Part 1

Are you thinking about leaving teaching? Hear from Laura who spent 17 years as an English, Media and Drama teacher in secondary schools, progressing from teacher to Assistant Headteacher. Laura is now a curriculum and pedagogy specialist, working as a Learning and Implementation Advisor for the Education Development Trust.

Finding Your Why When Leaving Teaching

My ‘nagging feeling’ appeared gradually, almost without me noticing. After a continuous 16 years of education, and a further year as a PGCE student, I dived straight into classroom teaching and had been swimming for the next 17 years. To continue the analogy (I was an English teacher after all), I felt like I was doing a marathon medley for some of the latter years – thanks to the pandemic! Having worked through positions including English teacher, Head of Faculty and Assistant Headteacher, I found myself feeling more and more unfulfilled and couldn’t shake a growing desire to see outside of the classroom.

The first complexity for those who find themselves in this position, is working out why. 

Motivations can vary – it could be a desire to diversify, a need for a change of scenery, or a necessary part of a progression route – but working out your ‘why?’ is the first step. Sadly, in trying to research how other professionals had taken the leap, I discovered that the ‘why’ is all too often linked to poor work/life balance, increasing pressure and frustrations with bureaucracy. I am sure all teachers have felt this way at some point, but it is usually reversed by a good lesson or a “that’s why I teach” moment. 

Many Teachers Become Disconnected

What happens when those moments fade?

In the ‘great resignation of 2022’, I fear that we’ll lose many teachers who have become disconnected due to the incredibly challenging times we have been through and the uncertainty of what a new normal will look like. Therefore, my advice is to try to identify your ‘why’ as early as possible. Is your unhappiness caused by current circumstance and, hopefully, short-term?  Is it something that is a temporary but necessary hindrance to help you to reach your next goal? Or is it a permanent issue, such as the school, subject or phase that you are teaching in? In other words, what degree of change will help?

I Didn’t Want To Be A Headteacher

In my case, I couldn’t see a future pathway. My ambition and drive was still there, but I didn’t want to be a Headteacher. It is a job that I fully admire but have never desired. Instead, I wanted diversity and a different challenge.

Recognising your values

For career fulfilment, our passion and our values need attention.  My passion has always been education, and it matched well with my values of equality, integrity and compassion. Yet, after 18 years climbing the education ladder, the adventurous, curious and creative side of me was not feeling the same fulfilment.  To turn to motivational theory, the lack of harmony between my passion and all of my values was the cause of my ‘nagging feeling’.  Recognising this as my ‘why’, helped me to climb out of the pool and leave teaching.

To anyone contemplating a change, start by checking in with your motivating factors. What is it that is not working yet? Do you need a tweak, a change, or a revolution? 

Recognising your ‘why?’ will make the next step a lot easier when you are thinking about leaving teaching. 

If you would like to connect with Lauren on LinkedIn click here: Laura Fox

Laura has written 3 parts to this blog

• Part 2 – Where do I Start
• Part 3 – Life After Teaching