Stepping off the treadmill

[Amore22]

I have been a career-focused teacher for 16 years now and love and like many aspects of the role. However, in recent years and since having children, it is losing its glow!! I am thinking of resigning my current role to have time at home, look after children/house/dh/myself. Is this completely ridiculous? We could just about afford it if we cut back on a few luxuries. I am fed up of the marking as well. DH can not help in the week mostly due to being out of house around 75 hours per week. This is a lot to do with the idea of stopping as I am mostly responsible for home stuff in the week.

I would then consider doing a part time job for a while or private tuition/exam marking.

Thoughts are appreciated. Very torn. How would a future school look at it if i apply again? Thanks. X

Are you primary or secondary? I stepped off the treadmill and do supply which works well but I'm a primary teacher so can only speak for that.

Am secondary. Would consider supply so I could be a bit more flexible. How had it worked out for you? Thanks.

I think it could be different in secondary but in primary I have plenty of work, can pick and choose and only go to schools I like. Usually I turn up half an hour before the children arrive, teach, light mark and go home around 3.45. I've got a couple of schools I deal with direct and prioritise them over agency. They treat me well, it's familiar and the children know me which helps with behaviour. I only work the days I want to and take cheaper holidays out of high season. Often I get offered temporary contracts which I sometimes take (but they usually require more responsibility). Pay is reasonable. No meetings, no data, no reports, no working at home etc. etc .

On the negative side, I don't always get paid to scale or receive holiday\sick pay and I'm not an integral part of the team. My work and therefore earnings are not guaranteed.

Oh, and I don't go up the pay-scale as I'm stuck at the one I was on when I last had a permanent job.

Thank you. That is really useful to know.

I stepped out of teaching while my children were young. I never actually thought l would be back to it. But l am for years now. Its all phases of your life and this is the one your in now but that won't always be the case. Your training and experience will still count so go for it.

Why don't you ask to go part time at current school.
Lot to be said for pension, sick pay etc

Yes, I am thinking of asking for that as it is scary to leave completely but often it is hard to timetable so you end up with very few hours over three days. But I might very well ask about this first.