The Adventures After Teaching Podcast

"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!

"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!

" 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!

"We underestimate how brilliant we are as teachers."
Former primary teacher Rachel left the classroom when work-related stress began affecting her physical health. Despite loving the classroom, the long exhausting days and a particularly challenging final year made her decision clearer. After leaving at the end of August without a job lined up, Rachel took time to decompress before securing her current position.
Now Head of Communities and Development at a charity, Rachel is enjoying the benefits of hybrid working and using her teaching skills in fundraising and development whilst finally experiencing what it's like to leave work on time. She's regained her evenings and weekends, and no longer feels that dreaded "Monday morning sick feeling."
In this episode, we also talk about:
Prioritising health as a catalyst for career change
Colleague reactions to handing in your notice
Taking time to recover before job searching
The power of a skills-based CV
Transitioning teaching skills to fundraising
The importance of community support from people who "get it"
Timescales to exit the classroom 
Finding roles that align with your values
Top tips for teachers considering the charity sector

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!

“Everything I put in, I know I’m building something.”
Sarah had always admired entrepreneurs but never imagined starting a business of her very own. After years in teaching and reaching a point where she knew she couldn't continue full-time in the classroom, she discovered Adventures After Teaching and found her path to becoming a Virtual Assistant (VA). 
Now running her own VA business part-time alongside teaching, Sarah is enjoying the freedom to be her own boss, cherry-pick the creative work she loves, and build a future with genuine excitement - all while reclaiming some of the flexibility that teaching never offered.
In this episode, we also talk about:
Building a VA business alongside teaching
Setting boundaries and choosing your priorities
The variety of work that VAs can do
The power of community support from other transitioning teachers
Acquiring your first client through conversation
Overcoming imposter syndrome when starting a business
The "can do attitude" teachers bring to VA work
Financial planning and identifying your must-haves
Top tips for teachers considering working for themselves