Well actually Ted if I still had a job I would be unable to retire until I'm 63 (65 for anyone more than two years younger than me). I never finished work much before 10pm and only stopped working when the Summer holidays started and then only until the week before we went back. Sadly, teaching as with many other jobs is becoming the victim of accountants who simply divide the numbers and come up with a requirement for techers without taking into account childrens needs. As Cobble stated in his very first posting it has become more about paperwork than doing the actual teaching but none of that can be done during the school day! I was made redundant last year following 'down sizing' under Public finance initiative which has left mixed age range classes and yet more paperwork for the remaining staff. in addition when I apply for jobs most of the applicants are newly qualified and therefore considerably cheaper to employ. You would imagine that experience would count but most schools are on such a tight budget that they cannot afford to be choosy!