I quit my ‘ridiculously stressful' UK teaching job for one in France – overtime is banned & there's NO admin
Anna Britten, 49, packed up and left the UK for the French countryside with her two teen sons.
3
3
3
The mum says her "ridiculously stressful" job as an assistant head teacher in the UK would see her regularly work 45 hour weeks and never taking lunch breaks.
She always felt "attached" to France thanks to family holidays but put her dream of moving abroad to one side while raising her sons, aged 14 and 16.
But when the pandemic left her "despairing" of life in the UK she quit and began looking at jobs in France.
The perfect teaching role came up near Nemours, France, and she decided to go for it and moved out in August 2024.
Thanks to French laws she can't work more than 35 hours a week and only has to attend school for the lessons she teaches - with no tutor groups, assemblies and admin.
Her sons have thrived, no longer having to wear uniform, and getting at least an hour for lunch.
Anna still has to do marking - but can fit it in when she's not teaching instead of having to do it in the evenings.
She teaches classes of only 14 students - compared to 30 in the UK - and despite taking a pay cut for this role she'd never go back to teaching in the UK.
Anna, an English teacher, from Nottingham, said: "I've always loved the French culture - we work to live rather than live to work.
"I'm happier out here. I just think the UK is a stressful way of living, people enjoy the moment out here.
"Lunch is so important here - no one would dream of not stopping.
"In the UK I didn't have a lunch break - people work through lunch.
"It's a nicer way of life. It's more relaxed."
Anna spent a lot of time in France as a child so it feels like a second home for her.
She spent a year living out there aged 27 but when she moved back and met her teenage boys' dad she settled into UK life.
She said: "I got caught up in life in England. (But) the pandemic made me question a lot of things.
"I wanted to step away from my stressful life - being an assistant head it was ridiculously stressful.
"Then there was Brexit - I started to despair with the UK."
Anna had stepped away from teaching in the UK into charity work when she spotted the role in France and decided to go for it - taking her two teens and their four cats along with her.
They moved in August last year - and despite the "nightmare" paperwork Anna and her boys are loving it.
Anna said getting a visa was a "massive process" and took a couple of months and lots of documentation but was easier than some find it as she had the job secured.
She said: "My youngest is really happy here. My eldest got to escape his GCSEs.
"It's opened up opportunities - they are becoming bilingual.
"They'll have an international bachelorette. There are more opportunities than growing up in Nottingham."
Anna loves and her teens love that there is no school uniform policy.
She said: "As a teacher and a parent I always hated uniform. It makes them all identical and it's uncomfortable.
"The school days are longer here - 8.20am until 5.30pm. But they have a long lunch break - a minimum of an hour.
"I only have to come in for the lessons I teach. I don't have the other nonsense - tutor groups, assemblies and admin.
"The atmosphere in UK schools is stress."
She said her kids "enjoy" school more now and are learning to speak French - and Anna can speak the language well.
The French laws means she can only work a 35 hour week and the school holidays are also longer - and they have already broken up in early July - and won't go back until September.
Anna said: "We have time in the day for marking and planning. We get a lot longer holidays. Two weeks at Christmas, two weeks at easter and two in October.
"I'm earning about the same now as if I was on a main scale teaching job in the UK.
Everything you need to know about visiting France
Brits need to have a passport with at least three months left on it.
No visas are needed for anyone staying up to 90 days within an 180-day period but you need to make sure your passport is stamped on entry and exit.
You may also need to show proof of accommodation and funds, around €120 a day.
The country uses the euro with with around €10 working out to £8.55.
France is one hour ahead of the UK
Direct flights to France from the UK take between 1-4 hours depending on the destination
Or you can travel by train with Eurostar, with destinations including Paris or Lille.
Direct ferry services also operate between the UK and France, with some journeys taking 90 minutes.
"I have taken a salary cut - that was a leadership role. If I was to go to England - I would be earning similar to what I'm earning now but it's more stressful
"I'd never do it. Money wasn't my reason for doing anything."
Anna said her kids have adapted really well to leaving friends and family in England.
She said: "They have made lots of new friends."
Cost-wise Anna hasn't noticed a huge difference - but rents a four bed house an hour out of Paris for €1,300 a month.
In the UK, she rented a four-bed house in Nottingham for £900.
She said: "Eating out is cheaper.
"It's a whole new lifestyle.
"Being so close to Paris - full of beauty and culture - is an incredible opportunity for the boys."
Anna hopes to inspire others to make that change in their life - whatever it might be.
She said: "As I've got older I've got braver.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Kylie Jenner fans think beau Timothee Chalamet is 'secretly' with her on yacht vacation in Greece
Kylie Jenner fans think her A Complete Unknown actor beau Timothee Chalamet is secretly with her on yacht vacation in Greece. That is because a man in black briefs was spotted resting on a seashore in one of her latest Instagram posts shared on Tuesday. 'That guy on the shore is Timothee,' said one fan on X while another piped up: 'He is secretly with her in Greece, I feel it in my bones.' The couple were last photographed together in St Tropez in the south of France on July 5. On the luxury trip Jenner was modeling a white, leopard print and polka dot swimsuit from her Frankies Bikinis/Khy collaboration while on a very large yacht. Also on the getaway with the 27-year-old reality TV star were her kids Stormi and Aire that she has with rapper ex Travis Scott. And her pal Stassie Karanikolaou, aka as Stassie Baby, was also spied during the European holiday. Rumors of their relationship between Jenner and Chalamet began circulating in April 2023, following the makeup mogul's split from Scott. They were first spotted together publicly in September 2023 at Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour concert. The couple then made their first official public appearance together at the U.S. Open in September 2023. 'Greeeece,' the mom of two captioned her update. Most of the pinup shots were of Kylie in bikinis. In the first image, The Kardashians star wore a tiny yellow and black Chanel string bikini as she sat on her knees on the yacht. Kylie tipped her head to one side in the shot and looked like she was rolling her eyes. In another snap, the reality TV star showered off as she climbed back onto the boat after a swim in the sea. In another photo, Kylie poured herself into a tiny leopard print bikini that highlighted her toned figure. Kylie turned up the heat with a photo of herself leaning against the railing of the yacht in a skin tight, curve hugging white dress. Other photos in the group included a shot of five women's feet in flip flops, a photo of her pink Chanel tote bag and a bunch of nature shots. On the luxury trip Jenner was modeling a white, leopard print and polka dot swimsuit from her Frankies Bikinis/Khy line while in Greece Khloé Kardashian commented on her sister's post: 'Are you ever coming home?' A fan also mentioned seeing her on the yacht, writing, 'We saw your yacht in paxos!!! We drove past on a boat. hope ur having the best time.' A bunch of other fans commented along the lines of 'Oh girl your life is so fun' and 'what a life.' And many others complimented her beauty with comments such as 'How is someone this perfect' and 'sun-kissed beauty ❤️.' Kylie's trip to Greece comes after she introduced her collaboration with Frankie's Bikinis. The new swimwear collaboration is called Cloud Cups by Frankies Bikinis x KHY. 'I've always loved Frankies Bikinis, and I'm so excited to partner with them to create this collection – with incredibly flattering silhouettes in super soft material, these are the perfect pieces for summer,' Kylie told in a statement. 'We've incorporated so many fun prints – from polka dots to leopard – and the styles are so comfortable, it feels like they float on your skin while lifting and sculpting. 'One of my favorite pieces is the Heavenly Satin top – the lace detail is so sweet, and it showcases the vintage aesthetic that this collection is all about.' 'Designing this collection with Kylie felt so natural, like two girls dreaming up their perfect swim drawer,' said Aiello, founder of Frankies Bikinis. 'We wanted each piece to lift, shape, and sculpt while wrapping the body in delicate support.' With six bikini top styles, bottoms that range from classic strings to fuller-coverage, and sun dresses and separates, Frankies Bikinis x KHY offers styles for every aesthetic. Beyond swim, Frankies Bikinis x KHY expands into limited edition mini dresses and easy separates. 'KHY aims to redefine the modern wardrobe by offering edited collections that seamlessly blends luxury with everyday style, spanning a diverse range of categories and styles. 'By collaborating with iconic brands and global designers, we hope that KHY will be a platform that delivers access to incredible fashion for everyone,' the company said in a statement. Frankies Bikinis is a female-led lifestyle brand recognized for its on-trend designs, innovative fabrics, and a commitment to crafting styles that make women feel more confident. Founded by mother-daughter duo Mimi and Francesca Aiello in their Malibu home in 2012, the brand has since grown into an internationally recognized company.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Brad Pitt, 61, reveals secret to his youthful appearance after looking 40 in F1... and it is NOT Botox
Brad Pitt looked very youthful in his new action-packed Formula One movie F1. And now the 61-year-old star has revealed how he looks decades younger, after laughing off questions about Botox. Turns out it is his Beau Domaine brand which has now introduced planet-friendly packaging. His French skin care brand - which he co-founded three years ago - is set to roll out a range of new product packaging, which uses matte white bottles with wooden tops. 'Every detail of the new look is intentional. From the recycled glass to the oak cap,' he told WWD on Tuesday. 'I wanted science-backed skincare that makes sense — not just for your skin, but for what you stand for.' When the brand originally launched, the original casing was made up of dark glass bottles with wooden tops. They were made from Château de Beaucastel, which is a Perrin-owned vineyard in Provence owned by the Perrin family. Now, the brand's bottles have been designed to be more light-weight in a bid to bring down their carbon footprint. In another move to reduce waste, the company is looking to use grape pomace - which is the leftover residue during the winemaking process - in bioactive skincare products. Last month, Brad also launched a line of linen clothing for summer, having founded his own God's True Cashmere company in 2019 with designer and spiritual healer Sat Hari. Now the brand is branching out into warm weather wear with The Elysian Collection, a unisex range made from biodegradable linen. Brad said in a statement: 'This collection is vibrant, exciting and introduces a fresh dimension to what we are doing. 'Linen seems like the obvious progression of the brand, adding natural fibers with properties and textures we enjoy.' Hari added: 'I am inspired by this new adventure for the brand. We have focused on expressing our version of what a luxury linen garment could be. 'There is a natural progression from our cashmere line including familiar bodies, gemstones and a focus on the holistic qualities, which I believe will resonate with our customer.' The pieces - which include shirts, trousers and shorts - come in shades of cream, white, yellow and green. God's True Cashmere launched with a range of cashmere shirts which feature seven buttons made from healing stones that are aligned with the body's chakras. The shirts retail from around £1,500 and the collection also includes cashmere hats, scarves and socks as well as jackets and T-shirts, which sell from around £500. Hari previously revealed she designs all the garments with the actor's help. She previously told the New Yorker: 'Brad and I design it all together. We pick the gemstone snap that we feel resonates with the shirt. It's almost like the shirt asks for the snap that it needs.' She also explained the idea for the company came after she had a dream in which she saw Brad dressed head-to-toe in green cashmere. She said of the dream: 'I looked at him and said: "What are you doing? Are you going golfing? You look like a leprechaun." And he said: "No, I just need more softness in my life."' She later told the actor about the dream: 'And he said: "That's strange, because on Tuesday I told my stylist: I need more green cashmere in my life. I need more softness." They went on to start the company together after Hari made him a green cashmere shirt. Meanwhile, his ex-wife Angelina Jolie oversees her clothing and accessories shop Atelier Jolie in New York City and his other ex Gwyneth Paltrow has her own brand of clothing with GOOP. Ex-wife Jennifer Aniston has her LolaVie haircare line.
The Guardian
8 hours ago
- The Guardian
Jess Cartner-Morley on fashion: How to switch to holiday mode? Easy, get a bag big enough for a book and a beach towel
Is there any point putting an out of office on your emails when you go on holiday any more? 'I won't have access to emails.' Yeah, right. Sorry, you aren't fooling anyone: no one goes on holiday without their phone in 2025. Your office know perfectly well that if you don't answer emails, they can still reach you by text or direct message. Even, theoretically, by actually calling you, although obviously that won't happen because that's another thing that no one does in 2025. Tweak your out of office message as much as you like – you might as well stick your fingers in your ears. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. No, the best way to set your brain to holiday mode is by signing out of your Work Bag. Swapping the bag you take on your daily commute for a free-and-easy alternative is more effective as a psychological gear change than logging out of your emails. In day-to-day life, I change handbags as rarely as possible, the potential for leaving keys in an inside pocket and getting locked out being just too real. But when you get home after work and you aren't going back for a week or two, there is something very pleasing about marking that moment by throwing away leaky pens, marvelling at how you managed to accumulate 14 hairbands, and then shaking the bag over the bin and feeling disproportionately thrilled when a pound coin falls out. Stashing the bag – with your office pass inside – is very out of sight and out of mind. Your 'holiday' bag, whether you are home or away, sets the tone for how you spend your break. I switch to a bag that's bigger than my work bag, because if I'm waiting for a bus or eating a sandwich I get to read my book rather than doing emails. But if you carry your laptop around with you on a work day, freedom might feel like a smaller bag, not a bigger one. My dream handbag – well, apart from a Hermès Birkin – is a straw basket, which to me is the essence of summer. When I sling a basket bag over my shoulder, I swear my pulse rate slows. If I'm not working, I don't want the rush-hour-tube energy of shiny hardware and a zip fastening, and the artisanal, pottering-about vibe of a basket is the perfect antidote. On holiday, I take a big one that maxes out the under-the-seat-in-front-of-you space on a plane, which has room for a swimsuit rolled up in a cotton towel, as well as a book. To save rummaging, I pop in a brightly coloured pouch to keep money, keys, phone – something pretty that I can keep on my lap or on the table at lunch, to save being constantly vigilant of valuables in the basket at my feet. For summer days at home, I cannot tell you how much I love my Sézane Farrow Bag, £130. This has room for what you need, without being so big that you can't find anything, and has an elegant but functional leather drawstring to keep it secure if you have to take the tube. This is the third summer I've used it and it is as strong as it was when I bought it, while many lesser bags have unravelled or have straps that look in danger of snapping. What's in the bag matters too. Summer dressing being simpler, accessories are an outfit-maker. Take sunglasses. The right sunglasses have the power to bestow instant cool and glamour upon you in the way that no other accessory (or anything you can wear, actually) can do. I am generally wary of trends in shades – it is hard to beat the classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer style, which looks great on almost everyone, men and women – but I'm making an exception, this year, for the angular cat eye style that is everywhere. & Other Stories have an excellent pair that come in black, tortoiseshell, off-white and various other colours, for a pleasing £27. Plus they seem to create cheekbones on those of us not blessed. Basket on your shoulder, shades on your nose. OOO activated. Nails: Sophie Higginson using Chanel Le Vernis in Faussaire and Chanel La Crème Main. Model: Amaka at Milk Management. Dress, £79, Nobody's Child. Bag, £45, Phase Eight. Towel, £35, Boden. Fluffy bag charm, £39, Dune. Pez bag charm, £175, Anya Hindmarch. Sunglasses, £16, River Island. Shoes, £49.99, Zara
