Should I go back in to the classroom?

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I was a secondary head of maths and left in 2012. I’ve worked in maths ed since then, just not school-based. Am I crazy to go back? I’d be looking at “just” a classroom teacher.
Feeling a bit lost.

It's good that you have stayed working in education as you will have kept up to date with things.

A huge amount has changed since 2012.

To me, there is now a much bigger focus on direct instruction - I can remember around 2012 it was a lot of focus on kids 'finding out for themselves', games etc. That isn't a thing now.
More focus on live marking/hunting not fishing within the lesson - a good thing in my opinion! No more writing endless comments on work!

That said, I also feel that workload is huge. Certainly at my school, so much is expected of form tutors for instance. Very short lunch times (30 mins at mine but the warning bell goes 5 mins before the end and you have to go and collect your class, so, don't get 30 mins).
I never feel like there is time to just have a chat with colleagues anymore.
SEND needs are through the roof but without the funding for proper support - I have 22 children in my Y7 class - 5 EHCPs and everyone else SEN K, many struggle to read/write independently - I have 1 TA 😱
In a lot of schools behaviour is a massive issue - in fairness, my school is very hot on routines and expectations so it's fine for us.

It will vary school to school though. I would suggest have a look round any schools you think of applying to- during the school day if you can. Choose carefully!

Thank you, I hadn’t thought about visiting before applying. That’s a great idea.
I think there’ll have been a lot of changes. And I never worked for an academy, which seems unavoidable nowadays.
One worry I have is with energy levels, I’m not the woman I was in my 20s and 30s.

No offence @emoss but that's your only post and it sounds a bit like ChatGPT.

Since 2012? Hell no! Words cannot express just how much more shit it has got since then!

Can I ask why you are thinking of leaving what you currently do? It sounds like the kind of job lots of people are trying to leave teaching to get into!

It's been a good rest for a few years during a period of bereavement and menopause, but I want some challenge and opportunities for progression. I miss the liveliness of schools and teenagers.

Most people would say you’re crazy. If you can find a great school with supportive leadership and tolerable behaviour, it might be alright. I gave up as a maths teacher 18 months ago as the workload was still taking over my life and the worsening behaviour had removed all joy and reward from the job.

I've said on another thread but I genuinely believe workload is better than in 2012 (although I'm not maths I am core).

Whole class feedback of book marking, not marking every book every four lessons just because

No comment reports any more, all data generated

No coursework/controlled assessment!!

Homework automated (other than picking which topic you want the computer to set)

I've moved schools since 2012 but this one is very similar catchment demographic etc- behaviour is about the same

The stupid 'make lessons fun/engaging/whatever' bullshit has mostly gone in favour of just teach good lessons well. Sure there are fads but they don't involve doing things that quite obviously take up more time than they contribute to learning