Jobs after teaching

[Littlefoxmum]

Hi, I’m really struggling to find part time work as a science teacher after my school rejected my part time request, it doesn’t seem any schools are keen for part time either. Have any other qualified teachers changed career after their little ones were born? What did you do instead? Looking for ideas/inspiration

I was a secondary English teacher and really was stressed and tired when I went back after maternity leave. I had considered changing careers before that but was at a school I loved. Sadly had to leave that job as the commute wasn't doable with nursery drop-off and collection.

Anyway, I took some time to consider what I wanted to do and decided to learn to code. I got a helpdesk/junior dev role working with WordPress and it's been great. Really flexible, but it was full-time.

It's not impossible to change careers and work part-time, but I found it difficult. I ended up going full-time but in the end it was still giving more time with my family because I wasn't stressed and working weekends. Work was left at work and I never felt better.

Really think about what you enjoy doing and where you want you want from a job. Are you leaving teaching because you can't find a part-time job or are you leaving it because you want to. If you want to still stay in education, then you could consider tutoring or teaching at in FE (sometimes more part-time roles). If you would be happy to work in primary, you might be able to find a part-time PPA cover role. Then there is HE in more administrative role (can explore on jobs.ac.uk). Or go back to your degree subject and see what might interest you.

I left primary teacher during my NQT year as I knew it want for me. I went to work with adults with mental health diagnosis, and become a trainer within the industry. Love it. Still get to teach, without the weight of the national curriculum, staff room politics and paperwork to contend with!

Are you applying for FT science jobs and saying you only want PT? You would get work near me easily.

I think as science teacher you’d be snapped up PT round here too. When I applied for jobs I would see a school advertising FT and would email asking if they would consider part time for the right candidate before applying. Quite a lot said yes!

I’m response to these messages, I have just returned to a new job after maternity on 4 days for a year. I have found starting a new job on 4 days as a maths teacher incredibly stressful. I am looking for a way out. I too have found that schools are not keen on teachers being part time.