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Original poster

I need to leave teaching but wtf else can I do?

80 replies

Grockle · 27/12/2013 19:04

I need to work and have always loved teaching.

Over recent years, I have developed several chronic illnesses that have become worse with time & are aggravated by stress. I have had significant time off work which, I think, will make it difficult to be employed elsewhere.

I am being hounded at work now & know my boss has asked people behind my back if they want to make a formal complaint about me (they don't) but I really feel like I am being pushed out. Capability proceedings have been mentioned in passing & although there is no reason for me to be put on capability, it is now an easy way to get a teacher out. I have been in touch with my union & I am just biding my time now, waiting to see what will happen next. I think work are waiting for me to be off sick again, so they can push for me to leave on the grounds of ill health.

WTF do I do? Teaching does make me ill but I don't want to do anything else. I have no skills, no training in anything else.

OP posts:
overthemill · 27/12/2013 20:51

Tutoring with kids out of school jobs aren't advertised very often. You should find out where your local one is based and give them a call. They are often in need of extra people. I'm hoping to do this as soon as dd is well enough to stop needing her own home tutor! Also hospitals need tutors sometimes, organised via LEA

ShoeWhore · 27/12/2013 21:54

I've got a couple of ex-teacher friends - one works for a local museum running days for school trips; the other works for a wildlife organisation running events for both schools and the general public. The second one also does private GCSE/Alevel tutoring. They both are much happier with less pressure and red tape.

Original poster
Grockle · 27/12/2013 22:38

Thank you. I will have a look around.

I know I am well paid as a teacher but my quality of life is very poor. I need to address that but not being able to pay the mortgage and bills scares me.

OP posts:
slug · 28/12/2013 16:18

Do you live in London? I will have a job going in the new year working in HE. It's partly technical but largely training based. My choice would be for a former teacher. We intend to advertise late Jan so PM me if you are interested.

Original poster
Grockle · 28/12/2013 16:38

I'm not in London but thank you Slug.

I feel very sad and stressed about all this. I love my job but thinking about it makes me feel sick.

OP posts:
slug · 28/12/2013 16:45

I work in learning technology in HE. There's an awful lot of ex-teachers in my profession.

Mitzi50 · 28/12/2013 16:52

I'm in a similar situation although without the health issues. I am going to look into retraining as I have another 15+ years before I can get a pension. I am also considering childminding and/or seeing how I get on with supply.

I am also going to move to a smaller house with the hope of having lower outgoings. It's tough as a single parent because there is no one else to take up some of the financial slack.

Teaching has become a toxic profession IMO.

insancerre · 28/12/2013 16:53

have you considered FE?
any colleges near where you are?
or a nursery school, your SEN experience would be invaluable

kickassangel · 28/12/2013 17:06

Grockle, so sad to hear this.

I would imagine that you would be frat doing small group tutoring and hospital education/HE type stuff as you could get really creative.

You are Ina particularly stressful school. Would part time in a mainstream school be any better?

I have no idea of the benefits in the UK now, but strongly suspect you woul have to be pushed out of your job and all the pressure that that involves as leaving will leave you eligible for nothing

Still, could you look online at what you might get if you were part time or a TA?

TA and some tutoring could work well together?

(As a complete aside I am presenting a paper in Feb about the perils of being a trailing spouse and how it can seriously mess up your life, no matter how privileged you are. It's called The Mummies in theBus Study Astrophysics)

Original poster
Grockle · 28/12/2013 17:20

Thank you. I don't know anything about FE/ HE and don't know what I'd be able to do. We do have several colleges locally though, I'd just not considered looking there. What kind of things might I be able to do? Confused

Mitzi, I have 34 years til I can retire... that's almost my entire lifetime again. It is toxic.

I don't think I could go back to mainstream - I have no experience (not for 10 years) - in part due to being a trailing wife! None of my experience in the US counts for anything! Mainstream schools seem reluctant to take people without recent experience, from what I've seen but I may be wrong.

I might look at moving to a smaller place although my mortgage isn't huge (less than rent on a 1 bed flat) & I've always told DS we won't move from here - he moved 6 times in his first 6 yrs so I wanted him to have some stability.

OP posts:
Original poster
Grockle · 28/12/2013 17:27

The other issue is that I need to give 1/2 a term's notice so I couldn't finish work til February now. Jobs I have found seen advertised now have a starting date of mid January. I don't see how you can leave teaching & go straight into another job.

I think maybe my head isn't working very well atm - everything seems difficult and complicated.

OP posts:
LastingLight · 28/12/2013 17:29

Look for a book called What color is your Parachute by Richard Bolles. It will help you to identify your hidden skills and figure out what you can do with them. It also has great tips on how to look for a job, create a cv and handle interviews.

RandomMess · 28/12/2013 17:33

Have you looked into how much you would receive in benefits if your salary reduced?

I suppose you are nowhere near any international schools for whom experience in the US would be advantageous?

insancerre · 28/12/2013 17:33

maybe something like a learning support tutor?
maybe something like this?
www.ukstaffsearch.com/jobs/details/17663252/learning-support-tutors-student-support-wellbeing-blul9484?a_aid=jobcentre

RandomMess · 28/12/2013 17:34

Have you got a spare room you can rent out to boost any reduced income - perhaps better than moving house?

ARealPickle · 28/12/2013 17:35

Similar issue here. I want to return to work (ideally something I can turn into a career) but really not sure health and teaching are compatibly le. I'd love to have trained as an ot. However not sure finances would stretch retraining and don't really want to move children. I'm bright,but lack energy for a full on 30children full time day.

Original poster
Grockle · 28/12/2013 17:36

No international schools but lots of private English language schools - if I did a TEFL course or similar, that would give me another option.

Will look at the link, thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Grockle · 28/12/2013 17:43

Hard, isn't it Pickle? I'm lucky... I have a very small class but becasue of their needs it's a very physical job & emotionally draining. I can do that bit, it's the unsupportive & almost bullying management that I don't want to deal with.

I looked on entitledto to see what benefits I might be able to get and it was helpful but I don't think we'd have enough to live on. I get DLA but low rate and not entitled to more. I don't know how ESA etc work.

I do have a spare room which is rented to foreign students (10 - 17 yr olds) for half the year, so I do have a bit of extra income. I could push for more students but there's no guarantee.

OP posts:
kickassangel · 28/12/2013 17:53

If your income goes down does your ex have to contribute more? where I live the answer would be yes.

Applefallingfromthetree2 · 28/12/2013 18:01

How about teaching on childcare courses in an FE college? You may find it more to your liking and you are qualified to do it.

overthemill · 28/12/2013 19:35

Ime, and am a post compulsory trained teacher who switched to schools, now not working to care for chronically sick dd, FE and HE can be more stressful. I tutor when I can (gcse/AS/A2 plus 11+). Don't earn much but it's at my house. Hope when dd well enough to tutor via medical needs team or hospital team.

Original poster
Grockle · 28/12/2013 20:02

Kickass, I get maintenance for DS, nothing for me so no.

Maybe I need to talk to CAB or something to see about my options. I'm ready to hand my notice in & walk away with nothing but I know that's not a good idea. I don't know if I can retire on the grounds of ill health which work seem to want me to do but I don't know how that works or what the implications are.

I think I need to get out & have a bit of time to work out what I can do. If I am off sick again (which I will be & the way I feel atm, that will be soon), I face losing my job.

I think I'm just in a panic & don't know what to do.

OP posts:
kickassangel · 28/12/2013 21:15

Talk to union and find out options, particularly about ill health retirement. Some management are willing to offer a good package if that is negotiated. I know some people who got 6 months pay, so it woul give you some breathing space and a chance to do TEFL or something

I found local union people to be quite useless, try escalating to county level ASAP. I know how awful this sounds, but I only ever had male union reps. The moment they thought you might be stressed or emotional they called in the proper reps with legal training.

Btw, I don't think moving house would save you any money so son't even bother about it. The amount you spend to move would need significant savings to recoup.

ARealPickle · 28/12/2013 21:20

I've been googling local jobs but they're not paid as well, and most require experience I just don't have. I've been out of teaching a few years too... so I am completely stuck.

Lottiedoubtie · 28/12/2013 21:29

Senco or even learning support assistant in an independent school?

If it's the management and government interference that's getting you down then that's an option.

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