How to Leave Teaching in 2026: What Life Really Looks Like After

"Don't take directions from someone who has never been where you want to go."

I am now 2 months into my new role- so I wanted to share an update of what life after teaching really looks like- and what it could also look like for you.

What does my role entail?

My role as a Programme Officer is a mix of logistics and admin, supporting with the coordination of adult workshops and events, and being involved in the design of educational content. I also help plan our educational programmes overseas- which means plenty of project coordination, problem-solving, and thinking on your feet. I'm also in charge of ensuring the e-learning and online modules we offer our participants support learners and have interactive elements to make learning more exciting.

Did I need any extra qualifications?

When I was applying for other jobs, I didn't yet have a solid understanding of adult learning principles, so I decided to freshen up my skillset by taking a course. For those you interested in which course I took, it was: Instructional Design Foundations and Applications via Coursera. The course was really informative and taught me about adult learning theories and how adults learn. Being able to refer to what I had learnt on this course during my interview allowed me to talk about adult learning theories in depth and show how I met the job requirements. Another course I added to my CV was the Google Project Management Professional Certificate which give me a strong overview of stakeholder management and communication skills. I dedicated around 8 hours of my week to. This sounds like a lot, but I was able to do it in my lunch break.

• Top 5 Courses For Former Teachers Transitioning Into New Careers

Here is my list of Pros and Cons for my new role, outside the classroom. As you can see - there are way more Pros than there are Cons!

Pros of My New Role

1. No "Sunday Scaries" & a Better Work-Life-Balance

My weekend is finally my weekend. I don't have major anxiety or, what's known as the "Sunday Scaries" leading up to Monday. I'm not having to write a list of all the things I need to do before I've even arrived at work, and, unless my company is hosting a workshop where I'm in charge of the logistics, I can log off and I’m done for the day. Evenings are all mine again- I don't have to plan, or mark, or deal with the emotional side of teaching where I felt like whatever I did wasn't good enough. That alone, has had a massive positive impact on my mental health.

2. I Can Work from Home

Having been "on-site" for the entirety of my working life as a teacher, I finally have the option to work from home for a few days a week. I've always been jealous of people working from cafes or being able to go to the gym on lunch break - and now I get to do those things!

It's also been a gamechanger for childcare, because on the days I WFH, and I don't feel mentally and emotionally drained as I did after a full day of teaching.

3. I Don't Feel Drained

We all know that teaching is emotionally draining. There are some days I'm tired, but I no longer come home from work feeling exhausted because all my energy went into ensuring a child in my class didn't have another meltdown, dealing with a parent compliant, keeping my whole class in at lunchtime for being deliberately disruptive, having to mark thirty plus books, carrying out assessments, preparing for a lesson observation and leading extra-curricular clubs after school. All of this alongside my actual job- which occasionally involved teaching lessons...

4. I Can Actually Enjoy My Lunch!

My lunch is no longer rushed! No lunch-time duties or having to work during lunch, unless I want to. I can actually digest my food properly, without having to stuff it in my mouth, or having germs all over it because I have to eat with the kids in the canteen.

I can also leave my company building and go for a walk (to the beach!) or go to a cafe with a colleague for half an hour if I fancy. There are no children that fully rely on you to be back on time or else all hell breaks loose, and there's zero pressure or guilt, if I want to enjoy my lunch break.

4. I Get Thanked for My Work

When I work hard, it doesn't go unnoticed by my boss. He lets me know if I've done a good job, and he explicitly says, "thank you" if I have gone above and beyond. In teaching, I found I only got told if I was doing something wrong.

In my new role, it's also not expected that I do unnecessary things which aren't part of my job description. I've not once had to do anything that hasn't clearly been part of my job.

5. My Salary

I worked out that my salary is slightly less than what I earned as a teacher, but I am much less stressed- I can work from home and actually enjoy my weekends. My situation is obviously personal to where I live in the world and the cost of living- but it hasn't impacted me or the way that I live, and I'm still able to save money after bills. For further reading on how to financially prepare to leave teaching, have a read of my post below:

How To Financially Prepare to Leave Teaching

6. Perks of The Job

A corporate staff party is very different to a school party... For instance, this year my work Christmas party was on an island at a winery, which we took a boat to...Of course, that's a personal perk of my job, but most corporate jobs will have similar perks due to having fewer financial constraints. I also get a bonus at the end of the year if I meet my KPIs. As well as that, there is opportunity to travel (and not on a school trip capacity!). All these things, I could never have experienced as a teacher. Of course, not every job outside of teaching has these perks - but there will be ones you would also encounter, like being able to go to doctors' appointments, and being able to book time off and travel when you want throughout the year.

Cons of Life After Teaching (Benefits of Working Outside the Classroom):

I've tried to think of a list without making it too personal to my situation- as my cons might not be your cons in your new job outside of the classroom.

1. Not my own boss

   As a teacher, you are the boss of your own classroom. In my new role, I don't make the final call on decisions- which is a bit of an adjustment. As I develop in my new role, I'll be able to take the lead on more things.

   
   

2. I don't move around as much as I used to

   I don't do as many "steps" (according to my fitness watch) now that I'm sat at my desk on a laptop. But I do have more time to go for walks at lunchtime, and on my WFH days I can go to the gym during lunch or go for a walk. I also have more energy to get up and take part in early morning fitness classes before work- which I would never have attempted when I was teaching, because I knew how exhausted I would be by the end of the day!

1. Long School Holidays

   Of course, being in a corporate role, I don't get the school holidays anymore- but even with a child, I am yet to see this a "con". For example, I can take leave when I want in the year, and my weekends really are my weekends. I can spend more time with my child, without having to do lesson planning or marking. As stated above, I also don't get "the fear" creeping in on Sunday afternoon, knowing what awaits me on Monday morning. I really thought I would miss the holidays- but I like that my schedule aligns with most people who aren't in education. So instead of having nothing to do in the holidays or being at a loose end, I have more time on my hands.

Final Take:

If you're thinking of changing careers, or you've reached the point where you're 100 per cent ready for a career pivot, then check out some of the other posts below, as well as some of these awesome Success Stories from ex-teachers. You never know, you might feel inspired to apply to jobs you hadn't even thought of yet!

As always, if you have any questions, reach out here or post a comment below. I'd love to hear from you!

• Why I Left Teaching for a New Career (and How You Can Too)

• How Teachers Can Leave Teaching

• Will I Miss the Holidays If I Leave Teaching?