Is it a school problem or an education problem?

[Millie1995]

I've been teaching now for 9 years, 5 of those in the school I'm am in now. Growing up it was the only job I wanted to do, I did a 3 year BA Hons degree in Primary Teaching and went straight into a teaching job.
In the last year I have found myself to be deeply unhappy in my role. Not because of the children, I love the actually teaching part and being with 30 sweet souls everyday. However I hate the workload, the constant pressure from leaders who haven't taught in a classroom in years and the unrealistic expectations on young children.
I have looked at other jobs within education and out of it but I am so conflicted whether the problem is an education problem or a school problem. Basically am I in the wrong school or is it a much bigger problem than that? Is the grass greener outside of education?
The final straw for me has been that I have been told that I will be moving key stages in September and this has made me even more unhappy. I will be teaching a year group that isn't my specialism and that I don't enjoy.

I have been thinking for a while about wanting to retrain as an educational psychologist however I know this is intense and I'm worried financially for my family.

I think what I am asking here is:
How do I know whether it's a school problem or education problem?
What other jobs have ex teachers done into? (Where I live there isn't a demand for tutoring and I can't do supply as I need a consistent income)
Has anyone retrained as an educational psychologist?

Thanks.

Hello, OP!

It's an education problem. I am an ex-teacher. Overall, I found the children lovely apart from two or three, let's be honest here, but it was the adults around them that were the problem. Interestingly, quite a few current teachers agree with me on this. The pressure got to the point where it made me so ill that I couldn't do the job anymore.

I left, took time out, and re-trained in a job that is largely free of people. Aside from my manager, it is much nicer. It's amazing how many ex-teachers I've come across in WFH jobs, farming and smallholding... because there are less people involved!

There are a lot of current teachers who are miserable, but are afraid to leave their job because they have mortgages to pay, families to look after, and don't always know what else to do. Good luck!

Hi @TheeNotoriousPIG
Thank you for your reply, it's so nice to hear from someone who knows what education is like! I definitely think you are right when you say that teachers are afraid to leave because of mortgages etc.
I just feel so unhappy and I just don't know what to do. I think I am scared of making the wrong choice!

It’s a state education problem.

The only teachers I know that are truly happy in their job teach in independent schools.

People I know who have left have gone into completely non education based roles or teach supply alongside a side hussle.

I would say it's both! The curriculum is far too congested and pressurised. In my experience, the work load is easing - using more schemes so less planning from scratch, no longer having to deep mark and leave next steps all the time - but tight budgets mean no TAs so you are having to do everything. In some schools the expectations are higher than in others which can be a bit more relaxed, and if you are in a two or three form entry, the planning and prep load is a bit less. I left to do supply and have no regrets, but I can manage on less money because I also tutor and have some rental income. If I were you, I would look at changing schools in the first place (bit late now, I know) or asking to do 4 days per week. If you find money is tight, you could always do supply on your 5th day, but a four day contract would give you a bit of flexibility and a bit of a pressure valve.

@Millie1995 No amount of money, or career, is worth your mental health. It is scary in making the decision to leave, after you've dedicated so much of your life to it, but whatever happens, just remember that there is still life outside of teaching!

Try changing schools first.

there is a lot of pressure everywhere but some schools are much nicer places to work then others.

It's a government control of education AND a constant, ongoing and unending fear of Ofsted/trying to meet their impossible standards thing.

SLT are so desperate to tick every box that they load more and more and more onto teachers, making the job and the workload unmanageable. And lets face it, some SLT are toxic (not all, I've had lovely SLT).

It's not the students. No matter the cohort, the children are the good bit of the job.

Education. The system needs a major overhaul for the sake of our children and the staff.

It’s a school problem - or perhaps a state school problem.

I’ve only worked in 4 schools, two state and two private. All of them were quite différent. My current (private) school is amazing. I follow the national curriculum, but have the freedom to teach how I like and have complete autonomy over lesson plans. A generous budget to buy resources and organise trips out. Class size of 18 is lovely. My colleagues are fabulous and the Head is approachable and inspiring.

There are brilliant schools out there. Worth looking around before you leave teaching. Having spent the first half of my career in the city, I think teaching is a breath of fresh air!

My DSis retrained as an educational psychologist and much prefers it to teaching - the pay is much better and the workload much more manageable. Doctoral training stipends look low on paper but they're tax-free, so it might not be as financially damaging as you think - and there's a massive market for Zoom homeschooling, which is much more reliable than traditional tutoring.

I know other ex teachers who work in pupil referral units and much prefer that to conventional schools.

Teaching on film sets pays up to £280 a day so even though it's not permanent, you can earn a lot of money when you are working. It hasn't been a great industry to be in over the last few years but when Harry Potter and Narnia start there will be so much demand!

It’s an education problem, although some schools are out there that have truly excellent leaders and who get it, therefore trying their best to meet the needs of staff and children.

I left teaching in 2017, after trying another school for a year it was clear I wouldn’t be carrying on. I did supply for a year (luckily I could afford to). This really made me love the job again but from a distance if that makes sense. I then went on to work in an outdoor nursery and do my forest school leader training. I was there for 6 years, outdoors every day! Loved it! We employed quite a few teachers who left the profession. I am now working for a charity who support families with children under 5 who are struggling. I’m an SEN intervention worker and I go into families homes to support them in whatever way they need. It’s very rewarding. Good luck 😊

I love my job and I work in a maintained school. I would say I am one of the lucky ones that has an incredible head teacher who creates the loveliest working environment. It does seem to be very rare at the moment though.

My husband left after doing 20 years and he is now tutoring for an agency. He has more autonomy and he has been a lot healthier and happier. Many of his colleagues left around the same time and are feeling the same.
If you're single go for it and don't risk your health for the profession.

I've been teaching for 29 years, 24 of them in a lovely village school.
Ive loved my job for so long but I've had enough and I'm retiring this year.

The curriculum is ridiculous, the parents are so demanding and unrealistic and the (some of) the children are entitled and rude.

I don't know if it's my age (I'm nearly 57) or society today but teaching isn't what it was. I'm going to find something part time to boost my pension. I'm counting the days.

It's an education problem. The whole system is shit and needs a radical overhaul. Far too much pressure on primary school kids. Can't see change happening anytime soon. They need to scrap ofsted for starters.

Cant remember who said go down to 4 days. I did this and couldn't believe how much of a difference it made. Or do a job share if possible. But tbh I do supply now as I was just exhausted from all the pressure.

My experience in 3 different preschools (in USA) has been varied according to how they were managed. My worst experience was a school that switched me around to different classes and age groups several times a month. I would have done lesson plans for kindergarten and I'd end up in the infants class or 2 year olds. During the summer they put me in charge of school age kids (a mixed group of 6 to 12 year olds.) There were days that I had 20 kids all by myself. The only reason I ended up at that school was because the previous school had to close due to finances.I had worked there for 25 years and it was an accredited by the early childhood association. No one was ever asked to change classes and they strictly followed child/teacher ratios.

I left teaching a long time ago, because of work expectations, the need to spend every evening prepping and marking, and the relentless pressure of managing poor behaviour.
I realised later that the behaviour was often down to what we were offering on the curriculum being of no interest at all to some of the teenagers we were teaching. There were of course plenty of motivated students who were happy with what we were doing - but for the others, we needed to change our approach. We still haven't really achieved this.

I used to work for a Company where you couldn't stay in a role for more than three years. It meant people got promoted and that we were constantly learning new skills. (You could move sideways!)

As a result, when I went into teaching I recognised when it was time to move somewhere else. It could be that you need the challenge of a new school (where you can teach your preferred Key Stage!) — maybe as a Key Stage Leader. Or perhaps the challenge of retraining or specialising in an area that interests you. One thing I did do is use my School's National College membership to do online courses. You can do specialist areas etc and get certificates, all for free.

I left school based teaching and now tutor students who have ASD and ADHD. It's incredibly rewarding and I can choose my own hours.

I taught for 10 years in secondary schools before moving into Further Education. I love it. I teach adults and if they want to be on their phones I tell them to go to the coffee shop, if they don't turn up I don't have to call their parents, if they don't do their work I tell them that is their responsibility not mine. I don't have to deal with over eager or under eager parents or school league tables. Try it, it might suit you.

I went down to 4 days and it did make a massive difference at the time. The other thing I found that helped was to not have class responsibility. So for the last year I've been covering PPA in my school. It means I don't have to do parents evenings (although I'm there in body), no report writing or IEP's. Not much involvement with parents. No class assemblies to do, no trips to organise. I don't do displays either.

It's made a massive difference to my workload this year.

It’s an education problem, and it’s getting worse not better. Yes, a bad school will add to the stress but even in a good school the pressure is there. There’s simply too much to do; the curriculum is rushed through; too much to fit into the day; too many pointless initiatives. What’s demanded of teachers is completely unreasonable.

I had a spell working in the civil service and the difference was immense. Teaching needs a massive, massive overhaul.

Thank you all of you for your replies. It's so interesting to hear everyone's thoughts and it has helped me to clear my head a little bit. I would absolutely love to go down to 4 days but unfortunately my school doesn't allow part time☹️
I think I am going to keep looking for a new teaching job and see where that takes me. However, if something outside of teaching catches my eye I think I will push myself outside of my comfort zone and go for it.

After 24 years I moved international. Absolutely no regrets