

If- as you say- you love teaching, I wouldn't be too quick to leave. Look for a role in another school first because what if you regret getting out without trying elsewhere? How about an independent school, or even a college?

Working anywhere else is very hard when it comes to childcare. The minimum holidays is 21 days plus bank hols and most places are full of parents all wanting the same half terms/holidays off.

Appuskidu · 20/12/2017 10:52

Presume your salary is higher end if you’re SLT-do you need to earn the same as your current salary or is there some flexibility?

Areallthenamestaken · 20/12/2017 14:56

Could you try SEN? I left mainstream because I had no work/life balance. Now I teach children with ASD in a special needs school and I never work from home and I always take my full hour lunch break. It’s the best decision I ever made!

HellsBellsnBucketsofBlood · 20/12/2017 14:59

What salary do you need and how many years leadership experience do you have?

missyB1 · 20/12/2017 15:00

My ds left teaching last year and is now a safeguarding officer for vulnerable adults in the community. He absolutely loves his new job.

Original poster
Hugepeppapigfan · 20/12/2017 19:06

Yes I’m SLT so have a higher salary than a class teacher. I am in a primary so have a 0.8 teaching commitment. As the main earner I do need to still earn a good salary but we could make savings on our outgoings. Realistically I would still need to be earning around £30k though which is quite high when I’ve looked at jobs sites. I am hoping DH can increase his earning during the time I’ve set to plan my escape!

OP posts:
AssassinatedBeauty · 20/12/2017 19:16

I left teaching and have a job with 4 weeks holiday plus bank holidays. It's truly delightful! It's not been a problem, I don't miss the holidays as I'm not stressed out to the max at work. It's great to be able to choose when to take holiday and I've been able to use holiday clubs etc for DS as needed.

I was very fortunate to find a job back in my old career that I did before I was a teacher. I'm not sure how typical that is, so it will probably be harder if you have only ever been teaching. Do you have any ideas about the sort of thing you might want to do?

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