Any other teachers thinking of leaving?
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Same! I feel like I would have to take a massive pay cut tho but also hate that I have this job that drains me so much. Have you started looking? Is there a lot out there? I’m English also with leadership but feel I can’t afford to take such a drop!
I’m not a teacher but I can totally relate. I dread work most days and feel I’ve lost my passion, but so stuck on what else I could do to bring in the same wage 😥
Very sad to hear your feeling this way. I don’t dread getting up and going but it was a adjustment that’s for sure. All I will say is if you have a professional vocation then you can always go back if you need to (finically or if you do end of missing it). Just keep your cpd up to date and do the odd things through the years to add to it. If that’s what works for you at this time then go with it. But just reassurance that you can change your mind again, you might find you want to go back once your little ones start school xx
If you’re not already a member, join the life after teaching group on FB. There are lots of success stories and advice about leaving the profession, and if nothing else it makes you realise just how many are in the same boat. There are a lot of parents with young children on there who are just desperate to get out of teaching.
I’ve been teaching 15 years and until Christmas 2024 was a head of dept in a large secondary school. After going back after my third maternity leave, with a 3 year old and 1 year old at home, I was 90% sure I wanted to get out of teaching and applied for 3 non teaching jobs, two were at a university in student support/outreach roles which I personally think I was perfect for. I didn’t even get a single interview. I know it’s only 3 applications but I was really disheartened, especially as all of those 3 roles would’ve meant taking a significant paycut too. In the end I applied for a teaching role at a school much closer to home, without the tlr. I started at the beginning of this term and so far so good. It’s still hard and I’m still exhausted but I don’t have any of the head of dept stresses and the commute is much more manageable and means I can walk to work, stay until 4:30 each day and not bring work home, walk to get the children from nursery… I’m finding the juggle easier
My point being that leaving teaching isn’t always the answer. But do some research and figure out what’s right for you and your family. Good luck x
100% feel the same as you. I just don’t know what WFH job I can do that matches my current teaching salary with TLR. I feel like I can’t be 100mph at home and at work and it’s completely wearing me down.