10 years ago, I was that enthusiastic Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT)… or Early Career’s Teacher (ECT) as they now call it. Becoming a teacher had been my passion for a while now and I was thrilled to have actually landed my first job at the school that I was allocated for my second university placement.

The feeling was unreal! I felt so accomplished and could not wait to see myself in the classroom! I started with a Year 3 class, then Year 4 and then Year 5 as the Year Leader! Yes, it was like I was growing and moving up through the school with the children! The three years spent at my first school in Greenford, West London, were years that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I grew as a teacher and as an individual both professionally and personally! I progressed to Middle Leadership in no time and my potential was greatly recognised – something I believe UK schools are very good at doing!

I had that drive, that fire in my belly to prove myself academically and reach my full potential. I wanted to become the ‘golden girl’ at school and a role model that others would come to for inspiration. I was at the peak of my career and thriving beautifully!

But just three years into my teaching career, I began to feel the pressures of the education system! Constant changes, mountains of paperwork and an increasing number of special needs children in mainstream schools. How much can one teacher do? With the best of intentions, it was becoming a real challenge to whip out a magic wand and manage everything all at once, and that too at an ‘outstanding’ level.

It just wasn’t possible to keep on top of everything and sadly, I could feel my motivation to teach diminishing bit by bit each day. It wasn’t the children or being in the classroom – that’s what I loved – but the constant pressure from the school management and admin tasks that become the bane of my life – I’m sure a lot of teachers can relate! It was then that I had realised I needed a healthy change! And that’s exactly what took me to Dubai, United Arab Emirates!

Stay tuned for my next post to learn all about my teaching experience in Dubai.