I want to leave teaching.

[Hugepeppapigfan]

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.

In the same position and have considered FE but now thinking I need to leave teaching altogether. I thought I was tied in as we depend on my salary and school holidays so I have driven myself to the point where I cannot carry on and I had a moment of clarity where I realised we will just have to find a way to manage. I will lose my children’s childhoods, I will lose my health, I will lose all of my peace of mind and we can’t afford that more than we can’t afford for me to take a pay cut and for our childcare costs to increase. I want to be less angry all the time and I don’t want my children to see me crying. I don’t know what job I will get but I’ve got past the point of ‘if’ to ‘when’ - I won’t be teaching next September; I will never drag myself through the autumn term again.

I've left but I'm stuffed financially. I haven't found something else yet (but I did take some time out as a SAHM so you're in a better position than me.)

Im so envious of friends in professional roles that are a bit more easier to move around in!

Good luck.

The SLT responsibility will be the aspect that is killing you because as SLT you are not on the same contract as teaching staff and therefore you can be asked to work during lunchtime.

My friend took an MA in special education. She now works part time, rocks in, does some small group work helping children with SEN, then slinks off home with zero work to do. She says herself she’s living the dream. I’d recommend something like this route. There will always be SEN students and preparing and teaching a group of 5 is not going to be anywhere near as stressful as having a full class of 30.

Another friend of mine became a TA and absolutely loves it (although the pay is appalling).

Although seeking out another school or so
something else within education might be a great idea for OP, can we stop with the perpetuation of the myth that SEN is a cop out/ easier? It is not helpful for the children with SEN, their teachers or the education system as a whole.

Move to Asia or the Middle East if you can. You'll regain some work-life balance and save a fortune. Lots of lovely sunshine too and you'll probably have a pool for your kids, free housing, free medical insurance, some sort of relocation allowance and lots of lovely weekends spent at the beach.

I left full time teaching to work in fostering.
I still teach part time.
About five years ago, I realised I could not stay in teaching until I was 60-65.
It was not ‘if I leave’ but ‘when’...I then tackled the question of ‘how’.

Same here really. It’s when. And how.

can we stop with the perpetuation of the myth that SEN is a cop out/ easier?

It isn't easier, but it is very different. I am an SEN teacher to my bones and really love it- more than enough to put up with it's rubbish bits. If I were trapped in mainstream I would be beyond miserable. In fact, I wouldn't be a teacher. I think it's always worth prompting people to think about whether they are in the right sector before they check out altogether. Especially somebody like the OP who actually does like teaching.

Move to a private prep.

I've just gone from state to private. Im now working less hours (three days) but earn several thousands more than my four days in state.

Add in smaller classes, more support, more resources, 4 weeks more holiday.

If you are SLT, I would definitely look into educational consultancy work. Also, remember that your qualification allows you to teach right across the age ranges (although I would recommend some work experience within FE/HE). So you could look at adult learning. Your salary hopes are well suited to roles in colleges or universities (such as quality mentor or study skills tutor). In addition, have a look at civil service jobs. There are frequently teaching roles up on them (or other roles you might well find suit you). Pay can be not amazing but the benefits more than make up for it and once you are in it can be hard to shoe horn you out.

I've just seen a really tempting advisory role but it's part time and already pays £3K less than I am on , so I'd be looking at maybe a £12k pay cut. I know my work life balance would be so much better; I would never have to do another parents evening or have a child or parent shout at me ever again. No more pointless meetings after a full working day. Genuine ability to help others and to innovate and support the wider community. I could work 4 days and get some life back.

But £12k less???

Seriously. Private school!

My DH works in a private school and hates it. He just hates teaching, frankly, and no school would change that.

I’m still teaching and still looking for a way out! Thanks for the suggestions. Private schools are few and far between where I am.

Would be interested to know if you got out of teaching?

I’m still teaching. Still in the same role. This thread popping back up has made me . I can’t see that I’ll be escaping any time soon. I would need to move to a much cheaper house but we want/need to stay here for DC’s admission to a good secondary school. At least I do love the job. Just not the workload. I know I can’t do this forever but have no idea how to get out.

So sorry to see that you are still there OP. It's so hard to get out.

And have you considered some life coaching? It can help to work out a way forward.

Move to an independent secondary with fee remission for staff children? Or all move into a boarding school...

I moved to independent from state and I get paid the same for 0.6 with only enjoyable extra responsibility as I did for 0.8 plus serious extra responsibility in the state. I have 1/4 the amount of students. It's awesome!

Grass isn’t always greener in the private sector-I was treated appallingly in the last independent school I worked in and workload was horrific. Have moved back to state, dropped all management responsibility and am now only teaching 3 days per week. Salary almost halved on paper but take home has only gone down £300 a month (was paying schools fees prior). Am doing some freelancing and exam marking to make up shortfall, plus less commuting expenses etc means I’m not feeling it as much as I thought I would. I’m loving not being responsible for anything after 10 years of being responsible for everything. I have got loads of KS3 marking to do though but I’d rather that the crap i was dealing with before. It is worth changing schools just to see how the land lies elsewhere.