“It’s given me my life back.”

Head of Drama Lauren loved many aspects of teaching but found that the out of hours working expectations were simply unsustainable, sometimes hitting 12 hours a day for 6 days a week! After taking a few months off to rest and have fun, she spent some time freelancing and then started her job hunt for a full-time role.

Now a Project Manager for an education research charity, Lauren is enjoying a job that’s interesting, varied, and challenging in all the right ways. Since leaving teaching she’s revisited old hobbies, planned term-time holidays and is happy to leave work “at the door” at the end of each day.

In this episode, we also talk about:

• Reframing skills with the help of the Academy
• Mentally preparing for an interview
• Trusting yourself
• The day-to-day of project management
• Would project management suit you?
• Top tips for pursuing project management roles
• Benefitting from a supportive community
• Committing to new things outside of work
• Getting excited about “whatever comes next”

Links:

AAT Jobs Board - Filter by 'Project Manager' to find similar roles

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE WORKSHOP... Your Classroom Exit Plan 💛

“I didn’t realise it … I think I was slowly burning out.”

Reception Teacher Georgi followed her passions into the world of education, but felt numb and burnt out by her last year in the classroom. Stumbling upon the Adventures After Teaching Academy, she loved the supportive community, practical resources, and tools to navigate all the ‘what ifs?’ of career change.

Leveraging the power of LinkedIn to make connections, Georgi explored her passions once again, landing herself a job as a Zoo Education Officer (doesn’t it sound amazing?!) after a wonderfully positive interview experience. She now enjoys varied days, showcasing her creativity and organisational skills across two areas of interest: wildlife and education.

In this episode, we also chat:

• Identity crisis
• Not knowing what to do
• Navigating LinkedIn whilst still teaching
• Growth, confidence, and connection on LinkedIn
• The most helpful resources for translating skills
• Feeling confident going in to an interview
• A day-in-the-life of a Zoo Education Officer (and the key skills you’ll need to get there!)
• Bringing fresh ideas to a role
• Following your interests to find career change joy

Links:

RSPB

Biaza

Wildlife Trust

Butterfly Conservation Trust

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE WORKSHOP... Your Classroom Exit Plan 💛

Once a Secondary Drama Teacher and Head of Drama, Serena felt frustrated with the “other elements” of teaching and wanted more time to focus on the “important stuff” with her students. Returning from maternity leave, and battling exhaustion both at work and at home, she was driven to seek a new role that better aligned with her values and passions.

Initially taking on her job search alone, Serena joined the Academy last April and went on to secure a fantastic role as a Schools Resources Manager. Taking the best bits of teaching with her, she is now enjoying being in control of her own diary, living life with renewed energy levels, being more present at home and defaulting to happiness!

In this episode, we’re also talking about:

• Frustration with the education system
• Finding the Academy at the right time
• Focusing on finding organisations with shared values
• Dealing with rejection
• Having options with transferable skills
• Relationship building through the first phone call
• Making a committed career change choice
• Enjoying more autonomy and flexibility
• The transformation from anxious to happy

Links:

LinkedIn for Teacher Career Change Course

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE WORKSHOP... Your Classroom Exit Plan 💛

“I’ve got to try something different.”

Former History Teacher and Assistant Head, Simon remembers “running on empty all the time”. Following a conversation on the playground, Simon experienced a moment of realisation that teaching was no longer sustainable for him or his family, feeling “a weight off” after handing his notice in.

Now an Account Manager for Unifrog Education, Simon’s new role involves problem-solving, relationship building, and continuing to make an impact on the world of education. He’s embracing the opportunity to work for a company that aligns with his values, whilst enjoying new-found flexibility, aspirations outside of work, and getting to walk his kids to school every day.

In this episode, we’re also chatting:

• Breaking up with the classroom
• Positive filtering
• Teacher skills that are often overlooked
• Suitability for account management - you might be better at ‘selling’ than you think!
• Finding something you believe in
• Re-defining who you are and re-thinking where you're going
• The importance of having a plan
• New hobbies, health and habits!

Links:

Unifrog Education Jobs

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE WORKSHOP... Your Classroom Exit Plan 💛

“It had taken over my entire life.”

Associate Assistant Headteacher and Head of Geography, Victoria found her ‘4 day working week’ became a 50-60 hour commitment, frequently working 12 hours on a Sunday. Struggling with feelings of not wanting to let people down, she eventually gave herself permission to move on to a new adventure.

Now the Deputy Director of an education charity, Victoria enjoys a varied role that leans into her relationship building skills and strategic expertise. She is loving the opportunity to have an impact at a high-level in the world of education, as well as re-connecting with friends, rediscovering the things she likes to do in her spare time, and no longer working weekends!

In this episode, we’re also chatting:

• Guilt around leaving and seeking “good enough” reasons
• Taking enough time for burnout recovery
• Feeling confused about next steps
• Embracing a supportive, structured approach to career change
• Communicating the journey of past experience (including jobs before teaching!)
• The importance of making the phone call
• Positive interview experiences
• Partnerships roles and the power of networking
• Enjoying rest, connection, and fulfillment

Links:

LinkedIn for Teacher Career Change Course

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE WORKSHOP... Your Classroom Exit Plan 💛

“It was fantastic until it wasn’t so fantastic anymore”

Primary Deputy Head Giselle took a lot of positives from her teaching career, spending 23 years working in the same school with a “lovely team and a lovely community”. But, as a self-confessed people-pleaser, she eventually found herself wearing too many hats and, with increasing classroom commitments, the workload became unsustainable.

Now an Operations Manager and Employability Lead for a CIC (Community Interest Company), Giselle is experiencing joy and fulfillment once again in this education-adjacent role. Enjoying relaxed mornings, time-freedom, and new opportunities for development in her unicorn role, she’s feeling like “a weight’s been lifted.”

In this episode, we also cover:

• Ripping off the bandaid through decision-making
• Reflecting on career achievements, strengths and skills
• Staying open-minded about new opportunities
• The importance of calling about a role before applying
• Completing a video application
• “The nerves were gone” - preparing for an interview
• Escaping free-time guilt
• Top tips for operations roles
• Term-time holiday plans!
• A blossoming CV 🌺

Links:

1. Sign up for ‘Stay or Go?’ 2025

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE WORKSHOP... Your Classroom Exit Plan 💛

“It wasn’t a choice anymore … I had to go.”

After 21 years of teaching in Secondary schools, Lucy found herself falling out of love with the job. Throughout her career she’d tried different role and different schools, but no longer felt the same passion for the profession that she once had. “I just didn’t feel like I was myself anymore,” she shares in this episode.

Now a Teacher Resources Production Manager with OCR, Lucy has no regrets about embarking on her new adventure and is enjoying a life of hybrid working, renewed confidence, increased autonomy, and more quality time to spend with her own family.

We’re also chatting:

• Struggling with self-confidence
• Making the decision to leave
• Reflecting on personal skills through a different lens
• The feedback process of job hunting (refining and reflecting)
• Dealing with setbacks
• Having a “helping hand” through career change
• Project management skills
• New professional development opportunities
• Choice, trust, and autonomy
• Embracing squiggly careers
• Getting a life outside of work! 🤩

Links:

1. Sign up for ‘Stay or Go?’ 2025

2. Cambridge University Press & Assessment Careers

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE WORKSHOP... Your Classroom Exit Plan 💛

“I can’t be in this position next year.”

Primary teacher Vicky loved so many things about teaching but, after 20 years in the classroom, she found that the scope of her role had increased so much from when she first started her career. Regularly working until 9pm just to feel prepared for the next day, she felt like she was missing out on being present with her own family and knew that it was time for a change.

Now a Regional Trainer with Literacy company Lexonik, and also one of the Adventures After Teaching Academy’s Associate Coaches, Vicky is loving working in alignment with her values - enjoying travel, a supportive team, and continuing to have a positive impact on the world of education. A great episode for anyone who is interested in training roles, Vicky shares her expertise and advice with us.

In this episode, we’re chatting:

• Struggling with perfectionism in teaching
• The experience of lone job hunting
• Feeling more confident with a career change plan
• Finding your ‘alternative staffroom’
• Refining the types of role that interest you
• Rebranding your experience with varied skills
• ‘Pinch me’ moments in a new role
• Enjoying travel and meeting new people
• Being valued and celebrated
• Returning to working in schools in a different capacity 🩵

Links:

1. Visit the Lexonik website
2. The Adventures After Teaching CV Course

If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE WORKSHOP... Your Classroom Exit Plan 💛