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Original poster

I don't want to be a teacher anymore

69 replies

harper30 · 10/01/2022 19:11

Hello all, I'm appealing to former teachers really, and others in the same position.

I've been a teacher for 10 years, at the same lovely school, I'm a head of department, working 4 days a week (have one DD3.5 so nearly at school so full time is an obvious option soon) I'm at the top of MPS and have some other TLRs as well as HoD but nothing hugely stressful.

But I've just had enough, which is ironic as I'm earning the most I ever have as a teacher (pro rata) my job isn't hugely stressful day to day, I have school holidays to spend with my DD and husband who isn't a teacher so he sometimes is off in the holidays but not much. So all those things on paper are fantastic?

BUT, school fills me with dread, I've got a minor physical disability which has been worse recently and makes me feel sad and pissed off a lot of the time. And after masking that at school all day, I'm knackered and a bitch to everyone in my personal life during term time.

So... ramble ramble ramble. What should I do instead? Friends and husband have said I could do anything I put my mind to, and I do believe that to an extent, but the TIME retraining would take is daunting. Going into a totally new sector would mean a big pay-cut until I could progress in that new career.

And it's not helped by not knowing what else to do. All the websites when you google it suggest tutoring?? Absolutely fucking not.

Is there anyone out there who loves their job? Can you tell me what it is and how you got into it?

TL;DR I don't want to teach, what should I do instead?

OP posts:
Original poster
harper30 · 10/01/2022 19:14

Am I just a dickhead? I've just read that post back and I can't work out if I'm gaslighting myself into thinking I have a horrible time when literally written down like that it all sounds great?
Why does school make me cry and feel physically sick on the drive in every day?
Maybe I shouldn't be bothering mumsnet and go see my GP and ask what's wrong with me?

OP posts:
coodawoodashooda · 10/01/2022 19:14

Honestly I don't know what you could do that offers as many perks for the same money. Are you crafty? Could you do anything and sell it on etsy?

Original poster
harper30 · 10/01/2022 19:17

@coodawoodashooda that is such a good idea and I do love making crafty stuff, I did set up an Etsy page at one point but only sold one or two, I've got no idea how to make my particular hobby pay out really. I couldn't do it better than the already great people out there doing it I don't think.
You're right, I don't know what I'd be able to do that has the same positives. Just struggling with the negatives at the moment.
I think I'd be fine to ditch the positives of teaching in order not to feel like shit? I'm not sure if I have the guts to though and no real direction to go in at the moment 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
Shadowboy · 10/01/2022 19:17

I am desperate to leave teaching too! I’m also a HOD but full time. I have teaching for 15 years and I’m done. I can’t think though of what my skills would transfer too either?

I could afford to take a £5k pay cut without issue but any less would be a problem…. I think we are at a financial trap point as starting new is more likely to be approx £30k but that’s too low for me

Original poster
harper30 · 10/01/2022 19:18

@Shadowboy god absolutely that is me, and I keep saying to DH that I'm stuck, I can't earn this much starting something new, so I really am trapped by it.

OP posts:
ticktockriojaoclock · 10/01/2022 19:19

Totally relate to that feeling of dread going into school!
If you're in England, the Government are funding skills bootcamps at the moment. I know someone who's done a techy one recently and is in the process of interviewing for a new job atm. Worth looking into?
www.gov.uk/government/publications/find-a-skills-bootcamp

Nothing will offer the same holidays as teaching but your mental health has to come first.

Cornishmumofone · 10/01/2022 19:19

I quit teaching to move into EdTech/Instructional Design. The salaries are higher in corporate, but I prefer HE as I have 44 days leave a year (including BH) and flexible working. I also work from home.

Ladyface · 10/01/2022 19:20

I know you don’t want to tutor but could you retrain but also do a bit of tutoring on the side. (I only say this as my son is with his tutor right now preparing for SATS and she charges £40 an hour).

AnxiousHeffalump · 10/01/2022 19:22

I’m in the same boat! I’ve been looking for a couple of years, but can’t find anything which pays enough (I’m happy to take a £15k pay cut) that would consider me.

JackTheHack · 10/01/2022 19:22

Most half decent jobs start at 30k and you must have some transferable skills

BurbageBrook · 10/01/2022 19:24

I think whatever career you switch to you do have to accept a pay cut. You probably would be less stressed in a job where it’s less about social interaction and being ‘on’ all the time. I went into academia but that’s not an option for the faint-hearted so I wouldn’t recommend it to most people, although I love it. How about marketing, business roles, training people in a company, retraining completely in a new career? Whatever you go for there is likely to be an initial pay cut but for me it was worth it.

Fantasmic143 · 10/01/2022 19:24

I left secondary science teaching 10 years ago after 15 years of it. I thought it would be a job for life but was bullied out by my HOD. I didn't know at the time that I wouldn't go back. I spent 5 years working at an exam board and have been working at a civil servant in education for the last 5 years. Any retraining was on the job and I now earn equivalent to SLT. I am also being sponsored to do an MSc at Oxford University. I totally love my job - I still use experience I gained as a teacher but the work is now more technical and focused on a particular area. I don't have ANY regrets!

FitAt50 · 10/01/2022 19:25

My husband is an Assistant Head at a high school - earning £58k a year. He told me in Novemvber that he hates his job and after 15 years can't face it any more. He has put in his notice and leaves in July. He is not sure what he is going to do but I told him I totally support his leaving and I I just want him to be happy. He is looking at working for a University or is some public sector role. This website might help ex-teachers.uk/

Original poster
harper30 · 10/01/2022 19:25

@ticktockriojaoclock thank you that's really useful there are a lot of digital options on there which are interesting, and HGV driving 😂 I can't quite see myself doing that but never say never!

@JackTheHack you're right, and I think I have loads of transferable skills, I'd just need the right person/company to essentially take me on with no experience in much other than teaching. So I've made the assumption that I'd have to start on a lower salary until I've got the relevant experience, or do training alongside.
It's panic inducing as well because you have to give so much notice to quit teaching, I wouldn't be able to start applying for jobs outside until I'd handed my notice in already at school. Mega leap of faith,

OP posts:
pooiepooie25 · 10/01/2022 19:26

I would advise joining the Facebook group 'Life After Teaching- Exit the Classroom and Thrive'.

Original poster
harper30 · 10/01/2022 19:27

Thank you so much all I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to my rambling, it's nice to hear success stories of people leaving!

OP posts:
CaptainChannel · 10/01/2022 19:28

I've just left teaching after 11 years, HoD like you but the negatives just started to outweigh the positives. As you know, the holidays and pension are valuable but nothing is worth dread and a decline in mental health. First of all investigate a change of school type or key stage. Would you like to try private? Could your subject be taught at primary level (languages for example?). I'd try something different first. Failing that, there are other jobs out there that will value your skills and experience. I'm doing something else, pretty good money and from home which suits me at the moment.

Phyllis321 · 10/01/2022 19:28

How about project management? There’s all different kinds. Lots of shared skills with teaching

immersivereader · 10/01/2022 19:28

Are you on LinkedIn?

daisychainsandrainbows · 10/01/2022 19:29

Is being a teacher the problem or is the problem trying to hold down a job whilst dealing with your disability?

I'm not saying don't leave teaching. I'm a teacher and I get it's all consuming and stressful but nothing you've said really pinpoints how your job itself is making you feel this way. Were you happier in teaching before your disability worsened? Is it something that is likely to improve again?

I can completely understand how you're exhausted working 4 days, raising a child and dealing with all of life's stresses on top of dealing with your disability.

maddy68 · 10/01/2022 19:30

I actually enjoyed supply teaching (expect poor behaviour) but no planning ,no meetings no politics. Turn up teach go home

Howshouldibehave · 10/01/2022 19:31

You are not alone. Look at the ‘Life after teaching: exit the classroom and thrive’ Facebook group-it has nearly 50,000 members!

IloveM · 10/01/2022 19:34

Have you got January blues ?

Original poster
harper30 · 10/01/2022 19:39

@IloveM not unless they started last January 😂
It's a good shout, and I'm sure that's not helping things either

OP posts:
AlexandraEiffel · 10/01/2022 19:40

I think it's worth reflecting on your 2nd post. Except the dickhead bit Grin. It could be teaching is the problem. It could be it isn't, that the problem is something deeper, and jumping from teaching won't fix it and you end up regretting. Impossible to know from here of course. Can you access and counselling through work to talk things through and see what comes up?

I love my job, but am having counselling at the moment due to a bullying incident that made me doubt everything. I'd be gutted to lose everything I love about my job rather than fixing the issues bullying brought up in me. As those issues would follow me.