The Adventures After Teaching Podcast

Fran's fascinating career change has seen her move from Primary Music Teacher in a rural Primary school (along a squiggly career path) to where she is now as a Learning Technology Strategist. She offers some great insights into the world of learning design and we can utilise our teacher transferable skills. We explore where we can find roles in learning technology and learning design and chat...

Academy Alumni member Gemma talks about her interesting move from Secondary Art teacher to Quality Assurance Leader at NCFE. She shares specific examples of the skills that she evidenced in her application and interview, and how these help her in the day-to-day role. As teachers and leaders in education, we have a wealth of quality assurance, moderation, assessment and training experiences - this...

Amy shares her adventure after teaching, setting up an alternative provision centre where she now employs a small team of teachers. In business for two years, we talk about her early experiences working in different settings before exploring the practicalities of securing a space, compliance and working with local schools. A must listen for anyone passionate about teaching on your own terms! In th...

Academy member Paul shares his teacher career change journey with us - from teaching internationally to securing a role as an Outreach Officer at “Make Happen”, a company working in partnerships with local university and disadvantaged schools to increase access advice and info to students, teachers and parents on reality of higher and university education. He enjoys a hybrid role with time at home...

Angela was a Secondary Languages teacher who mentored ECTs before moving on to be a Regional Manager for a Financial Education Charity. Angela has the best of both worlds, working hybrid from home and also visiting schools. We chat about the skills you have for similar roles developing partnerships with schools and other organisations. In this episode we chat about: How Angela knew it was time to...

Academy alumni Kate was a Secondary Dance department lead who now works for the Diabetes Team within her local NHS as a Diabetes Educator.  Working in the local community has allowed Kate to bring her enthusiasm and passion to a new role training others with the support of her clinical colleague.  Kate describes her varied week and the tools that helped her make a successful transition. A really i...

Claire is an Academy Alumni who moved from her position of Deputy in a Primary school to Development & Engagement Officer with her local libraries team. She has an amazingly varied role which mixes event management, programme development, team leadership and reporting, all while working with interesting partners across the local area. Claire shares a wealth of gold in this episode! In this epi...

In this episode, Jo chats to Wendy about how she became a children's coach. Wendy felt trapped in teaching and joined the academy as she transitioned out. After exploring different options, Wendy found the path that allowed her to follow her passion and her business adventure began. This episode also explores: - Transitioning out of teaching. - Finding other income sources. - How to niche and...

In this fascinating chat, Jo discovers how Michelle planned her exit from teaching by following her passion for outdoor learning. Michelle shares a lot of interesting information about becoming a Forest Schools Leader and how this allowed her to transition into her role of youth wellbeing officer for Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.  In this episode, we also explore: - Following your passion to exit the...

In this interesting episode, Jo chats with Tom an electronic engineer & ex-teacher, who followed his passion and started a tech camp to fill the long summer holidays. This passion soon turned from a hobby into a  thriving full-time business providing good quality holiday wrap-around provision. Some great advice for any budding business owners out there! In this episode, we also explore: - How...

In this inspiring episode, Jo chats with Arthur about how he transitioned from being a secondary maths teacher to an online tutor.  They delve into the different types of tutoring work that is available for teachers wanting to leave.  Arthur shares how being honest with yourself and really understanding what you want will allow you to create a tutoring business with the work life balance you desir...

In this interesting episode, Jo talks to Rachael about how her past life experiences and transferable skills led her to becoming a Funeral Arranger. Rachael shares how she came to realise teaching wasn't the career for her and how she identified her needs and boundaries within work. This is a wonderful story of self-discovery in which Rachael shares how she's crafted a new career aligned...

Jo chats to Jenny, who decided to take a risk and create her own business following her passion of running and being outdoors. Jenny shares how a career shift  towards pastoral and wellbeing  support, led her to dream of being her own boss. All the puzzle pieces fell into place allowing her to create a wonderful business focused around coaching, running and mountain walking. This is a great episod...

Jo chats to Steph about leaving teaching and becoming a key accounts manager in the waste management industry. Steph had worked in this industry before going into primary teaching and found her way back several years later! Steph shares how she had to leave teaching for her own mental wellbeing and how she's gained a much better work life balance outside of the classroom. In this episode, we...

Jo chats with Craig about making the brave decision to leave teaching before reaching burnout and how he landed his new role as an Account Manager.  Together, they delve into the account manager role and how teachers have the skills and experience to make great client engagement managers. Craig shares how he now enjoys working at a slower, less pressurised pace with a constant feeling of achieveme...

Jo chats to Wendy, who is now an education assessor and centre manager, about how she found a pathway where she could continue teaching and imparting knowledge without all the politics and policy burdens of schools. She shares how transferable our teaching skills are and how our experiences can be used to support others in their learning.  As Wendy says: "The skills we've got as teachers...

In this fascinating chat, Jo catches up with Helen to explore how her ceramics business has transitioned and blossomed in a year.  Helen had reached the decision that she loved teaching but not in schools, and took her passion for ceramics to create workshops for the community. Helen shares how she has used her transferrable teaching skills to help this business grow. In this episode, we also expl...

Jo chats with Ali about how she had to leave the classroom due to health reasons and then the road to recovery and rediscovery she has been on since. They explore the emotional rollercoaster of losing the teacher identity, learning to make life style changes and finding and  re-igniting your passion when it is buried deep within. In this episode, we also explore: - The emotions around having to le...

In this fascinating chat, Colleen, a successful published author, who was terrified of leaving the classroom had reached a crossroads in her life. For her own creative and emotional sanity, she decided to focus on her writing full time and reveals how she found her own true writing style. Colleen shares lots of wisdom,  helpful tips and advice for all the would be writers, who are still in the cla...

Hannah has made the exciting transition out of the classroom and is now a Training and Events Administrator for Early Excellence. She shares her story about recognising how she needed to leave teaching and find a her new role which has allowed her the flexibility to regain a work/life balance! This is a great episode for considering how to gain skills in support roles and how this opens doors to o...

This episode I chat about my experiences leaving the classroom! I used my transferable skills to become an Independent Literacy Consultant allowing me to share my in depth subject knowledge, expertise and passion with others. Through exploring flexible working opportunities and networking, I transitioned into other freelance roles including curriculum design and programme development. I share lots...

Kate is now a facilitator for teachers and leaders for an education charity and enjoys a work/life balance! She joins me to talk about the messy process of recovering from burnout, regaining her confidence, and finding a new role. Kate shares how the resources in the Adventures After Teaching Academy gave her the step-by-step plan and mental support to make a career change and find the family work...

Adam made the exciting move from primary school teacher to Training and Development Manager for a company developing a programme for improving children's mental health. Adam explains how he has used his transferable teaching skills in his new role to create, develop and deliver workshops for developing positive mindsets for children.    In this episode, we also explore: - Leaving the classroo...

Helen shares her journey of turning daydreams into a reality and creating a blossoming ceramics business.  Within 6 weeks of joining the Adventures After Teaching Academy, she was able to overcome her fears and start a business while still teaching full-time. She's now left the classroom and her business has continued to grow. Helen shares the ups and downs and her excitement for the future....

Sheena chats to us about how she made the exciting move from SENCO to Professional Organiser by creating her own business. Sheena realised her strength was in organising and created a business that allows her to follow her passion to help people become more organised. She believes that organising skills are a valuable tool in helping with mental health. In this episode, she breaks down her journey...