School mismanagement and pupils’ bad behaviour is driving teachers out of the profession.
That’s according to a former Staffordshire teacher who left with 20 years’ experience under her belt.
Now ex-assistant head turned business owner Claire Rushton-Plant has launched a new venture to support teachers looking to leave the profession.
It comes after figures show that in the 2022–23 academic year, approximately 43,500 teachers left the profession. Meanwhile, the number of unfilled teaching vacancies reached six vacancies per thousand teachers in 2023/24. That’s double the pre-pandemic rate, according to National Foundation and Educational Research.
Mum of three Claire left teaching four years ago after finding juggling young children with the demands of a secondary teaching role with additional responsibilities too much.
She’s now launched a dedicated coaching service for teachers who want to leave, either to set up their own company or find alternative employment in a different career.
The Relaxed Mind offers both on-line and face to face training and coaching, either off the shelf or completely bespoke and tailored. The training covers areas that teachers may not have experience of including CV writing, interview techniques, contract negotiations, marketing and accounting advice as well as access to guest experts.
Since launching the Relaxed Mind, Claire says she’s been inundated with messages from teachers in the UK and around the world who want to escape the profession but don’t know how.
She said: “I left teaching in 2022 because one of my sons had additional needs and I couldn’t give him the support needed as well as juggling a full-time teaching role. The role had changed, it wasn’t just about teaching, there were more and more responsibilities and no support.
“I left and bought a children’s activity franchise – which supports children and young people with their mental health. I love it but I wish I had had support at the time to go it alone. That’s where the idea came from for the Relaxed Mind. I wanted to help other teachers wanting to leave the profession, using the skills I’d learnt.
Claire added: “I’ve been contacted by teachers here and from places as far afield as America and South Africa who are telling me that they’re burnt-out, that mismanagement is driving them out and that children’s behaviour and the lack of consequence is so much worse post-covid. Here multi-academy trusts mean there’s not the accountability that there was when local authorities held the reins and that’s also driving teachers out.
She said: “If teachers are struggling with out-of-control pupils, it can have a huge detrimental effect on their mental health as well as their confidence. They can feel trapped and think that if they can’t cope in a profession they’ve trained for how can they leave and pursue a career elsewhere? The teachers I’m speaking with want to get out but don’t believe in themselves and can’t see a way out. I want to change that – teachers have so many transferable skills I can help them see that. I work with them to identify what support they need and help them with the next stage of their career, whether that’s launching their own business venture or a totally new career. I want them to see that there is a future outside of teaching and that that future can be bright.”
To find out more about The Relaxed Mind go to www.therelaxedmind.co.uk or email: therelaxedminduk@gmail.com. You can also follow the company on socials.
