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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:

JustOneMoreStep · 10/01/2022 21:39

I left last summer after 8 years, also HOD with a mild physical disability and it was the best thing I ever did. For me the final push was COVID, and I decided to take some time out with the intention of returning when things settle down. Honestly thought I'd be sad when I actually left 'never to return' and would miss it but I dont, not even for nanosecond although I still socialise with my former colleagues who became friends. As teachers, we have loads of transferable skills so just see what's around that you fancy and then look at what skills you have and how they might apply in the new setting.....Good communication skills is a great example!

Anecdotally, in my former department there were 8 staff. I left in August and 5 more left this Christmas with 1 more off on long term sick. You aren't alone in wanting to get out, it's horrendous in eduction at the moment despite all the 'perks'.

dephlogisticated · 10/01/2022 21:41

I really understand how you feel, it's a tough job and you sound exhausted. You're doing brilliantly to keep going and please be kind to yourself. I did leave teaching and I did take a pay cut but it was worth it and I balanced the cut against doing more hours in the new job. It's a project management/ communications type role and teaching has many transferable skills for this sector. However, I also wanted to suggest training as a celebrant (secular or humanist perhaps. for weddings, funerals etc) you will need to train but you can make a career out of it. You will be able to find something, whatever that change looks like, you won't feel like this forever I promise!

TheHoptimist · 10/01/2022 22:01

[quote Itmustbeaproblemwithyourdoodad]@BlueSoul I’m interested in why you wouldn’t recommend being a SALT? I’m currently working as a TA at a special school but my long term plan is to retrain as a speech and language therapist or maybe an OT....[/quote]
because the pay would be much much lower than the OP is on?

Original poster

harper30 · 10/01/2022 22:13

You're all lovely thank you for taking the time. Being a celebrant is something I would never NEVER have thought about but I'm sure is a really lovely job to do.
It's heartening to hear that you can find other things to do that you enjoy more, even if a pay cut is usually part of the move. Project management does sound like something I'd be good at. I just lack confidence that I could do something other than teaching now?
I've got work tomorrow and I feel sick already, and I'm in a DREADFUL self sabotaging habit of staying up really late because I don't want it to be the next day. Like the later I stay up, it stops it from being the morning? My head is completely gone.

OP posts:

Veryverysadandold · 10/01/2022 22:31

As others have said, go and look at the life after teaching Facebook group and watch the pit pony video (should be linked at the top), it's such a supportive group, loads of ideas of what to do next , lots of solidarity. They only started during covid but its massive now, just shows you're not alone. You can also do anonymous posts (warning, there are so many members that you are likely to know someone on there).

Macaroni46 · 10/01/2022 22:37

@crochetmonkey74 you get frees and breaks? Wow! I want to work at your school! Are you secondary?

spotcheck · 10/01/2022 22:39

OP
Do you/ did you have a subject specialism?

What do you like about your day to day job?

What task do you feel confident doing?
What energises you?
Who do you like being around?

Knackeredmommy · 10/01/2022 22:51

I felt like this, 20 yrs teaching, non class based Sen role. UPS, but just had enough. I left in the Summer and now work as an advisor in the charity sector, I love it! The pace is actually manageable and although I took a paycut, it works out as not that much less each month as I'm not paying TPS. I get six weeks holiday but can take it whenever, which works for me as my children are teens. I actually had my birthday off! I was burnt out..

loloballlolo · 10/01/2022 22:55

I wonder could you put your existing teaching skills into some new format of teaching or freelancing maybe. Running courses for kids on a part time basis? Training teachers? Freelance group co-ordinator? Tutor? Run a small company that does something teaching related? Something out of the classroom day in day out but might have elements. Where you can use your existing expertise in a new way.

CanIHaveASnaaaaak · 10/01/2022 22:57

I know lots of teachers and none of them are happy. I know lots of ex-teachers and they are happy.

You do sound like you have it better than some teachers, however if it isn’t right for you then it isn’t right for you!
(You leaving may allow a teacher that lives the job but hates their school the opportunity to move schools and stay in this vocational career!).

Good luck with whatever you decide to do next.

crochetmonkey74 · 11/01/2022 06:37

[quote Macaroni46]@crochetmonkey74 you get frees and breaks? Wow! I want to work at your school! Are you secondary? [/quote]
Yes I'm secondary so get frees. Breaks have gone a bit AWOL since Covid as we have more Duty days and they are now doing staggered lunches per year group so it's a few small breaks just long enough to boil kettle, have a wee etc.
I'm always staggered by the workload of Primary teaching, how can you plan and mark if you have no designated time to do so??

TheReluctantPhoenix · 11/01/2022 06:52

Think a degree of this is that ‘the grass is greener’.

How did you get into teaching in the first place? Have you done any other form of paid work? What do you teach (a Maths teacher is far more employable than an English teacher)?

You do sound like you have a nice set up. Before changing career, why not work out what you don’t like. Sometimes, a different school or type of school might be all the Chang’e you need.

If you are financially literate, a school bursar strikes me as an easy and stress-free job (though I am sure they don’t think of it that way). Also HR is relatively easy to get into and you can earn good money.

lastminutetutor · 11/01/2022 06:58

Would you consider a move to higher education either teaching your subject or teaching on PGCE? I teach for the OU as an AL, even outside of the pandemic 95% of the work is at home. The students are all choosing to be there. There is a lot of flexibility, so you can do school pick ups, nativities etc. Pay is not bad, especially if you do a lot of modules and considering I have much of the summer off. You would though need to do some evening/ weekend work. Or just enquire in a local university.

To counteract the long notice period could you leave and consider supply to tide you over while other jobs come around? Many jobs though do expect that you need to give a few months notice.

kiwiandmelon · 11/01/2022 07:39

I'm not a teacher but an accountant and I absolutely hate it. I've been going on IT courses to try and get out. Might be worth trying some IT Bootcamp's there are a lot around if that's of anything interest.

I'm only from the private sector so don't know of any other jobs that offer similar perks to teaching but tbh accountancy is easy to get into too if that suits you. It was fine I'm just fed up with it because I've been doing it for so long and you can wfh easily too.

MrsAntonioConte · 11/01/2022 07:48

Museums love to employ ex teachers. Also, the companies that supply teaching resources love to employ ex teachers! I used to work for an educational toy company and we always employed them.

Also, ex science and maths teachers often transfer into digital marketing. But the data analytical side of it - reports, data, statistics etc

Jobseeker19 · 11/01/2022 07:51

What about an Ofsted inspector?

clary · 12/01/2022 23:28

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

Just to say op that that is not true. Plenty of ppl in senior roles are on three months' notice, which is more or less what a teacher is on. If somewhere wants you, they will be happy to wait. I was a teacher and moved to a role outside teaching (back to my former milieu); got the job mid Sept, left end of December. So please don't be discouraged by that thought.

Perfect28 · 29/09/2023 17:20

I think you sometimes have to accept a bit of a pay cut with better long term prospects. For example, a few years retraining but then a salary that is significantly better in a better job once qualified.

Freckles81 · 08/04/2024 15:37