Biggest advantages of no longer being a teacher

[Mrsnothingthanks]

I left after 20 years in primary last December.

Where do I start?
The flexibility of my role (tutor) has meant I can see my little girl's school concerts, attend family reading, go to her nativity. I can also do school drop-offs.
Looking forward to a mini holiday with my husband (child-free) in term-time next summer as we can afford term-time prices (couldn't afford to do this in school holidays).
Mental health - I sleep so much better and don't feel constantly stressed. My dentist even remarked how much better my teeth were now I'm grinding less.
I have a full lunch half-hour.
I have my evenings and weekends back.
The cut in pay (now a tutor) has been worth every penny and my only regret is I didn't do it sooner.

It must feel like a huge release & relief. Well done for taking the leap.

Well done for getting out!
I left school teaching over six years ago and love that my weekends are now my own. I can't believe I used to think it was a good day if I finished marking/planning/SEN paperwork/reports...whatever else by 5pm on Sunday.
I love that I no longer feel stressed if it's someone's birthday and we are invited to spend a couple of hours celebrating with them of an evening/weekend as that eats into available work time.
I love no longer waking at 4am on Sundays with my mind racing thinking about what I need to do for the week.
I love that my DCs started talking to me about their days. They used to sense I didn't have the time to listen so would just talk to DH instead.
I still grind my teeth though.
So glad I left - they were dark times.

It is just so terrible that the job is so horrendous now that teachers (often experienced ones) are leaving in droves. And I don't blame them one bit.
But I do worry about education as a whole, especially for my 5 yo little girl.

Not being sick every holiday once the stress was lifted.

Although I taught adults. Left once my girls were at university. Haven’t missed it one bit.

Do you run your own tutoring business or work for a company?

I left in July. Not working yet as I need the time to recover (out of work stress as well as teaching stress) but am looking at options for next year.

Can wee when I need to go

I second being able to go to the toilet at any time.

In my first year of retirement we enjoyed going o cheaper holidays in term time. Then OH got a new job where everyone has holidays at the same time - and it's school holidays 😪

I work in a supporting role at primary after school hours and i have so much admiration for what teachers do.

The amount of red tape and hoops we have to jump through, and the amount of special training we have to do (safe guarding, restraining (!), abuse recognition, ect) is a mere fraction of what the teachers have to do and i applaud every one of them. The buck stops with them day in day out and the things they have to deal with wrt managing issues arising from the children's home lives are eye opening, saddening and relentless.

All the above is before any actual teaching and dealing with disruptive behaviour and trying to plough through and deliver the curriculum Plus the marking and lesson planning. PLUS the bloody stupid trivial moans and groans from parents and late pick ups lack of input of any actual help !!

It makes my head hurt just seeing what the teachers turn up to do. They all deserve a medal and every second of the school holidays that they get (although they're all often back in sorting clsssrooms and joining training meet ups and preparing displays ect during the holls).

👏👏👏👏👏 for the teachers and no blame given to those that pack it in and leave.

Earning much more money (after a small initial pay cut). I've been out for nearly 6 years. Don't miss it.

This!
Also

• not having to come home, cook and eat tea and then start the evening marking shift.
• not having to do a full days work and then do an extra 4 hours parents evening 6 times a year
• not having to fill in hours of tick box SEN reports which make no difference whatsoever to what goes on in the classroom.
• not having to waste hours with parents who refuse to believe that "Little Johnnie" could possibly be naughty, tell lies or bully other children.

Sooo glad to be out of it!

I've flirted with leaving teaching for a while - even took interviews for non-teaching jobs including getting into the Civil Service (and turning it down for poor pay). I decided in the end that taking a part time, no extra responsibility teaching job with all school holidays would be better for me than leaving.

I now work in a school where planning is centralised and we mark assessments not books. I don't work ANY evenings, just download my lessons on a Sunday for the week. I do not miss being management at all which I was for 11 years. My wanting to climb the ladder has gone and I don't stress about school when I'm not there. And don't work every day which is heaven!

I’m now (hopefully) stepping down from head of department. I’m hoping that will be enough to keep me in the career for a little longer.

The flexibility to attend something for a child, or go to a medical/dental appt at lunchtime.

hybrid working

corporate benefits like medical insurance

better progression and more money.

enough time to actually get my job done