I want out

[Notthissticky]

MPS4, currently nearing the end of my maternity leave with my second. I'd already been concerned about coping with two young children when I'm back at work (3 days). Over the past couple of weeks, DH and I have enjoyed watching the footie together and it suddenly occurred to me that every evening could be like that if I had a normal job. No chronic lack of sleep from working every evening and hopefully a bit more appreciation from management. However. Where on earth do I find a job that pays similar? I have no management experience and came to teaching after a series of low end temp jobs. Added to that, how do you deal with the ridiculous notice period? Keen to hear other people's experiences!!!

I haven't left teaching so can't speak from personal experience but have heard a lot of people moving into various civil service roles. You will have transferable skills to offer.

Obviously, depends on your finances but could you conisder supply? That way, you keep your hand in but don't have all the extra to do.

Could you afford a pay cut for a few years while your children are young? If so, could you look at HLTA roles?

The evening working is tough at times I'm assistant head of a core faculty in secondary and it's tough to balance at times.

I think you'll struggle to get something on similar pay. You get paid the wage you do because you are trained to do a particular job, so in order to get another job with similar pay, you'd need to be trained for that other job, which either means doing courses, or working up from the bottom, initially starting on a low wage.

I tried to leave teaching a few years ago, but ended up drifting back into it after a couple of years out, purely because I really didn't want to do any more training or courses and also didn't want to start at the bottom again, on a low wage.

I'm actually now settled in a school with sensible management and the workloads are fine. The school does make a big difference.

Agree with the above advice, I would try a different school before leaving completely. I've been at the same school for many years and we have had a high turnover of SLT. It has been a completely different experience every time we changed head. A different school with different management could be the solution.

You won't get as much money as you make teaching. Perhaps you're in the wrong school, or you're holding yourself to too high a standard on the work you do? Or you aren't able to prioritise what MUST be done Vs what can wait or be cast aside. Any job will eat into your personal life if you let it, that isn't restricted to teaching. I had ten years in marketing before going into teaching, my salary was pathetic even in management with a decades experience, I was expected to be 'on it' 24/7, what with social media, blog comments, PR, etc and I didn't get months off each year holiday. Work is work, if you cant manage a work life balance or you're in a bad school, just change schools. A career change won't do it for you, and you won't get anywhere near the pay, benefits and pension elsewhere

Most professional jobs come with long hours and periods of high stress. My DH is not a teacher but has another professional job and puts in a lot of time after office hours. But we both have decent salaries - if you want an equivalent salary you will need to retrain in another profession. Teaching with 2 young kids can be challenging but so is any job - as your kids get to school age you'll be very glad you have the school holidays with them.
Try a different school. I work in a school which on paper is not good and the catchment area is tricky. But the management are excellent and human and I like working there, even if juggling my own kids schooling and life has its challenges!

Another vote for finding a school that values staff wellbeing more highly. I work 3 days and I absolutely don't work every evening. (Maybe 1 out of 3 evenings occasionally.) Or speak to your union rep/s and see if anything can be done about workload.