There's lots of good advice in this thread. I left full-time teaching after 3 years in the job because I realized I didn't want to do it for the rest of my life. Nothing to do with *teaching* - like Desperate Dan who started this thread, I loved and still love *teaching* - it was everything else that went with it that I couldn't stand.

As others have advised here: look for ways that your subject training can lead you into a line of work. My degree was in modern languages and I went straight into export work and from there into translating.

You can use the first step out of teaching as a time-filler (and temporary cash earner) before moving into something else. As Weelittledrummer has said, ask yourself "What is it that I would really LOVE to do, given the opportunity ?" - then give yourself that opportunity by setting about doing it - maybe part-time, unpaid, to test the water, so to speak. Even if it turns out never to be part of your paid work, you will have the happiness of spending part of your life indulging in wherever your passions lie.

My own passion was for theatre. I did some training and over the years have earned a living doing various combinations of freelance translating, drama and teaching - yes, back into those once dreaded educational establishments, but in a very different situation - i.e. I choose where, when and for how long - and that way, I have the thrill and delight of working with children that drew me to want to be a teacher in the first place.

In a nutshell: with a little bit of courage, it is possible to make the break from full-time teaching and, by a roundabout way, create for yourself a situation where you can become the kind of teacher you always wanted to be, but which the system tried to stifle.

Wherever your subject specialism may lie, there are loads of companies these days going into schools giving, for instance, science presentations. This ad comes from this week's edition of "The Stage": "Actor/Teachers Required for sponsored science workshop tour. The tour will visit secondary schools throughout the UK during the spring term. Competitive fees and all travel and accommodation paid." There are loads of Living History companies, too. Museums, theme parks, country/wildlife centres....all need people witha teaching background. Pay is maybe not so good, but what the heck ? Having got the experience working for one of these companies, there is nothing to stop you then branching out on your own, freelance.

All the very best,
- jeanie