Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

HELP ME!! Calling all ex teachers (or teachers in general!) . . . what else could I do?

54 replies

HorrorMatopoeia · 14/10/2006 21:15

Hi there,
Been teaching for eight years and I'm very close to the end of my tether. I work in an extremely demanding school, it totally invades my life. I started to work 4 days a week in September (having worked just 2 days since having DD) but soon had to drop it down to 3 days as I couldn't cope with the hours, all the work I had to do at home and trying to be a good Mum to Dd. I used to cope so well with all this job threw at me but now I find I just don't want to be there, don't get me wrong, my kids in my class don't suffer! I'm happy teaching them, but so much of the job (infact up to 9/10 of it really) isn't teaching anymore. I'm sorry, I'm rambling. What I really want to know is this:

Has anyone left teaching for another career, if so what?

What else am I qualified to do? I have a BA in Literacy studies with QTS.

I want another baby within the next couple of years, am I just as well sticking at a job I increasingly hate and resent because I know where I stand?

Sorry for the ramble, any advice welcome.

OP posts:
MorticiaRed · 14/10/2006 21:19

Could this just be a phase? After all, we have just started a new academic year. I have been teaching for 11 years (4 part time) and find there are real peaks and troughs. If I were you, I would try to stick with it until you have your next child and then consider your options. Good luck xx

hulababy · 14/10/2006 21:19

As I said on other thread - prison education is a good alternatve. It is not as stressful as school teaching! Not quite as well paid though, but you still get the holidays (bar a week) and have them when you choose. I find it more flexible and more family friendly.

How would you feel about college/university teaching?

2 years ago I was at the stage where I had to get out. MN was fantastic at helping me realise how badly that was true. Been out of it since Easter 2005 and haven't looked back. I have my life back and I have my health back - which was suffering; I am guessing, looking back, that I was suffering near depression

chocolateshoes · 14/10/2006 21:21

Just to say I know how you feel & how the job takes over your life. Luckily for me I'm just doing .2 hours at the moment - don't know if you could reduce your hours further or if you just need to get out completely. Also, how about supply? An ex-colleague of mine did that - she missed her DS's so much because she felt that school took her over her life that she stopped ft teaching & now does supply - a few days a week. No prep, no marking, she knows a lot of the staff cos its the same school, & knows the way the school works. Sounds tempting to me...

Original poster
HorrorMatopoeia · 14/10/2006 21:25

MR, I'd love for it to be a phase but I fear not, I know exactly what you mean though, have had those throughout my career (and yes, normally at the start of a new term!) My area has recently been through a 'shake up' though, going from 3 tier to 2 tier and the entire dynamics of the job have changed. I just feel that what I once enjoyed unreservedly has been turned into something I dread, to the point I'm usually to be found in tears on a sunday night. I had hoped changing my days would help, but unfortunately it hasn't. Sorry, hope that doesn't sound like I'm slamming your advice, I do appreciate it. I'm just using Mnet as a rambling / thinking aloud resource!
Hulababy, I certainly wouldn't mind further education. Where abouts do they advertise prison education jobs? Is it still a county thing?

OP posts:
Original poster
HorrorMatopoeia · 14/10/2006 21:27

Cs, that does indeed sound tempting, would have to be another school though as ours is very much a place you leave and never return to!

OP posts:
MorticiaRed · 14/10/2006 21:33

If you are in tears on a Sunday it probably is time to consider a change. x

Original poster
HorrorMatopoeia · 14/10/2006 21:33

It's not a good sign is it?!

OP posts:
hulababy · 14/10/2006 21:38

HM - most prison education is covered by various colleges. Mine comes under City College Manchester, which has a lot of prisons under them now. The adverts come in local papers, and TES. Or you can write direct to the prison (Education dept) for more details.

College and uni posts are often on their own websites, as well as in TES.

Original poster
HorrorMatopoeia · 14/10/2006 21:39

Thank you Hulababy, appreciate it.

OP posts:
hulababy · 14/10/2006 21:41

Sorry you are feeling so bad right now. I really do know what that feels like. By the time I resigned I had gotten to the point where I was getting quite ill from it. I remember the sadness and the tears

I don't know what the answer is for you, but right now you have to do something. It isn't a healthy way to live and IT IS ONLY A JOB. Life is more important. You are more important. I feel 100% better for the change. I have my life back

BettyBatShapedSpaghetti · 14/10/2006 21:42

Honor, I had no idea you were thinking of moving on from teaching.

I'm in a similar-ish situation in that I'm did a B.Ed(Hons) teaching degree (but used it differently and went down the social work route) and am desperate to find out what I can do next as I certainly don't want to return to social work or teaching.

I've decided to get some advice from Connexions initially as I believe they have careers advisors fro "grown-ups" too. Hopefuly they can point me in either the right direction for further advice, or towards a suitable career change with minimal re-training/further education.

I'll let you know if they are any good or make any interesting suggestions.

spookegypt · 14/10/2006 21:43

i felt like this too. i gave up fulltime teaching when dd was born. i had 18months of being a fulltime mum then did a little supply here and there. and i mean a little, like 5 days a month. anyway, i went with an agency and hated it. got sent to awful schools, didnt like the unpredictability, didnt know the children, routines, anything! like doing supply in my old school however, and although i've given up with the agency, i'm doing a few days here and there with my old school. i like that, there is no prep, i leave school as soon as poss and can forget it. if we werent moving to singapore in jan, and i wasnt expecting another baby in march, may well try and do something a bit more regular with them. BUT i will never ever go back to FT teaching. it was stress - and that was before the added responsibility of own children. i'm on the look out for something else, especially if i can do it from home. not much help to you i guess, but if you can find a nice school that you could supply in, as long as you dont need the income a fulltime job would give, its quite good.

Original poster
HorrorMatopoeia · 14/10/2006 21:46

Hulababy, I think you're quite right, Dd has put everything into perspective for me and I think that is partly why I now resent what i previously enjoyed, then just found taxing!
Betty, probably just as well we can't read minds otherwise the others would have had a really boring meet up as we discussed changes of career! I didn't know connexions did grown ups, will look into that. Thank you

OP posts:
BettyBatShapedSpaghetti · 14/10/2006 21:53

Actually its not Connexions is it? -will let you know when I remember where I mean (I'm having a senior moment )

Original poster
HorrorMatopoeia · 14/10/2006 21:54

I have those, infact, I've had them for the past 30 years! Soem would cruelly say I'm just living up to the stereotype of my hair colour!

OP posts:
Littlefish · 14/10/2006 21:57

Honor - so sorry things are so awful. You have my very great sympathy. As you know, I was in a very similar position. I have not regretted my change of job for a single minute. I can't remember what I told you about it when we met, but e-mail me if you want more details.

Have you ever done early years? A job like mine is coming up soon.

Original poster
HorrorMatopoeia · 14/10/2006 21:59

I'm KS2 trained Littlefish, don't suppose I'd stand a chance. Your job sounds brilliant from what you told me though, would certainly be interested in that sort of thing. You know the school, it takes over your life and I just don't want to live like that anymore

OP posts:
twinsetandpearls · 14/10/2006 22:04

Have you considered changing schools, I was desparately unhappy teaching at my old school and used dd as an excuse to leave. I would be in tears on a Sunday and sometimes sick in the morning to this day I get butterflies if I drive past the school. I had considered leavnig teaching had started some early years/ family support work as well as starting a psychology degree. Then last year I saw a part time post advertised and thought I would take a look at the school and as soon as I entered the classroom I knew it was the school for me. Almost one year on I can't believe that I was going to walk away from a career I love because of a badly managed school. My new school is a harder school to teach in, infact unless you wne to the inner cities it would be difficult to find a tough school and it is long hours but I adore it.

twinsetandpearls · 14/10/2006 22:06

Connexions may be an idea for you, they seem to quite regularly have vacancies here.

I still do a bit of early years which I combine with 3 days teaching and I do love it but the pay isn't great.

Original poster
HorrorMatopoeia · 14/10/2006 22:08

I had thought about changing schools Twinset but because of this review we have just undergone, all the jobs have been ringfenced in our area. I've just been given the job (that I'm doing now )for 2007 so not sure where that leaves me with applying for other posts in other schools. I think that, because I already have one job that they won't consider me for another as they have to re-employ all staff throughout the county. God, why is it always so complex?!

OP posts:
Littlefish · 14/10/2006 22:09

Just another thought, but I think there will be a 2.5 day a week job-share Reception job going at my old school (you know where!). Could you blag your way in there? It would be working with an experienced early years teacher.

Littlefish · 14/10/2006 22:11

As far as I know Honor, because the new jobs being appointed are in the "new" schools from 2007, there probably isn't anything to stop you getting a job in a "new" school in the area and then leaving your current job. You would then have 10 months off, and start at your new school. How does that sound?

Original poster
HorrorMatopoeia · 14/10/2006 22:13

I think I've been done in by getting my original job, as I said, I'm pretty certain this now means in their eyes I'm 'sorted' and would go to the bottom of the pile (below those in phase 4 or whatever the term is!)if I started to reapply now. Bum. Kind of makes me wish I'd not been offered the bloomin' thing at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
HorrorMatopoeia · 14/10/2006 22:14

I'll have to look into it LF, it's tricky trying to ask questions without creating waves though. You know what she's like, eyes and ears everywhere!

OP posts:
Littlefish · 14/10/2006 22:19

If you want me to phone my old head teacher and ask a hypothetical question on behalf of a friend, I'll happily do that for you. Alternatively, phone your union.

However, I think you might be right about having to go back to round 4 or whatever. So far, no-one else has expressed an interest in the part time job from within school. I will keep my ears open for you.

Swipe left for the next trending thread