5 Job Ideas for Ex-Teachers

There are many reasons that a teacher may want to leave the classroom: a lack of support, an unmanageable workload and unrealistic targets to name but a few. For most, leaving the routine and security of a teaching job is a daunting prospect. Some may feel that they are past the age of retraining, or that to leave teaching would be a waste of the skills and experience they have worked so hard to gain. Others may be concerned about the financial implications of leaving a teaching role and the insecurity it could bring.

There are many considerations to take in to account when leaving any job, and the decision certainly shouldn’t be taken likely. However, if you are truly unhappy in your teaching role, then it may be worth taking the leap. Teachers have a whole host of marketable skills, from communication and presentation skills to creative problem solving, standing you in good stead in the jobs market.

If you are someone who is considering an alternative career to teaching, then your first question is likely to be, “What could I do instead?” This blog gives 5 ideas for alternative, education-related careers for teachers, which could be worth investigating if you are looking to get out of the classroom.

Private Tutor

If you are still passionate about teaching, then becoming a private tutor is a great option. Being a qualified teacher will set you above the rest and help you to gain the best clients. Primary-trained tutors may provide home-schooling or support for children sitting SATS or entrance exams. Secondary-trained tutors may also provide home-schooling or support with GCSEs and A-levels.

Being a private tutor means flexible working hours and allows for the work-life balance that is often difficult to find in a classroom teaching role. Those who tutor online are even able to work from the comfort of their own homes. For many ex-teachers, tutoring  gives an opportunity to  use their teaching skills to provide individual-centered learning and makes for a rewarding career.

Further Education Lecturer

If you are tired of managing a class of children every day, adult learning may be a great path for you to explore. There are a number of adult-learner settings, such as further education, community colleges, adult education centres, prisons or the armed forces. There are opportunities to teach academic subjects leading to GCSEs or A-Levels, vocational subjects, basic literacy and numeracy skills, English for speakers of other languages or leisure and hobby courses. Many of these roles provide an opportunity to teach people who really want to learn and you can make a real difference to people’s lives.

For more information, visit: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/further-education-teacher

Non-teaching roles in schools

If your passion lies in supporting children and young people and you wish to remain in a school-setting, there are a number of roles you could consider. Many schools employ pastoral care officers, behaviour mentors and family support workers who provide help for children and families experiencing difficulties. Although these jobs aren’t often as well paid as a teaching position, they offer the opportunity to make a real difference to a child’s education, without the pressure of a classroom teaching role. You may also wish to explore further training options in areas such as speech or occupational therapy, youth counselling or educational psychology.

For more information, visit: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/learning-mentor

Education Liaison

Another option which will allow you to stay in the world of education without teaching is an education liaison role. You could use your expertise to get involved with the training and recruitment of new teachers through organisations such as the NCTL and Teach First. Alternatively, you could take on a specific liaison role, supporting with communication between schools, higher education and employers. Jobs like this often involve supporting post-16 and post-18 students by giving advice on admissions, applications, training course and vocational training.

Other opportunities

Your perfect job may be one you didn’t know existed! There are thousands of organisations constantly looking for people with a teacher’s skill set. By spending some time on the internet and talking to other people, you will find a whole host of jobs you had never even thought of. Find a job listing site, such as Guardian Jobs or Charity Job and carry out a jobs search in your area, applying filters to help narrow your search. You may find opportunities in the corporate world or in publishing, in environmental education or as a museum educator. The opportunities are endless.

Suggested job search websites:

https://jobs.theguardian.com/

https://www.charityjob.co.uk/