The Adventures After Teaching Podcast

"I feel more valued, I think, than I ever have in my whole career." After more than 20 years in teaching - moving school every couple of years as a military family, and retraining along the way from secondary English to primary - Helen reached a point in her career where she knew something wasn't right anymore. At the time, it felt like a positive choice to move on rather than burnout; but with hindsight she realised how normal she'd let the exhaustion become, dreading Mondays and living for the holidays.Now working for the police as a Learning & Development Standards Officer, Helen has found a role that leaves her feeling more valued than she ever has in her career, with a flexibility and autonomy she didn't know was possible. The work still feels important to her, she's surrounded by great people, and - for the first time - she's found herself feeling ambitious about what comes next.In this episode, we also talk about:  A moment of realisation - "I don't want to be a teacher anymore"Normalising exhaustion and clocking it only in hindsightThe excitement of jobs board browsingA workshop that changed her thinkingPractical support inside the AcademyThe application process with the policeCreating an interview presentation that stands out Flexi-working, feeling valued, and finding ambition she never hadThe art of the reframe Links:Teacher Jobs Board  Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the September cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Limited spaces available ✨   

"I can't continue like this where my entire identity is wrapped up in being a teacher." After nearly 18 years in primary education, Rhonda had known for a while that something needed to change. She still loved teaching - it was never about that - but she'd reached a point where she felt like she couldn't sustain the way she was working in school while also being present for her own two children. It wasn't a decision that came overnight, and it took some of the Academy’s early resources to show her just how much her sense of self had become tied to being a teacher.Now a Learner Success Coach at a remote-first company upskilling workforces in AI and data, Rhonda supports apprentices through their courses. She's getting to do the school run as she’d always wanted to, working somewhere with a genuinely friendly culture, and giving herself the grace to learn without expecting to know everything on day one. In this episode, we also talk about:Sensing for years that teaching wasn't sustainable long-termSeeing the bigger picture - even when there are still bits of teaching you loveA squiggly journey out Handing in her notice before securing a new roleRejoining the Academy and what that shiftedUsing Gold membership for tailored supportBeing unsuccessful first time round - and reapplying after learning from feedbackShowcasing experience that you might not expect Adjusting to remote work (plus all the perks that it brings!)Hoping to be somebody else’s workplace ‘buddy’ someday Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the September cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Limited spaces available ✨   

"There are lots of jobs out there for people with the skills that we have as very experienced teachers." After 30 years in teaching - working across EYFS, KS1, forest school leadership and running pre-schools - Anne had loved every bit of it: learning new things, supporting others, and being in "the thick of it" in the classroom. But last year, burnout caught up with her, and she found herself asking, "how much longer can I keep going?" For the sake of her own health and wellbeing, she knew this wasn't the right path for her moving forwards.Now working as a Learning and Participation Officer for a national heritage charity, Anne has swapped exhaustion for early morning walks by the sea, beach meditation, and evenings that finally, actually end. She's letting go of her fixer instinct, learning to sit on her hands, and discovering that things don't have to be hard to work. In this episode, we also talk about:The surprising range of roles open to EYFS teachersWondering what comes next after decades in teachingWhy age doesn't rule anything outSlowing down to speed upGoing through it together, not aloneLearning to put yourself firstLanding a competitive role in the heritage sectorMeditation and beach walks as daily non-negotiablesThe variety - and energy - of life in a new roleLetting go of the overachiever and learning to restLinks:Project Management Fundamentals Training Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the September cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Limited spaces available ✨   

"I wouldn’t have known how to even get going.”After 15 years teaching reception Hannah loved the job but found herself craving a new challenge. Ready for a breath of fresh air, she just didn’t know what that next step might look like.Now lecturing at a college, Hannah has found a different rhythm entirely. There's room to listen to a podcast and drink a coffee on the drive between placements, colleagues who've come from all kinds of backgrounds rather than just teaching, and a pace of life that finally leaves some space to breathe.In this episode, we also talk about:Not knowing where to start"Riding the rapids" when considering career changeBalancing a career move with salary expectationsNot waiting for the "perfect" moment to leaveLeaving teaching positivelySupport from bite-sized career change contentTransferable teacher skills in similar rolesSubject expertise in a new roleA varied week: assessing and teachingLife as part of the college ecosystem Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the September cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Limited spaces available ✨   

"I can have an impact on hundreds (of children) through the teachers I train and develop." After seven years in teaching - including several as Head of Maths - Becca reached a familiar tipping point: a passion that had quietly turned into exhaustion, and a nagging sense there had to be more to life than work. She recognised herself in the "indecision roundabout" from an Academy workshop, and knew that without taking an exit, she'd stay exactly where she was. Now working in Learning and Development, Becca has her days back in a way she never expected. With the commute gone and a four-day week, she's got the energy for evenings out and weekends that actually feel like weekends. She's also discovered she can still make a difference to the children she used to teach - just from a different angle, at scale. In this episode, we also talk about:Using part-time supply teaching to create space to thinkNavigating the grief of leaving a childhood dream jobWhy the CV and LinkedIn training changed everythingBoosting confidence for interviewAccessing a new vocabulary through the Project Management Fundamentals trainingUsing LinkedIn to catch fast-moving rolesTrading a reliance on school holidays for genuine work-life balanceRediscovering hobbies after teachingStaying motivated on the career change journeyLinks:Project Management Fundamentals Training Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the September cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Limited spaces available ✨   

 "It's really hopeful, it's really positive - and it's so much better than teaching." After 11 years in the same secondary school - training as an RE teacher before moving through humanities and eventually leading PSHE - Rachael hit the burnout so many teachers recognise: slow-building, then impossible to ignore. As a noise-sensitive introvert, she realised the problem wasn't ability, but fit - and that the parts of the job she loved (leadership, communication, managing people) didn't require staying in a classroom.Now a Suicide Prevention Officer with Papyrus, Rachael has her evenings and weekends back - closing her laptop Friday and not thinking about work until Monday. With control over her own calendar and meaningful work that doesn't consume her, she's found something unexpected: excitement about the week ahead.In this episode, we also talk about:The personality mismatch she didn't see coming in teachingHow leading PSHE opened the door to a completely different career pathTurning job hunting into a structured, focused processLearning to trust flexibility after years of rigid routineWhy foundational work - values, finances, a skills audit - speeds everything upHow the Academy community kept her going through the hardest partsAn interview that felt right from the startThe variety that comes with the new roleFeeling connected in a national organisation ("it doesn't feel like it's as big as it is")Content warning - this episode discusses suicide prevention as part of Rachael's professional role. Please contact Papyrus for support if you're worried about a young person. Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the September cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Limited spaces available ✨   

After years as a primary class teacher and PE leader, Lauren knew it was time to leave. The decision came down to her health and wellbeing, and stepping away from teaching meant stepping into real uncertainty - trying different things, juggling multiple roles at once, and figuring out what she actually wanted.Now working with young people as a Programme Manager across the creative industries, Lauren has found a role that gives her everything teaching couldn't - variety, creative thinking, and the feeling that she's finally using her brain in the way she always wanted to.In this episode, we also talk about:Navigating a "squiggly" exit from teachingWorking as a chaperone in TV and film - and what it revealedWhen task-switching gives you energyAttending our free summer event before joining the AcademyPutting theory behind practice with the Project Management Fundamentals courseUsing mindset resources to make the transition wellGrowing in confidence on LinkedInUsing the interview booklet to reframe transferable skillsEarly worries - and how they played outHighlights from the first yearMoving from fixed-term to permanent - and what's nextLinks:Project Management Fundamentals Training Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the September cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Limited spaces available ✨   

"Two emotions can exist at the same time. The grief can exist with the relief."Bex went into teaching straight out of university with her identity firmly attached to it. Quickly finding the environment ‘all-consuming’ and ‘energy depleting’, she spent 12 years in and out of the classroom - always getting pulled back in as she struggled to separate from a career she’d worked so hard for. Following a period of self-reflection, and taking some time to ask who she actually was outside of the job, Bex decided it was time for a new adventure.Now a Junior L&D Adviser at an accountancy firm, Bex has found something she didn't expect: calm. She works hybrid, has time for yoga, her dog Percy, and the people who matter to her - and with CIPD Level 5 on the horizon, she's excited about what comes next rather than feeling trapped.In this episode, we also talk about:Why leaving doesn't mean you've given upGetting caught in the "part-time teaching trap" and why it doesn’t work for everyoneLiving for the holidays whilst in teachingFinding structure during a career breakUsing LinkedIn to make purposeful connectionsVariety in an L&D roleEnjoying a less hectic work environmentAdjusting to desk-based work after years of being on your feetAsking the right questions at interview - including the ones that feel scaryShifting away from the "job for life" mindset that teaching can instilGetting to know yourself Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the September cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Limited spaces available ✨   

"I don't think I would have been out of teaching by now had I not joined.”After 20 years in the classroom - 13 in secondary and 7 in primary - Steph had reached a point where she was really ready for a change. She felt stuck, and not for the first time; she'd tried to leave eight years earlier and given up, resigning herself to staying put in the classroom. This time, with the right support around her, it was different.Now a Learning Designer in the civil service, Steph is five months in and already feels like a different person. Her friends have all said it - her confidence is back. With hybrid working, flexi time, and the ability to close the laptop and actually switch off, she's no longer using every holiday day just to recover.In this episode, we also talk about:Community support - and why it makes the differenceWhy it’s not ‘just’ about the CVUncovering your values - and using them to filter your job searchTranslating your teaching experience Targeting roles that value equivalent experience over specific qualificationsUpskilling opportunities once you're in the roleWhat a Learning Designer actually does day-to-dayStakeholder management in L&D roles“But what about the holidays?”Building project management skillsChanging your environment as the fastest route back to confidenceLinks & Resources: Project Management Fundamentals Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the September cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Limited spaces available ✨   

"I just think you're not trapped. You have options." Kate left teaching after 23 years in the secondary English classroom - not with a plan, but with the certainty that something had to change. Long-term supply work gave her breathing space but not direction, and by the time she found the Adventures After Teaching Academy, she was no longer burnt out, just lost. Having already invested time, money and energy into courses that hadn't moved the needle, she wasn’t sure about joining at first. But hearing others further along the journey made her feel, for the first time, that this is where she needed to be.Now a Learner Success Coach, Kate spends her days supporting apprentices through deadlines, personal crises and everything in between - all entirely remotely. With control over her own calendar and holidays where she's truly switched off, she's built a working life that actually fits around her family. Losing the subject expert identity was an adjustment, but she's gained something she hadn't had in years - time to read for pleasure, go to the theatre, and follow her own interests again. In this episode, we also talk about:Supply teaching as your lifeboatWhy CVs aren't one and doneThe project management course that changed everythingFeeling in limbo - and the power of seeing others make it outResilience in the career change processWhat an AI-driven interview actually looks likeThe pastoral heart of a Learner Success Coach roleWhat genuinely supportive workplace feedback feels likeTaking time to unpick your identity outside of teachingEnjoying flexible working!Links & Resources: Kate’s LinkedIn Profile Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the September cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Limited spaces available ✨   

"Once I'd made that decision, I just felt like a weight had been lifted."After 13 years in primary education - taking on the roles of phase leader, assistant head, and eventually acting head - Iain hit a wall. The workload became unmanageable, and he was signed off with work-related stress before handing in his notice in May without anything else lined up. Returning to a lovely new school in September, Iain quickly realised that the education system just wasn’t for him anymore and joined the Academy Spring Track in the New Year. Now Head of Programmes and Impact at the Hull KR Foundation - the charity arm of a professional rugby league club - Iain is using every skill he built in education, from curriculum design to stakeholder management, in a role that genuinely excites him. The role is just as varied, but with less pressure and more flexibility,  and for the first time in years, he's not counting down the days to half term. In this episode, we also talk about:Going off sick and navigating what comes nextTraps we fall into that convince us to stay (when it’s not right for us!)Finding a new role that aligns with your valuesHow the CV course and interview prep booklet helped at short noticeOvercoming interview imposter syndrome Picking up new skills quickly Surprising teacher transferablesTaking ownership of a newly created roleIt’s okay not to want to be in education anymoreLeaving wellLinks & Resources:Hull KR FoundationIf 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 you successfully leave the classroom!  Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the September cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Limited spaces available ✨   

 "I feel like a nicer partner, a nicer mum, a better friend." After 17 years teaching PE at the same school, Lucy had begun to feel the weight of an environment she describes as an "exams factory" - constantly performing, constantly visible, and increasingly exhausted by the relentless pace. Knowing she had transferable skills but unsure how to package them, she joined the Adventures After Teaching Academy and committed to the process: weekly calls, CV support, and slowly building the confidence to put herself out there.Now a Project Support Officer working within the Civil Service on the UEFA Euro 2028 tournament, Lucy is thriving in a role that sits perfectly at the intersection of her organisational strengths and her love of sport. With hybrid working, genuine trust from her manager, and the freedom to do the school run, she's rediscovered her energy and is enjoying the balance that comes with a different way of working. In this episode, we also talk about:The surprising crossovers between teaching and project supportHybrid working, flexible hours and being more present with familyLearning to work without micromanagementFixed-term contracts and the opportunities that followNavigating the Civil Service application processWhy every setback is still moving you forwardAccepting the career change journey and remaining committed to the process (whilst also being kind to yourself!)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 you successfully leave the classroom!  Interested in exploring a career in Project Management? Sign ups for the September cohort of our Project Management Fundamentals course are now OPEN! Limited spaces available ✨