Teacher burnout in the UK

The reality most teachers don’t say out loud

You can love teaching and still feel completely exhausted by it.

I see it every day as a SENDCo. Good people. Capable people. People who care deeply — not struggling because they’re weak, but because the system asks more and more of them.

I care deeply about my role and I’m proud to work within a strong Academy Trust. This isn’t about walking away from education. It’s about recognising that even work you value can become unsustainable without the right support around it.

Why “just do less” doesn’t work

Teaching isn’t a job you can easily switch off from. The emotional load comes home with you. The responsibility sits with you.

That’s why burnout often affects the people who care the most.

What some teachers start to explore

Not quitting. Not escaping.

Just building something alongside teaching that gives them options.

More breathing room.
Less financial pressure.
More control over their time.

Why I chose to build something alongside my role

For me, this was about sustainability.

I didn’t want to leave teaching. I wanted to protect it — to create enough flexibility that I could continue doing the job properly, without it taking everything from me.

That’s where building a UW business alongside my role started to make sense. It gave me a way to create options gradually, without needing a dramatic change.

This isn’t about having all the answers

You don’t need a full plan. You don’t need to decide anything today.

You just need to understand what your options are — and whether something like this could give you a bit more breathing room over time.