Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

Daughter urgently in need of direction

(83 Posts)
OldFrill Tue 23-Jan-24 18:38:02

If she wants admin work she might have more options in a college or university, simply as they have far more staff and openings than schools. Her best bet would be to find what agencies they use for temporary staff and register with them, that way she's not committing long term and can find out whether she likes it or not. She is unlikely to step into a senior support role but if she'd consider anything it may well lead to further opportunities.

NotSpaghetti Tue 23-Jan-24 18:37:46

Would she prefer to do teaching assistant work?
I know know a young man who changed to do that instead of teaching. He was just like your daughter but has started (last September) in this less taxing role and is enjoying life again.
His mother was very worried about him.
flowers

Evangeline Tue 23-Jan-24 18:30:07

She was a primary school teacher.
Thinking about it, time flies, she has been teaching for 8 years. One year after uni doing her SCITT course whilst working as a classroom assistant. She has just spent two years teaching in Dubai. She did spend six months as an “office manager “ in a small business which she is emphasising in her job applications.

Septimia Tue 23-Jan-24 18:19:22

I can sympathise with her. I think a lot of teachers "burn out" and it isn't a new phenomenon.

Perhaps she could find a temporary, less stressful, job - even supermarket shelf-stacking - while she decides what to do. Or maybe do some supply teaching. At least she has the experience for that but wouldn't have all the admin stuff to do.

welbeck Tue 23-Jan-24 18:18:19

and the fact that she will not engage with a careers adviser suggests she might be depressed.
has she sought help from GP ?
or any self help support group.

welbeck Tue 23-Jan-24 18:15:56

frankly it sounds an unrealistic ambition at this stage.
how can she expect to step into such a senior role with no experience ?
she is trained for an entirely different role.
could she not try to use her qualification in a different way, eg as a private tutor/ governess, further training into educational psychology, school inspection, further education etc

TinSoldier Tue 23-Jan-24 17:58:33

What's her subject?

At 31, with only six years of teaching experience, what other work has she done?

Evangeline Tue 23-Jan-24 17:54:59

My 31 year old daughter is at a crossroads but doesn’t know which road to take- she doesn’t even know where the roads lead!
Highly educated and organised, excellent teacher with six years experience . Dreadfully missed by the school she left at Christmas due to the overwhelming demands of the profession. She has in mind to come a PA to a headteacher perhaps but is having no luck as she has no experience. I have been in touch with a careers advisor but my daughter will not engage with her. She is starting to become very disheartened and I don’t know what to advise her.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to where she could go from here?
Many thanks