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Original poster

I used to be a primary school teacher and now I am a...

36 replies

cleoteacher · 01/08/2015 23:09

I am fed up with teaching and have been a sup ppl y teacher for the past 8 years. I feel totally stuck with what else to do. Every avenue I look into reaches dead end. I don't know what I am good at and lack confidence after having so many knock backs before.

What are ex teachers doing now?

OP posts:

NewLife4Me · 02/08/2015 18:06

I am ex teacher, Post compulsory, and only managed a year probation tbh, I hated it.
Apart from this have been a sahp for 24 years so don't think I'll be much help.
Am starting work soon as a business manager, but have done this type of thing voluntarily for dh for many years now, we are just going to make it more official.
What is your degree subject and would there be any roles related to this that you may like?

QueenOfNothing · 02/08/2015 18:10

Where do you live?

And what do you like / hate about being a teacher?

TwistAndShout · 02/08/2015 18:12

Childminder

Original poster

cleoteacher · 02/08/2015 21:56

I live in the south west and my degree is BEd in primary. I like being with the kids and the variety of teaching plus feeling like I was making a difference. I liked knowing I was the one who had taught them something and that used to give me. Buzz.

Now I am fed up with dealing with rubbish behaviour. When I was on a contract I constantly doubted myself and felt a constant pressure that I wasn't good enough because of observations, assessments, pupils results etc. I had no life and spent all my time working.

I ve looked into health visitor, midwife but community ones but you have to do the hospital shifts etc first which I can't/don't want to do.

Would love to do SLT but would have to return to uni which isn't an option right now. Plus no courses nearby

Have seriously considered childminding but it would be way more hours for the same money if you compare it to supply teaching. Plus, I am on maternity leave now after dc2 and feel I want to go back to be in an adult environment where I can do something for myself which isn't all about my kids. Childminding I would still be looking after dc2 so feel it goes against my whole reasons for going back to work. Funny, because after dc1 I felt it was a great option, being paid to have fun with kids as well as my own.

OP posts:

Asleeponasunbeam · 02/08/2015 21:59

A different school may help? Different kind of teaching? I did PPA for a while and enjoyed different classes (especially nursery). Also did intervention groups and 1:1 which is quite good.

easytoforget · 02/08/2015 22:01

I was a teacher now work in digital marketing. It took ages to change career and get experience but have a cool job now!

ThewheelThewheel · 02/08/2015 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaudeTheMopLady · 02/08/2015 23:38

Become a tutor! Much easier teaching one to one and forming long lasting relationships with your students. You can work in UK or internationally and rate of pay is good!

Happy36 · 03/08/2015 00:00

Agree with Maude and sunbeam. Consider looking at jobs in different schools. Go and visit the schools and see what the behaviour and behaviour management are really like on the ground. Tutoring is also a good idea.

Or become one of those super teachers who Tweets all day and writes a book telling the rest of us how to do it, then swan around the various conferences pushing the latest version of the emperor´s new clothes (has everyone seen the ball of string ladies?)

I worked in finance (investment banking) for a long time before switching to teaching. The pay is AWFUL but I adore it and that´s bearing in mind that I did love my banking job too.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Original poster

cleoteacher · 03/08/2015 10:48

Feel like I want to get out of teaching in schools with a whole class permanently. I am doing supply now so been in loads of schools.

I am 33 so although not old feel too old to go back to temping and starting my career all over again. Wish I d got out earlier rather than wasting so much time when I was younger and kid free.

I was doing tutoring and hope to do so again but with two dcs under 3 it's not an option right now. The timings wouldn't work.

Nursery may be an option. Perhaps I should apply for some jobs and see what happens . Pay is rubbish though and long hours for rubbish pay.

OP posts:

Original poster

cleoteacher · 03/08/2015 10:48

Easy to forget- that's a real swap over. How did you get into marketing?

OP posts:

MaggieMcVitie · 03/08/2015 13:20

I used to be a teacher - now I'm a paramedic. Love it!! Stress free, paid overtime, no piles of marking looming in the corner. For the first time ever my home life is my own

Hulababy · 03/08/2015 13:34

I was a secondary school teacher.
I got out and went and worked in prison ed as an Advice and Guidance worker.
I now work as a HLTA in an infant school.

BlueSky2015 · 03/08/2015 15:06

This is really interesting and exactly what I have been thinking...
I'm a secondary school teacher and have been thinking about if my school will allow me to go back part time, or if I should try and become a child minder and be a full time stay at home mum. Need to research more as I don't know if this would help me support my family.

CharlesRyder · 03/08/2015 15:15

Special needs- you get the variety and I think it's much more rewarding. You are team leader, SaLT, EP, OT and teacher all rolled into one. More camaraderie- I have 6 TAs and I adore them!

Much less pressure- people are more accepting that the children will learn in the way they need to learn and not on some Govist agenda. There is paperwork, but it's different and generally more relevant to the kids. More autonomy and trust in your professional judgement.

enderwoman · 03/08/2015 15:49

My mum switched from primary school to 11+ tutoring and part time EFL teaching.

Original poster

cleoteacher · 03/08/2015 19:54

Hulababy- did you find the switch to HLTA easy? Did the schools take you seriously and want to employ you against experienced HLTA? Did you start as a HLTA because of your degree or did you have to work up to it?

Was thinking about it but wasn't sure my job prospects. It would be questioned why I want to be a TA. Isn't the pay not great too?

Was looking into hospital teacher or children's tour guide for school trips and stuff but don't know where to look for these jobs and they seem very few and far between.

OP posts:

Hulababy · 04/08/2015 12:37

I originally applied for a TA level 3 job in a local infant school, but became HLTA after a year or two when the position was created. I applied (I was encouraged to do so by SMT) and got the job, after full interview. I didn't have to do any additional courses or anything as my degree, QTS and experience were more than enough, and of greater value than a specific HLTA qualification.

The pay is not great tbh. But I wanted out of secondary, and at the time I didn't want the additional pressures of being a teacher. The TA role meant I did the bits if the job I loved, but without the paperwork and admin side.

As a HLTA I get paid a little more, but not a great deal. I do a lot more than I used to as a TA. I lead a subject area, I teach a lot of that subject. I write lesson plans for the school for that subject, and liaise with other teachers regarding it. I plan, deliver and assess, I also write the paragraph for the children's reports for that subject too. I coordinate other aspects of the subject area, etc. Essentially I do a teaching job but without some of the admin type side though I am involved in more and more of that at times - but in a smaller way.

I am lucky that my Dh was very supportive when I left teaching. It was making me ill and I needed out. Now I am fortunate that DH earns a good amount which allows me to choose to be a HLTA despite its reduced pay.

purpleaura · 04/08/2015 12:43

Have you thought about TEFL teaching? I'm an ex secondary teacher, took a 1 month course and found it a doddle! Lots of job options too. I also do some online tutoring of trainee teachers which fits in beautifully around DS. Good luck. There IS life after teaching

Original poster

cleoteacher · 04/08/2015 13:40

Purpleaura- how did you get into the online tutoring for teachers? That sounds like something I could do around the dcs. Would love to do that.

I actually did TEFL over 15 years ago in Sri Lanka when I took a year out before uni. I did enjoy it. Does it involve teaching adults more than children though?

I think I am going to look at TA jobs as you re totally right, it's all the nice things about teaching without the sh** that goes with being the actual teacher. I think it might take me a while to get used to not being in charge though.

OP posts:

Original poster

cleoteacher · 04/08/2015 13:49

My other problem is references. The last time I had a contract was in 2007 so a long time ago so I don't feel like I could put that school down. I be worked on long term supply at a school but unfortunately the head has left and the new head doesn't know me very well and I only go there every now and then now.

There's a few other schools I ve been to a lot but again the head teacher doesn't really know me and i deal with the secretary mostly. I am on maternity leave now so haven't been to these schools for quite some time now. I admit because I've been so disengaged with teaching I haven't bothered to make the effort to make sure I get into certain schools and get a reputation. Obviously I do the best job I can but I haven't been actively trying to build relationships with schools like I used to when I was really enthusiastic! Guess I be shot myself in the foot in that respect. I could ask the agency for s reference but feel funny doing that seeing as they Are employing me and it might mean they don't want to give me work as they know I am looking elsewhere. Again, another reason for feeling trapped.

OP posts:

purpleaura · 04/08/2015 14:13

Hmm, references tricky. Is there someone we else in school you worked closely with who could write the reference? My old head if subject writes mine, rather than the head. Don't know if this is accepted at primary level? I found my teacher training job on eteach. I find they have lots if education jobs that are not classroom based. My employer is called Hibernia college. I don't know if they're currently recruiting but you could always check their website or ping them a CV. Try to put a positive spin on your experiences- you have working knowledge of a huge variety of different schools. That is very valuable.

There are so many TEFL jobs out there, some kids, some adults, some a mixture. Lots of language schools do kids during the school hols and a mixture the rest of the time. Try International House, or EF. Happy to answer any more questions if I can help

QueenOfNothing · 04/08/2015 16:56

For a TA job references are more of a formality.

I've just got a TA job and I hadn't worked in a while so I put down 2 people who knew me, and I know they had to write a reference, but the reference was that they knew me not that I'd worked for them.

Original poster

cleoteacher · 04/08/2015 20:37

Thanks queen. Have been looking at TA jobs and they seem to pay £8.50 per hour which is less then childcare for my two dcs so just not an option. It's so frustrating, everything I look at is a dead end.

I d love to be a SLT assistant but these jobs are few and far between.

OP posts:

QueenOfNothing · 04/08/2015 20:52

Maybe when they're at school you'd be able to afford to do it? Can't be more than 4 years away :)

Could probably also do tutoring as well to top up the income if necessary......

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