Returning to teaching after mat leave but want to leave

[Elb94]

Hi! Just looking for some advice really :) I am a secondary English teacher currently on maternity leave with my gorgeous 6 month old baby boy and will be returning to work next month (a lot earlier than intended due to the horrendous cost of living crisis!!)

This September has marked my 4th year of teaching and I’ll be honest, I don’t know how much more I can take. I wouldn’t really say teaching is my “dream job” or my “calling” - more just a job I went into after completing my English degree but I really have major regrets. I am dreading going back to work and can’t seem to find a way out - I don’t want to do the long hours and late nights, I don’t want to miss precious time with my son for a job I don’t even enjoy and quite frankly, I don’t want to see other children more than my own child 🤨. My heart isn’t in it and I believe that to be a good teacher I will have to sacrifice my role as a good mum and I don’t want to do that. The trouble is, I feel trapped - I have no idea how to get out. I have a couple of questions and I’m wondering if anybody could clear this up for me…

I understand that I have to complete 13 weeks when I return, so I don’t have to pay back my maternity leave. I will be retuning the week before the Christmas break, so that will take me until around 13th March… if I were to hand my notice in, would I be able to leave the 13th March or would I have to complete the official notice period and leave 31st May?

My second question - I will be getting out of teaching but unfortunately cannot afford to be a SAHM, so I will have to find a new job. How does this work? Is it acceptable to go for an interview for a new job outside of teaching during term time? And will jobs wait for you? For example, if I found a job after the resignation deadline, would I have to wait for the next deadline and therefore miss out on an opportunity?

My school have took someone on for the whole year so I would not be leaving them without a teacher but I don’t want to start looking for jobs if this isn’t ok. Im just very confused about what to do!! My other option is to just hand my notice in and hope I get a job by the time I leave, but I’m terrified to do that in case it doesn’t work out!

Sorry for the long post, and I appreciate anyone’s input/advice/insight!! I also hope this makes sense.

Thank you!

(currently have my sick baby sleeping on me, so please excuse any spelling/grammatical errors in this post!)

You usually have to give a term’s notice so you will have to speak to the HT to ask whether you can leave early. They might be amenable as they have someone doing your job anyway.
It’s up to the HT as to whether they give time off for interviews. It is usually ok provided they aren’t every week.
Most companies require one month notice and many now require three so a new employer should be prepared to wait for you.
Are you sure it isn’t a new school you need to find rather than a new career?
Good luck in finding a new job.

Unfortunately, you need to work until May 23 not only to work the 13 weeks but to be able to give a terms notice.

You'll have many transferable skills but it'll be a shame to loose your holidays which will allow you time to spend with your little one. Have you thought about moving schools instead? English teachers are in real demand in my area at the moment.

Good luck with whatever you decide

Thank you @mdh2020 and @Mrswalliams1 for your replies!! This is my struggle - the holidays are probably the only thing swaying me to stay :( it’s definitely not the school - I absolutely adore the people I work with, which has probably been the reason I haven’t left already! But it’s quite a far drive for me so I’m not sure how long I will be able to stay before finding another school (if I stay in teaching) due to childcare and getting home on time to see my little one. Also due to covid hitting halfway through my NQT and then pregnancy etc, I haven’t actually taught a Year 11 class, so I’m very doubtful another school would take on a M4 or above without Year 11 experience, when they could hire an ECT without as much experience for a lot cheaper, so I feel like I’m in a really sticky situation :(

thank you for both your insights though, it looks like I have a lot of decisions to make!

We don’t have to give a term’s notice at my LA school-can’t you go back, give in your notice at February half term and then leave at Easter?

I returned to work September 2022 after a blissful year maternity with my lovely little boy. You know what I am in the same boat I’ve been back nearly two terms and frankly it’s not my calling in life and it does and has taken away my enjoyment in life as it’s so demanding.
I can’t stand the students, the school or the management and it’s just taken a toll on my happiness. I’m fortunate my days are shorter now but I still have to do all my work in short days with no let up of the demands at home. I wish I had given my notice in as ours is a terms notice and I could have been free by now, however the holiday are keeping me there as I don’t have to deal with booking holiday and I can have a lot of time off. But I do think teaching has changed since returning and wonder if any other school roles may suit me better?

There's a great Facebook grou0 full of great advice and teachers leaving. I can't remember what it's called though.

Have you considered FE? If not teaching a level English, functional skills?

I think you need to work out what you want to do first. Other jobs are likely to have long, probably longer hours, and you’ll have to work 46-48 weeks of the year. If you’re leaving because teaching isn’t your calling, then definitely work out what IS your calling first 🙂

I do think you have to tread carefully. If you’re going back after six months due to money, it’s unlike you’d find another job on around £35,000 just like that. Would part time help?

Have you thought about other options which utilise your skills e.g. learning and development roles, FE,

Problem with teaching is that you work way more than that 🤣 id say a min 50 h

@Elb94 @morebiscuitslessdrama
Just been reading through. Are you both still working in your schools? How has it been? I am due to return September and dreading it! (Also secondary teacher).

I was in the same boat, returned and have ended up off sick as I just couldn’t cope anymore and really struggled with anxiety/panic attacks. I’m due to have another baby so have decided I’m not going back this time. Hope you managed to figure something out

Teaching is an awful career to be in these days. I left last summer and my only regret is not doing it sooner!

The feeling of finishing work and not having to do anything that evening related to work is AMAZING! I can't overstate just how difference it makes. I used to do a lot of planning/marking/making resources at home in the evenings/weekends - no more! Sure I've lost the holidays but having my evenings and weekends back MORE than make up for it!

So far I have noticed the following:

• I have way more energy and time for my family
• I eat better and exercise more
• I've lost weight
• I no longer stress in evenings that I'm fully up-to-date with XYZ school tasks
• No more Sunday night dread
• No more counting down the days to holidays
• I can go to the toilet whenever I want
• I'm reading more (for pleasure - not teaching related stuff!)
• I've taken up a hobby with I love

I'm WFH now so my house is more in order (as I can stick on a wash during my lunch break and obviously have no commute time!)

I'm earning more - have a WFH financial allowance - and generally loving life. Don't continue in the drudgery of teaching when there is so much better out there!

@MakiSushi wow sounds incredible! I'd love to WFH - I'd have such a tidy house!! 😂 what do you do for work now? If you don't mind me asking!

@SendmetoFlorida when I left teaching initially it was to do a contract role. I sort of had to as it is very difficult to land interviews/be taken seriously in another sector when you have 18 years experience in education!

Thankfully the contract role enabled me to pivot to a full time perm job with other company.

I'm now an IT Trainer.