Thanks for all responses so far. My understanding is that adult education is in a mess. Working there would mean a huge pay cut and a short term contract only.

Dianavan: "Trouble is, nowadays, there are so many rules that have to be followed that there is absolutely no room for creativity." Yes, I used to be an energetic, creative teacher. Now I am a ground-down cog in a machine.

jonm: "get yourself promoted into a position where you can influence some of the decisions which get imposed, feel you're making a positive change for your fellow teachers, do some moving and shaking." I have made several moves that I thought would help me do that. Seems the grinding education machine is much bigger than I thought. If only there was such a thing as a position of power in education! All the decisions are made by people who haven't seen the inside of a classroom for years and followed by careerists for whom actual education is the last thing they think of when considering 'educational practice'.

I am willing to take a pay cut, but I could not take a huge one, as I have a mortgage to pay. I am scanning the jobs pages, but all jobs for people of my age seem to require experiences I do not have, as I have been doing my utmost in teaching.