Has anyone left secondary teaching to study a PhD? I only entered teaching a few years ago but don't feel as suited to the role as I thought I would be and am considering research and lecturing as an alternative. I have made a tentative application for a PhD which I have always wanted to do and will be leaving teaching in the summer either way. I was wondering if anyone else had done a similar change and how they found PhD life compared to teaching?

Hi there. I'm currently a secondary teacher and assistant head and I'm doing a part-time EdD alongside my full time job. I love doing both to be honest but there are significant differences.
The PhD would involve significantly more time working completely independently. Personally I really enjoy the face to face contact I have with students, colleagues, parents etc and love that part of the job. I also love the solitary work of reading research, reflecting on this smell looking at ways to improve my practice. I find doing both means I get better results from both as a result.
I suppose it would make a sifference what you intended to do the PhD in and whether you wanted to teach as part of your student ship to undergrads.
I think the transition is certainly doable and you'll be very good at managing your time but you need to think about what your end goal is. Why do the PhD? If it's hust a way out f teaching then you'll probably find it doesnt give you want you want.

Don't drift into a PhD as an exit from teaching - unless you are doing it for the right reasons you will probably hate it. The lack of money and structure will be hard to adjust to, You want full funding and a topic that really excites you. You also need to be aware that an education-based PhD is no longer a path to an academic job as it was in the past. AS the government cuts teacher-training places in universities may education depts are downsizing.