When You Know You’re Meant for More (But You’re Not Sure What’s Next)
By Sarah from Aster Academy

I remember the moment I knew I couldn’t do it anymore.

It wasn’t dramatic. No big confrontation. Just me, in my classroom, looking around at all the things I loved – the students, the buzz, the spark when a lesson really landed – and realising that those moments were getting drowned out. Buried beneath pointless admin, tick-box tasks and endless meetings with SLT where the focus felt so far removed from what children actually needed. I wasn’t burned out in the way people imagine – I still cared deeply. But I’d started to feel like I was spending more time justifying my work than actually doing it. And that’s when I knew something had to shift.

Maybe you know that feeling too. Maybe you’re carrying it quietly, wondering what it means and terrified of what comes next.

If you are, let me tell you: you’re not broken. You’re evolving. And you’re not alone.

The Transition Out Of Teaching Is A Big Deal

Teaching isn’t just something you do – it seeps into who you are. It shapes your weeks, your thinking, your identity. So when that little voice starts whispering that you might be ready for something else, it can really throw you. It’s like walking around a place you know by heart and suddenly realising it doesn’t quite fit anymore. Familiar, but not right. 

You’re not ungrateful. You’re just growing. And the hardest bit? Figuring out what’s next when your whole self has been wrapped up in the classroom for so long.

In my coaching work with former teachers, one thing always strikes me: it’s not just about career change. It’s about identity. It’s about permission. It’s about rediscovering who you are when you’re not answering to a timetable, a school bell, or thirty pairs of expectant eyes.

That’s why this process needs more than a polished CV and a search on LinkedIn. It needs time. It needs support. And it needs you at the centre.

So, where do you begin?

If You’re Feeling A Bit Lost, Try These Five Prompts:

These are questions I return to time and time again with my clients and I encourage you to sit with them, journal on them, or talk them through with someone who listens well:

1. What’s no longer working for you and why?
   This isn’t about blaming anyone or burning bridges. It’s about clarity. Be specific. Is it the workload, the values misalignment, the lack of autonomy, or the impact on your health or family life?
   
2. What are you proud of right now?
   We often rush straight to fixing what’s wrong, but confidence starts by honouring what’s strong. What qualities have helped you survive (and thrive) as a teacher? Start building from there.
   
3. What does your ideal day look like?
   Forget job titles for a moment. How do you want to feel when you wake up? What pace do you want? What kind of people do you want to work with? Design the lifestyle first, then build the work around it.
   
4. Who are you without the labels?
   This one’s hard, but powerful. Strip away “teacher,” “mum,” “colleague,” “dependable one.” Who’s underneath? What did you love as a child? What have people always come to you for?
   
5. What would you do if you trusted yourself completely?
   This is where the gold is. Your inner compass already knows what’s right. Fear just clouds the signal. Let yourself imagine, even if it feels outrageous or impossible right now.
   

You Don’t Need to Have It All Figured Out

One of the biggest myths about leaving teaching is that you need a rock-solid plan before you walk away. That you can only move if you know exactly what’s next. But in reality, clarity often comes after the leap, not before.

That doesn’t mean being reckless. It means being intentional. It means listening to your instincts. It means surrounding yourself with people who get it and can help you shape the next part of your story with care, creativity and confidence.

That’s what I wish I’d had when I left. And it’s what I now offer.

What’s Your Next Chapter?

I know the pull to do something different can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re used to structure, security and knowing exactly where you’re meant to be every hour of the day. But if you’re feeling that whisper (or roar) inside telling you it’s time to work for yourself, build something of your own and reclaim your freedom… I want you to know that’s not a pipe dream. It’s entirely possible.

I’ve lived it – the leap from secure, familiar ground into something entirely new. I’ve stumbled, learned, invested deeply in coaching and training and built a business that finally works for me instead of draining me.

Now, everything I’ve discovered along the way – the mindset shifts, the practical tools, the strategy and support – has shaped Your Next Chapter: a coaching programme for teachers who are ready to explore what else is possible.

If you’re standing at a crossroads, wondering what life beyond the classroom could look like, this might be the space you didn’t know you were searching for.

Your Next Chapter isn’t about pushing you to quit your job overnight.

It’s about helping you build a bridge towards something new with clarity, confidence and community.

We’ll work on:

• Mindset: Moving through imposter syndrome, fear and “what will people think?”
  
• Clarity: Discovering what you actually want (not just what you think you should do)
  
• Business building blocks: Offers, pricing, marketing and how to attract the right people
  
• Support: Weekly guidance, deep accountability and a space where you feel seen, not judged
  

Because you don’t just need a new job.

You need a new way of living and working that fits the person you’re becoming, not the one you used to be.

If you’re standing at that crossroads, wondering what’s next… this might be the space you didn’t know you were searching for.

I’m running a free webinar in April where I’ll share the exact steps you can take now to start building your own next chapter – whether you’re ready to leap or still exploring what’s possible. It’s a safe space to reflect, get practical and feel less alone.

And if it feels like the right next step, Your Next Chapter (my small group coaching programme) will begin after May half-term. It’s your chance to be guided through this transition with thought, care and a whole lot of belief in what you’re capable of.