Has my career break ruined my career?! Good news stories needed!

[rungichungi]

I know there's loads going on at the moment ... so any good news stories about returning to work after a career break would be much appreciated!

I've been out of teaching for about 5 years and was Head of Department in my last school. But wanted a break to spend with my kids and do a Masters. This crisis has made me really appreciate teachers and want to contribute again - although just part-time as my kids are still young.

However.. there's not many part-time teaching jobs in nice(ish) schools out there. The one job I applied for and got interviewed went with someone who could do full-time in the end. Argg! And I guess my confidence is a bit dented after all these years out of the work place!

Has anyone had a career-break and returned to teaching in a school they love?

I've only taken 2 short breaks.

After my mat leave break, I went back part time and took a tiny step back (but no change in salary).

Last year I had Feb - Sept off to travel with my family. I handed my notice in the October before, but left at Feb half term. Just before that, I had an interview for September and got the job. It's a tiny step back (but more of a sideways move), but same money as before.

I'm not ambitious beyond my current position, more likely to keep taking small steps backwards.

I took nearly a decade’s ‘break’ and now teach in a school I love! I actually continued teaching during the break, but as a tutor and a teacher on short contracts rather than as a permanent classroom teacher. I was always on hourly money rather than salary, if you see what I mean.
I made a mistake by taking a job with a truly dreadful school but then moved to where I am now. They employed me on a PT contract (despite it being a bit inconvenient to them) but I am increasing from 0.6 to 0.8 in the new school year and then will probably go to full time after that because the workload is very carefully managed where I am.
Good luck!

I found it very hard to get back ‘up’ to where I’d been after two mat leaves and moving area. I didn’t have my old job to go back to. I took various p/t posts and really annoyingly had to work back up the pay scale. I’m now back on UPS3 having first been on it 12 years ago.
Love my job now though, if that’s the success story you’re looking for.

Specialist role, by the way, so fewer around.

I was Head of Dept when I got pregnant with my DTDs, and decided to resign after my mat leave was up. I took four years out in the end. Just as I was starting to think about going back part time, a job came up in the school I'd previously been at, so I went back 3 days per week for a short period, then back up to full time when the twins started school. It was sheer luck that the job at the old school came up when it did. I was back in my "old" job pretty quickly (again, various bits of coincidence and luck) and stayed there for another 8 years before leaving to start my own specialist provision site. Taking time out definitely didn't impact my career negatively.

I looked for a part time role for two years and there was so little opportunities. Most heads seem to want full time and part time is only given to existing staff on request. I was denied flexible working, hunted for a different role for 2 years before my headteacher finally offered me part time where I work as one of the existing part time staff had left. Could you start off full time then ask for a reduction in hours? Or go through an agency and find part time roles that way (these do tend to be temporary though ime)

Thanks for the replies @Twinklelittlestar1 @EvilTwins
@parrotonmyshoulder @pfrench @likeafishneedsabike.

Really appreciate the reassurances - it's just a funny time overall in schools and so recruitment is all over the place. Plus... job searching in June is probably not the best idea!

I asked if they'd accept part timers where full time jobs were advertised and ended up with my current job which is lovely. The school seems almoSt entirely staffed by part timers

All the part timers I know either took a full time role then negotiated once they were in, or did supply and then got taken on by schools they went into. Have you looked at supply? (Not term though!)