Why I Left Teaching (Twice) – And Why I Now Help Others Stay
Joanne Lawrence
Helping schools retain talented teachers by safeguarding their mental health | 1:1 SLT Wellbeing Coaching | Return To Work Best Practice | Preventing Teacher Burnout Workshop
Teacher burnout is something I know all too well. It’s why I left the classroom age 28, after just three years of secondary teaching.
Back in 2008, I didn’t know what burnout was—I just knew I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and physically unwell. I had tonsillitis every term, eventually leading to surgery. My body couldn’t keep up with my mind, and I didn’t have the tools or language to understand what was happening.
I had no work-life balance and was blind to the warning signs. No one was talking about burnout then—at least not in schools.
🔥 Burnout is Rising—And It’s Still Being Normalised
Today, teacher burnout isn’t just recognised—it’s widespread.
According to the UK Department for Education, over 40,000 teachers left the profession in 2022–2023, accounting for about 9% of the workforce.
Another 13% of Early Career Teachers (ECTs) left within just one year. [DfE School Workforce Census, 2023]
A 2023 report from Education Support found that:
🧠 Burnout Looks Different Today—But It's Just as Dangerous
Back in 2008, reports of teachers having “nervous breakdowns” were brushed aside. Mental ill health wasn’t openly discussed. But while awareness has improved, many of the root causes remain—and for many, teaching is still a vocation where work-life boundaries feel almost impossible to maintain.
I left teaching again after having three children in two years (imagine having a two-year-old and new-born twins, closely followed by the pandemic!). This time, it was physical exhaustion, not professional stress. But the pressure of juggling school life and family life is another reality too many teachers face without adequate support.
Now, I’m back in the classroom one day a week—and I’ve managed to keep burnout at bay. But I’m still seeing the same wellbeing challenges I saw in 2008, particularly for ECTs and middle leaders.
💬 Why I Stayed Close to the Profession
Despite everything, I love teaching. But more than anything, I’m passionate about helping other teachers stay—because leaving shouldn’t be the only route to recovery.
Since qualifying as a Teaching & Learning Coach in 2013, I’ve developed a deep focus on mental health in the workplace. I now work with schools to design and deliver proactive wellbeing strategies that benefit not just staff—but whole-school outcomes.
I’ve led coaching and training for corporate employee resource groups, and now focus staff on wellbeing delivery at Brightcore Consultancy, including:
My focus is simple: Help teachers stay well, stay engaged, and stay in education.
🚦 Strategic Wellbeing is No Longer Optional
Wellbeing isn’t a “nice-to-have” in education—it’s a necessity. If we want to tackle teacher attrition, improve student outcomes, and build sustainable school cultures, we must put staff mental health at the centre of school strategy.
Whether you're a school leader, HR professional, or classroom teacher—you have a role to play in preventing burnout and promoting resilience.
📩 Let’s Talk
If you work in a UK school and are looking for training or support around staff wellbeing, burnout prevention, or return-to-work transitions, I’d love to chat.