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Original poster

I used to be a teacher, now I'm a ...

28 replies

Porcupinepantaloons · 29/12/2015 10:23

I've only ever taught.

I went from school to uni, to PGCE, to teaching for 10 years.
I quit when we relocated 2 years ago and I'm not going back to being a teacher. It's too much work and stress that impacts heavily on my own dcs - and I was only doing 0.4 once they arrived!

But I have no idea where to start on a jobs hunt. I can't decide what area to look at. All I know is it will need to be PT and ideally something that allows me to do both school runs. Dh says he would do one/ both if I had a job but really I know that's not always possible and as his job earns/ would earn more that will probably take priority.

I've got no idea where to start looking! Blush

OP posts:
Notsobadpharma · 29/12/2015 14:44

What was your degree before the PDGE and did you do primary or secondary?

Would you like to work with children again or does the thought make you want to run screaming?

Have you any interests or hobbies that could be used in your job search?

I have to say I did P/T mental health support work whilst doing my degree and I wasnt sure if I would be any good at it or if I would like it (previous 10 years teaching sports). I really enjoyed it and it stood me in good stead for more P/t work when I transferred unis.

Original poster
Porcupinepantaloons · 29/12/2015 15:52

My degree was pharmacology - so all knowledge is long gone/ out of date.

I taught primary

The children were the best bit of the job so definitely not put off by work with kids! Grin

Hobbies wise I like to cook and crochet.

I feel totally lost about what to do next - Lord knows how or why we expect teenagers to pick a career path! Confused

OP posts:
fluffywhitekittens · 29/12/2015 15:57

Have you considered Supply or a PT job covering PPA rather than a class job share?

Original poster
Porcupinepantaloons · 29/12/2015 17:18

fluffy - supply isn't a goer as I don't have childcare available at the drop of a hat. I did it pre -dcs and most of my work was phone calls at 8.15 asking me to be across town by 8.45. Since then school supply budgets have been shrinking and most places use their hltas to cover. So there isn't nearly as much work as there used to be either.

Covering PPA is what I ended up doing in my last job. Shifted from pillar to post, having to plan lessons etc and being expected to perform as a FT class teacher despite not getting the support or cpd they got. (That last bit might not be standard but was certainly true at my last place)

I really don't want to teach. :(

OP posts:
tethersend · 29/12/2015 17:25

I'm an advisory teacher for children in care.

Some local authorities use tutors for LAC who are out of school- might this be an option?

Can you say/PM which area you are in?

Original poster
Porcupinepantaloons · 29/12/2015 19:30

Possibly, maybe. I don't really know much about teaching in those circumstances.
Will PM you my location i sound like a spy

OP posts:
ChampagneTastes · 29/12/2015 19:33

I'm quitting shortly to do: (a) freelance writing (b) exam marking (c) online tutoring (d) anything else that I can do from home. I'm hoping that this will work because otherwise it's going to be supply.

Sparklycat · 29/12/2015 19:33

Following, I always wonder what I can do to get out.

Original poster
Porcupinepantaloons · 29/12/2015 19:39

Freelance writing? Tell me more!

In my imagination I always pick a creative job, then my practical brain takes over and poo poos those thoughts! Blush

OP posts:
ChampagneTastes · 29/12/2015 20:33

Porcupine, last year I earned around £700 over three months while at the same time working part time. That was easy because I was given the contact but it demonstrated that it is possible. I have a (little) bit of financial flexibility that allows me to experiment.

I am going to market myself ruthlessly for copy and content writing and allow myself specific novel writing time each week. It may be a disaster but it's the only time I'm going to get the opportunity to try it.

mercifulTehlu · 29/12/2015 20:38

Same here, OP. Marking my place in case anyone comes up with any brainwaves. I decided aged 12 I wanted to be a teacher and I've never done anything else.
Major problem is that dh (deputy head ) is at absolute breaking point and wants to either get out of teaching too, or step back down to being HoD or just teacher. Which means I need a full time job.
I'm just not really qualified to do anything else which would pay me anything like as much as I'd earn by teaching Sad.

Ubik1 · 29/12/2015 20:44

I was never a teacher but I am a copywriter (with atrocious spelling and grammar when on mumsnet) and it's pretty good.

I work 9-5 writing corporate documents in the public sector. It's a very political, challenging environment but it's all manageable, supportive team etc

Have you thought about educational publishing? Science publishing?
You could try some temping agencies and see what they say - depending on where you are in the country they might be helpful. Otherwise look online and contact publishers direct. The science aspect of your degree coupled with the education background might be attractive to them. You could also try volunteering in the charity sector, maintaining their website so you can get a start.

Ubik1 · 29/12/2015 20:45

You would have to take a pay cut though - copywriting is not well paid.

MostIneptThatEverStepped · 29/12/2015 20:48

I was a teacher a long time ago (primary), have more recently worked in Registry/Admissions at a couple of universities. Would never ever go back to the stressy crappy political shit of working in a school.

ChampagneTastes · 29/12/2015 20:54

Ubik at some point would it be possible to pick your brain a little please? (Feel free to say "fuck off and do your own research" obvs).

jetSTAR · 29/12/2015 20:59

Joining with interest here. I am in a similar position to you OP and although I am a sahm currently I'd love to have a clue about what I could do in the future apart from teaching. My dream might be to write children's books but instead I am looking at my 'transferable skills'...

IHeartKingThistle · 29/12/2015 20:59

I teach adults now, in Adult Learning and Family Learning. It's not exactly a money spinner but it's a world away from school teaching. I get to do most of the school runs too because most of my students have to pick up their own kids!

Ubik1 · 29/12/2015 21:07

Of course Champagnetastes

AnotherStitchInTime · 29/12/2015 21:11

Jobs I have done in between teaching include:

Healthcare Assistant, you can do bank shifts half day, good if you need flexibility.

Complaints for local authority.

Have you considered working as a TA, you could do agency for flexibility?

HeyMicky · 29/12/2015 21:33

I'm a digital marketing manager at a pharma company. Used to be a secondary English teach - got into copywriting after I left and from there into marketing.

Echo Ubik's idea about writing. Medical writers are in huge demand and earn ££££

fluffywhitekittens · 31/12/2015 10:07

It could be worth looking for a better PPA job? I do 2 days a week, have to plan some lessons but others are planned by the class teacher/s.
It's also a lovely school with a pretty supportive SLT.
In my area there's also a demand for after school tutors, although I haven't gone down that route because of childcare, 2 days in the classroom works well for me and there's often the opportunity to do the odd day supply cover in the same school.

fluffywhitekittens · 31/12/2015 10:11

We manage school runs with DH doing the morning. We're lucky that I have friends and family who can collect my two after school and have them for an hour or so if I need to stay later but otherwise they could go to afterschool club.
It works really well for us as I'm getting the salary for teaching but considerably less stress than being a full time class teacher.

DitheringDiva · 31/12/2015 17:32

With a pharmacology degree, it might be worth looking at the pharma industry. In sales, or as a Medical Science Liaison (look it up - I've always thought it looked like an interesting job, and it's a role that's not very well known about), or as a medical writer (I can imagine this being quite good because you can go freelance once trained, and some areas of medical writing would use your creative side). Could you not just get a job as a pharmacy assistant, at least to get some recent experience in a non-teaching job (which I suspect you will find is your biggest hurdle), and it would also help to freshen up your pharmacology knowledge. 'Indeed' is a good job board to look on (there's loads of others as well) - just put in words that take your fancy, or that you're qualified for eg. 'pharmacology', 'children', 'creative' etc. See what comes up, and research whatever job titles take your fancy i.e. use the jobs boards as a tool to research career ideas initially, rather than just for job hunting. Emedcareers is also a good job board for medical/pharma type jobs. The NHS website is worth looking at as well.

Lexia123 · 31/12/2015 19:18

I'm very interested in this thread. I hate teaching and want to leave too. So far this year I've turned down a teaching job in a different country as I realised it wasn't what I wanted- now I've been offered a place at law school that I'm undecided as to whether to accept! I'm going to have to carry on working full time and find the time to study. I'm hoping it won't be in vain as I want a career that pays better than teaching.

StompyFreckles · 31/12/2015 19:19

Supply teacher!!! Best part of the job without the over time!

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