I want out.

[Fifflefaffle]

I know it's unlikely (as it's a teacher staffroom forum) but is there anyone who's left teaching?

What could I do? I don't know where to start? Is there anyone who can help me please?

How's long have you been teaching?

19 years. I'm sad it's come to this. I've set up a little tutoring business but it's not enough income.
I also have the added complication of feeling the need to do a job that helps people.

I know of someone who left to work for the borough council in the education dept. Not sure how interesting that would be, however. Would you train in something entirely different like nursing or social work? Anything your subject would be useful for? I'm trying to get out too but don't know where to even start looking for jobs.

Hi,
I've been teaching for about 9 years and thinking about leaving for about 4. I might have finally cracked it and be on my way out! (Just waiting for new job confirmation, references etc).
I almost left 4 years ago but then stayed mainly for financial reasons and I moved to a new school hoping that I'd find things better in a new setting.
It is possible to leave but not easy in my experience. It's more than likely that you'll need to be willing to take a significant pay cut (I'm dropping by about 50% which is why I couldn't do it 4 years ago - thankfully our financial situation is now ok for me to take such a hit). I see this as a short term pay cut though. I'm going to a very entry level admin role with the hope that if I work hard and build up my experience I can gain promotions / training as I go along. I am also considering doing an accountancy or HR course alongside work at some point in the future.
I would recommend talking to a careers service if you can and also getting some advice on your cv. I put my cv on a job website and all I had were messages for supply agencies!! You really need to emphasise all the admin and managerial skills you've developed as I think a lot of people will just look at your most recent job title ('teacher') and be put off straight away.
Have a good look at your income / budget and think about what type of work / setting you'd enjoy. Then start exploring your options.

Oh, sorry, another thought - definitely look at jobs with your local council and the NHS for helping people. There will be departments within your council that will be about supporting children and adults with learning disabilities, supporting homeless and people on benefits etc... Lots of jobs where you can still feel like you're making a difference and helping.

Thank you for all your responses!
I've been looking at NHS and council jobs.
We have so many skills to use.
I'm so desperate to get out, I've also looked at night work!

I left teaching. I studied AAT level 2 and am now working as a bookkeeper, I'll keep going through all the levels. I previously thought I needed to do a 'worthy' job too but I love my job, I'm very much appreciated, my work is varied and I leave my work at the office. I find it very satisfying too. I work part time and really my pro rata wage isn't much less than if I was still in teaching, realistically, I don't work ever at home so my hourly wage is more than what it was in teaching

There are lots of possibilities within accounting and bookkeeping and so many ways my career could progress. Before I looked at finance I thought I would be better moving into a related field. The one I spent the most time looking at was instructional design but I would have most likely have ended in corporate training and it didn't appeal to me.

The teachers I know who have left have gone into unrelated fields and, to begin with, have taken a pay cut but all think it's worth it. Trying to get into a related field for the same salary slowed my exit from teaching down. People are surprised I like finance so much (I taught SEN literacy) but I like organisation and precision. Think about the hours you want, what you enjoy, what you need to earn then work out how to get there.

Putting your CV on places like Reed will only get teaching agencies contacting you. Find a good recruitment agency who meet with you and understand your skills and wants as the pp is correct, people will dismiss your CV in a pile of CVs as they'll only see the word teacher

Do it! I have left but to be a SAHM for now. Im constantly falling over ex teachers.

University admin could be a good option and you will have lots of transferable skills.

I’m leaving at easter after 20 years. I have worked for a la too. Many people go into teacher training, careers, or something completely different.

I quit to become a Learning Technologist/Learning Designer at a uni. I get ~44 days off a year, a decent salary and work 35 hours a week.

I left after 28 years of successful teaching! The last year my dd was off school lots and as a single mum couldn't do both jobs. After moving to an academy, had my contract cut. Best thing they could have done for me.. even though I was not happy at the time!! Now at the wrong side of 50 🥴 am doing a MA in Social Work.. love it . Did think about Ed psych but just wanted a break.. although Social Work is stressful it's much more team work and I'd forgotten what it's like to be treated like an adult!

I'm leaving. I'm going to write novels and do supply teaching. It's not a great plan but it'll do.

I want out too. Been teaching 26 years but just don't enjoy it any more.
How do you get into bookkeeping?

I think the issue is also that I don't have the spare time to do any training in readiness to leave because teaching sucks every minute of your life out of you

Eleven years in and I need to leave. I have a novel underway but I need to get out of teaching quickly. I’m worried about childcare for the holidays. That is the only thing keeping me in my job right now, otherwise I’d be gone like a shot.

10 years in and I want out. DH can't work so a reliable and regular wage is a must. No idea what to do though.

I wondered about social wprk but you need to pay for the 2 years training full time/no salary.

And I'm anxious to finish training and find it was as stressful as teaching...

So many of us want to leave. I looked at Ed Pscyh but cant seem to make that work logistically .

I wouldnt mind a lower paid job if it showed progression but how do you know if the basic admin job will lead to that?

It seems minimum wage jobs or full on retraining....

Hi I left teaching 2 years ago to return to industry. I absolutely hated it. Lasted 6 weeks before applying for teaching jobs. Have now spent past year enjoying being back

I have left today! It’s not really sunk in yet. I am joining the civil service I would recommend looking at the civil service jobs website. I don’t know how it will work out but I’ve got a permanent job on a decent starting salary with a good pension so it’s a start. I am in my 40s teaching was my career change. I am sad it didn’t work out but it’s a toxic system at the moment. I have been surprised at how easy it was to get another job. Good luck

I think social work might be stepping out of the frying pan etc

Thank you so much everyone.
I read all your responses at 3am, because I don't sleep much!
The childcare is an issue and I've seen parents who have to work during the holidays really struggle with this.
There have been a lot of helpful ideas though.
It's a tough one, knowing what to do next!!

If you're numerate then I want to second the idea if self-employed bookkeeping/accountants. It is a form of helping people! My lovely accountant has just helped me through HMRC's baffling forms again and the finance team at my school are an integral part of helping our school run well and we appreciate them. Get a copy of a What Colour us your Parachute too (ignore the slightly religious tone - it's American).