Quitting The Classroom: Teachers open up about "the best job in the world"
We're taking a closer look at the profession
Last updated 16th Mar 2021
Since the start of the pandemic teaching unions say soaring-stress levels and a lack of support have prompted many to think about leaving the job they love.
As part of our Quitting The Classroom special, we've been speaking to some teachers who have already left.
Yesterday we told you, record numbers could leave the profession after the pandemic.
Today, we're speaking to teachers who have already quit the classroom..
Michael Heverin was a teacher and senior leader for 13 years before he left.
He's now co-founder of SupplyWell which is set up for "teachers to earn more and schools to pay less":
"I was a teacher and senior leader for 13 years.
"Teaching is the best profession in the world, when it's going well, when you're in a school where you're valued, it's the best job in the world.
"Seeing the young people grow and develop, there's nothing better, the one thing you miss is the students.
"I was a victim of my own actions, I think teachers are very guilty of having an inability to say no to things, when they know it can add value to a either a student, colleague or school community.
"As a consequence, if I was asked to do something in school, I would take it on myself.
"I just ended up taking on too much and trying to do too much.
"I wasn't able to cope effectively.
"For me, my absence was preventable.
"Education has been operating in a crisis mode since last March, and that's school leadership teams, headteachers and teachers themselves.
"We can function effectively for a short time during a crisis, but for nearly 12 months, that's no way sustainable.
"The entire profession will be feeling the burn from this."
One of the reasons this teacher left, was due to lack of support when she was having fertility treatment:
"I went into teaching because I loved my subject, I loved working with teenagers and young people, it made sense to go into teaching.
"I loved how every day was different.
But, there was a point where this teacher decided to leave, she told us about that decision:
"I had fertility treatment, but because there was no policy for fertility treatment, the headteacher didn't have to let me go to appointments.
"It just felt really unfair, because of all the hours teachers work, that I felt like I was being punished for the position I was in.
"The World Health Organisation say infertility is a disease, but it's classed an elective form of treatment.
"You are treated the same as someone who's gone for breast enlargement.
"It's classed as the same elective treatment.
"It's really surprising when you go through something you're sort of punished in a way".
"It's unfair and unethical the way staff going through fertility issues are treated.
"It was a factor in why I decided to leave teaching."