Leaving teaching? Career coaching for teachers
You want to leave teaching. But who would hire a teacher?
More employers than you think. The skills you use every day are exactly what organisations are looking for. You just need to show them in their language. I've made the move myself, and I help teachers leave the classroom for work that fits, without starting from scratch.
"This is what ultimately helped me secure my job outside of teaching (and a pay increase!)."
- Award-winning coach
- Former teacher, SENCo and safeguarding lead
- Accredited coach and NLP practitioner
- Teachers coached around the world
Does any of this sound familiar?
None of this means you're not good enough.
It means you don't yet have a clear route from where you are to where you want to be.
Why so many teachers stay stuck
Most teachers who want to leave end up in one of two places. Both are completely understandable, and almost every teacher I work with has been in at least one. The trouble is, both can quietly cost you years.
"I'll stay until the end of the year."
Then the end of the year comes, and there's a new class, a new initiative, or an inspection. So you promise yourself next year instead.
"I'll apply for anything that isn't teaching."
So you send the same teaching CV everywhere. It doesn't land, the rejections hurt, and you start to believe teaching is all you can do.
A planned move to a role that fits who you are now.
A clear direction, a CV that speaks the language of your new sector, and a plan that works around your timetable.
Jobs for former teachers
Teachers bring skills most organisations struggle to find: communication, planning, managing people, handling pressure and explaining complex ideas simply. Here are some of the areas teachers move into.
- Learning and development
- Corporate training
- EdTech
- HR and people
- Project management
- Operations
- Curriculum and content design
- Customer success
- Wellbeing and support roles
- Charities
- Public sector
How teacher career change coaching works: Reflect, Rebrand, Relaunch
A clear, three-stage process designed around the realities of a teacher's week.
Reflect
Work out what you actually want next. We look at your strengths, values and non-negotiables, then narrow your options to roles that genuinely fit.
Rebrand
Turn "planned and delivered lessons" into the language employers recognise. Your CV, LinkedIn and applications are rebuilt around your new direction.
Relaunch
Reach the right people, including roles that are never advertised, and practise interviews until you can confidently explain why you're leaving teaching.
What it feels like on the other side
Something shifts in the very first session. Teachers tell me they walk away lighter, because for the first time in a long time they can see a way forward.
And once they've made the move, the messages I get are about the small things. Evenings that are their own again. Weekends without marking. A lunch break they actually get to take.
You didn't stop caring. You just ran out of things to give. This is about getting yourself back.
What you'll leave with
- A clear direction beyond the classroom, chosen on purpose
- A CV and LinkedIn profile that no longer read like a teacher's
- Fewer, better applications that actually get replies
- A confident answer to "why are you leaving teaching?"
- Belief in yourself again, which is usually what teachers need most
What teachers say
"Everything was broken down step by step and I was able to quickly start to make progress… the real game changer for me was learning about the hidden job market."
"From the very first session, I felt truly heard and understood… Kelly supports the whole person, and that makes all the difference."
"For the first time in years, I felt able to imagine a career that fit who I am and the life I want. I now have a job that finally aligns with my values and wellbeing."
I've stood where you're standing
I'm Kelly. I spent nearly 20 years in education, leading careers in an inner-city school and later working as a SENCo and designated safeguarding lead. I loved the people, but the job no longer fitted my values, and it was taking more than I had to give.
Leaving felt impossible, until it wasn't. Now I help teachers see what they're capable of beyond the classroom, with honest, practical coaching that treats you as a whole person, not just a CV.
Read my storyWays to work with me
Start small or go all in. Every option is built around you and your timetable.
Career Clarity Session
£99
For when you need direction first. A 90-minute session, a 30-minute follow-up, a rewritten CV and a 30-day action plan.
Credited towards the full programme if you join later.
Find out moreFull Career Transition Programme
£945 or 3 x £315
Three months of 1:1 coaching through Reflect, Rebrand, Relaunch, with support between sessions and full access to the Career Accelerator Lab.
Includes the Career Transition Support Guarantee.
Book a free discovery callCareer Accelerator Lab
£99 a year
Founder price. Rises to £150 at 7pm on 11 October.
For independent career changers. Monthly group mentoring, tools, templates and Helix, your AI career coach.
Explore the LabQuestions teachers ask me
Is it too late to leave teaching after 10 or 20 years?
No. Many of the teachers I work with have taught for a decade or more. Your experience is an asset. The key is translating it into language employers outside education recognise.
What jobs can former teachers do?
More than most teachers realise. Common moves include learning and development, corporate training, EdTech, HR and people roles, project and operations work, curriculum and content design, customer success, wellbeing roles, charities and the public sector. The right one depends on your strengths, values and what you want your life to look like.
Will I have to take a pay cut if I leave teaching?
Not necessarily. Some teachers move across on a similar salary, some take a short step back to get a foot in the door, and many go on to earn more. It depends on the role, the sector and how well you present your experience.
When do I need to hand in my notice as a teacher?
For most teachers in England and Wales on standard terms, the resignation deadlines are 31 October to leave at the end of December, the last day of February to leave at the end of April, and 31 May to leave at the end of August. Always check your own contract, as academies and independent schools can differ.
Can I do this while I'm still teaching full time?
Yes, and most of my clients do. We work around your timetable. Even 15 minutes a day adds up to nearly two hours a week on your future.
Do you only work with teachers in the UK?
No. Coaching is online by Zoom, so I work with teachers wherever they are in the world.
How much does teacher career change coaching cost?
From £99 for a Career Clarity Session to £945 for the full three-month programme, which you can spread over three monthly payments.
