Working after retirement

[Rhianna1825]

I am an ex teacher recently retired. I don't want to go back into the classroom but would like to do some kind of work using the skills acquired over 30 years of teaching . . . any suggestions?

[PatriciaH]

Why not be a home tutor? one to one so to speak...

[malaise]

Excellent suggestion, and plenty of work during the run-up to exams!

[gammaray]

This is not intended to be flippant but I know my local Branch of B&Q employs a lot of "retired" persons. You don't say what you taught but this is as far away from teaching as you can get (unless you want to apply as a trade specialist who advises people on DIY etc).

[flipflop104]

Teaching/classroom assistant

[WendyS]

Possible teaching in a Adult Education environment which is a lot less stressful as you'll be working with individuals who want to learn.

Volunteering to help in a Citizen Advice Bureau.

Becoming a Police volunteer, i.e. being a civilian helping out with the administration in a police station.

[Famous5]

Try voluntary work for the National Trust. Many of the properties have visits from schools to learn history, environment, citizenship etc

[derekpara]

As an ex-teacher you are multi-skilled and have a lot to offer any employer. Your organisational skills will be high, not to mention your educational qualifications, Key Skills, especially communication skills. There are too many to list here, so don't sell yourself cheaply to B&Q !

I retired as a Senior Teacher six years ago and was immediately offered a job by the local education authority as a Work Experience Officer - having been a W/exp co-ordinator for many years. If you have a Health and Safety qualification they may take you on as a pre-placement visitor, which is a great job, visiting employers all over the place, which is what I do now most of the time.

Try contacting your own authority to see if they have anything to offer; I can tell you it's like a holiday camp after 'lion taming' for thirty years !

[Rhianna1825]

Thank you Derek for a really interesting and enlightening answer. I did not know of such jobs as those you mention but they certainly sound preferable to teaching . . . you have given me some hope. I was beginning to feel quite old and worthless and very much alone.

[derekpara]

My pleasure, Rhianna. The frustrating thing about AB is that one rarely gets any feedback from one's advice, so thanks again, and I would be very interested to hear how you get on. And by the way, I am 73 and have been told by my managers that they couldn't do without me ! So forget your age, it's what you know and what you are that counts, and anyone who has thirty years of teaching behind them can teach most people a thing or two !

[Godmancunian]

Derek ... Do you mind me asking if what you are doing pays reasonably well? I am an Assistant Head and have been in the classroom for twenty years. I am looking for an alternative career where I can use my so called "transferrable skills" .... your position sounds really interesting but I still need to be able to pay the mortgage. I am a Primary Teacher ... I am guessing your are Secondary bacjground? If you can suggest any other possibilities also I would be very gratefu l!!!

[Godmancunian]

Marking exam papers, at whatever level, is always in demand, although obviously seasonal. You can mark SATS papers for KS2 through to GCSE and A Level depending on your subject/experience.

[Rhianna1825]

Godmancuniam,

Thanks for the suggestion but I cannot think of anything more boring. Also I miss being part of a team . . I am widowed and have no other relatives so spend much time alone. I need to get out amongst people.

Derek, your advice is in demand.

[Tefler]

It depends on your qulifications, to an extent, but have you thought of applying to teach with the Open University? I've recently started and am thoroughly enjoying it. There's a lot of contact by phone and e-mail, plus monthly tutorials. Even the marking is interesting! (When did you last hear a teacher saying that?)

The downside is that it is chronically underpaid and, as with most vocational jobs, you can find yourself working full-time for a minor salary if you're not careful!

May is the time for applications for tutoring most courses which start in January/February, although in some regions and on some courses there are still vacancies for the October presentations.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/employment/associate-lecturers/main_1.shtm

[Rhianna1825]

Thank you Tefler. I have thought of doing this . . . and money is not the incentive for working . . . .I just want to feel part of something again. At present I feel useles and out of sync with te rest of the world. Need to feel useful again.

[derekpara]

Rhianna. Yes I am secondary background (PE. Technology, Careers). When I was asked to assist in setting up a centralised database for the authority's W/exp programme I was offered two days a week at �180 per day- that was six years ago. Once the programme was up and running they only wanted full-timers to manipulate the data, so I'd done myself out of quite a nice job. I still wanted to work as part of the team so I was offered the position of training and leading a small team of Health and Safety visitors who check the suitability of placements before the students (Yrs 10/11) go out for two weeks. The pay is not great, only �8.75 and hour plus 50p a mile car allowance, but the job satisfaction is terrific and I get to visit some wonderfully interesting places. I won't reveal the EA, however.

A lot of authorities use a charity called Trident to do these visits but others have their own staff. Having a secondary background, with experience of co-ordinating w/exp is undoubtedly an advantage, of course. You would also need to take a fairly straightforward Health & Safety qualification,usually paid for by the EA if you are appointed. I wish you luck, and definitely approach your EA to see what they have to offer someone with your experience. Let us all know how you get on.

[mel_r]

How about approaching your local kids clubs.

They are fun to work for as they are in a relaxed atmosphere. mainly running in the school holidays.

They go on great excursion and your teaching skills would be very usefull to the needs of a kids club.

Having worked for one myself i can recomend it.

I hope you find what you are looking for.

Good luck.