Advice welcomed!

[ShackUp]

I'm sticking this in The Staffroom because everyone here seems really supportive whilst simultaneously calling a spade a spade...

Secondary school teacher; I've done 13 years in two different schools, 8 of those as HoD (small creative arts dept). South east-ish.

I've had enough. I genuinely love being in the classroom but despise results day - the coursework marks are an absolute lottery (no moderation at A-level, just get sent to examiner) and I can't justify my predicted grades. I cannot continue to improve the department.

I have two ideas: 1. Do an MA Psychology conversion/PhD and retrain as an EducationalPsychologist. 2. Set up a Monkey Music type business in the local area and run classes for different age groups.

DM has just shouted at me down the phone for daring to think about leaving teaching with 2 young DC to support (5 and 2). DH has a well-paid-ish job 'which he could lose at any minute' according to DM I get very little practical support from DPs/none from PILs so I do everything, and have no time off. I work 3 long days and 2 short days at the moment.

Am I mad? Is DM right? Is she being controlling? Is it worth staying in teaching when arts are being stripped to the bone?

Thank you all for getting through this OP!

It’s not what you want to hear but I can’t see either of those being lucrative.

Well, EdPsych is well paid once you get there...can you afford the time out?

Monkey music type things you don't make much with unless you set your own type of class up you can franchise out.

I think you've slightly misunderstood me: I'm not all that interested in what's lucrative - I need a change of career in the next year or two which will bring in a salary of sorts.

(FWIW, Educational Psychologists can be quite high earners.)

Someone local to us has a very successful monkey music franchise, but it’s not guaranteed.

Is there any scope for you to reduce your hours (I sincerely doubt your DH is permanently on the verge of redundancy, so I’d ignore that at present)? If everything falls on you, you would likely benefit from making a bit more space in your schedule.

If you love the teaching, you may find you miss it if you leave, plus find it hard to get back to as you’re too senior and so expensive.

Do an MA Psychology conversion/PhD and retrain as an EducationalPsychologist.

If you can afford to do it - go for it.

I did something similar after becoming totally disillusioned with primary school teaching. I qualified last year and have been working privately for about 9 months. I have enough work to equate to a part time job. I could do more but, as I am single, I also work as a specialist teacher as I am too nervous to give up the security of a regular income. My work/life balance has improved imeasurabley and I love what I am doing. It is also something that I think is sustainable until I am 67- I couldn't imagine teaching a class full of children in my 60s.

Sorry missmarple x-post

The music groups would be in addition to instrumental teaching.

I could in theory manage to afford to do some time out when Das2 is in school. EPs are paid a salary to train.

Sorry missmarple x-post

The music groups would be in addition to instrumental teaching.

I could in theory manage to afford to do some time out when Das2 is in school. EPs are paid a salary to train.

twosunbathingdogs yes, I feel that classroom teaching is somewhat unsustainable past a certain age!

Thanks everyone for the advice so far, really appreciate you taking the time to give me the benefit of you me experience!

choc I've actually slightly increased my hours this year due to staffing issues. Maybe I should look for a much more part time role and make up the shortfall with instrumental teaching?

I know it can shack but it’s getting into it, isn’t it - it’s quite saturated as a market.

If you don’t need something lucrative I don’t see why you care, tbh. I don’t mean to sound like an arse there but it was the comment about needing to support young kids that made me think you did Be a SAHM, do supply, train as an educational psychologist, wipe old people’s bums, doesn’t matter if you don’t need the cash!

That is a good point actually - I come from a family of teachers, surrounded by teacher friends, etc, and I only know of one teacher (my MIL) who carried on all the way to retirement age. Most found it untenable long term, but successfully retrained or moved on.

tattoo it was my mum shouting at me for thinking about giving up with 2 young DC. I do need and want to work, but I just feel like I've 'done my time' in my current role, of that makes sense. It's like I've reached the end of the road.

Would you be happy doing more instrumental?

choc I would, yes, but the hours tend to be after-school, when it would be better to be doing something during school hours.

It’s up to you, not your mum.

Personally, I agree with your mum, but you’re an adult

The thing with my mum is, she can only ever see disastrous outcomes, and lives her life/makes her choices based on the worst case scenario. She also bangs on about how she 'made herself ill' teaching full time until retirement and 'never took a day off', as if that's meant to make me stop weighing up my options and just plough on regardless.

Could you do some work for the exam boards? Examining or moderating coursework? It's seasonal but can bring in a decent amount, depending on how much you do.

Maybe tutoring? I know, this will be an evening thing though, which could take you away from DCs, so might not be desirable.

I know what you mean about classroom teaching being unsustainable. I'm late 30s and even though I LOVE the job, I don't know how I'll still be able to do it into my 60s!

I don't know why your mum is shouting at you, that sounds ridiculous.

Personally, if you have any other options than teaching and can afford to retrain then I'd jump at it. I left teaching a couple of years ago, returning to my previous career after over a decade teaching, and I don't regret it one bit. I don't miss the stress of results and performance pressure at all.

My local private school has an arrangement with instrumental teachers to come in during school time and teach, but with payments going to the teachers directly (a kind of facilitation arrangement). Might be worth checking if something similar operates in your area.

Great suggestions all, thank you. mistaken I'm the same age as you and still love the classroom but results etc are being wrecked by bonkers coursework marks. All of our students are having a re-mark this year.

How would you cover childcare in the holidays if you quit teaching?

If you’re HOD and you’re not that fussed about the money, how about dropping down to classroom teacher? Then the department results wouldn’t be on your head.

Go for it. I left school teaching last year and set up this and have had the best year of my career.

noble I did actually go down to class teacher but have had to go back up to HoD due to staffing issues.

I've been having a think and a mixture of classroom/private teaching is probably going to suit me best until both boys are in school and I can look at retraining for the EP qualifications. I can save for this anticipated lean period in the meantime.

I left teaching for a while to buy a franchise similar to MM. I loved teaching the classes, it was great fun and I had a great reputation. However it just didn't make enough money to live on as you had to pay a large proportion to the franchise. The market was saturated with music classes and it was extremely competitive. I was lucky enough to sell my business, but I know a number of people who couldn't and just ended up having to walk away and lost money as a result. However, I learnt some great skills which were transferable to other jobs. I am back to being a teacher again!

I felt the same so quit three years ago to do supply. I've had regular work with no hassle of data, accountability, staff meetings etc. Never been happier and my work life balance is brilliant.