The Adventures After Teaching Podcast

"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 lifeboat
Why CVs aren't one and done
The project management course that changed everything
Feeling in limbo - and the power of seeing others make it out
Resilience in the career change process
What an AI-driven interview actually looks like
The pastoral heart of a Learner Success Coach role
What genuinely supportive workplace feedback feels like
Taking time to unpick your identity outside of teaching
Enjoying flexible working!

Links & Resources: 
Kate’s LinkedIn Profile
Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨

"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 next
Traps we fall into that convince us to stay (when it’s not right for us!)
Finding a new role that aligns with your values
How the CV course and interview prep booklet helped at short notice
Overcoming interview imposter syndrome 
Picking up new skills quickly 
Surprising teacher transferables
Taking ownership of a newly created role
It’s okay not to want to be in education anymore
Leaving well

Links & Resources:
Hull KR Foundation

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! 
Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨

"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 support
Hybrid working, flexible hours and being more present with family
Learning to work without micromanagement
Fixed-term contracts and the opportunities that follow
Navigating the Civil Service application process
Why every setback is still moving you forward
Accepting 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! 
Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨

"I don’t miss the school holidays."
After 25 years in the classroom, the last several as Head of Health and Social Care, Jessica reached a point of burnout and knew she no longer wanted to teach. A Google search led her to the Adventures After Teaching Academy, where she focused on rebuilding her self-esteem before even thinking about her next career move.
Now an Employment Advisor for a private company, Jessica is helping others identify their own barriers and find their way back into work. With control over her own diary, genuine one-to-one connection with clients, and her evenings and weekends firmly back, Jessica is thriving in a role that feels both rewarding and sustainable.
In this episode, we also talk about:
Recognising burnout and giving yourself permission to slow down
Using the Academy community to rebuild confidence
Creating a "lifeboat" before you leap
Searching for roles using job titles you hear in the community
The power of a skills-based CV
Variety and autonomy in a new role
Leaving work at work and what that actually feels like
Feeling valued and invested in
Why teachers shine in one-to-one settings
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! 
Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨

" The biggest change for me is just noticing how much more energy I have for my children."
Former teacher John-Paul reached a turning point during a difficult first term following a job move and the birth of his daughter. Knowing something had to change, he sought support from those around him and found the Adventures After Teaching community, giving him that reassurance that he wasn't alone in how he was feeling.
Now a Bursar for an organisation he'd known for years, John-Paul is managing a Grade II listed estate, overseeing a significant budget and building strong relationships with contractors - all with the flexibility and autonomy to make the role work for his family life.
In this episode, we also talk about:
The value of a community that ‘gets it’
Using transferable skills to frame your experience
Finding opportunities in your own network
The variety in the day-to-day role of a bursar
Budget management for teachers without financial experience
Relationship-building and working as part of a small team
Work-life balance and flexible, autonomous working
Persisting through the knockbacks
Top tips for teachers moving into operations 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 you successfully leave the classroom! 
Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨