In this episode, Sharon and Sarah are joined by Danielle Crossland, a former secondary maths teacher whose story offers a refreshingly different perspective on leaving the classroom.

Danielle taught for ten years after starting her career in 2012, working in both high schools and sixth-form colleges. Teaching was something she was good at, something she enjoyed at times - but it was never her vocation. And crucially, she knew that early on.

In this honest and wide-ranging conversation, Danielle talks about recognising her limits, refusing to tie her identity or self-worth to a job, and making deliberate choices that put life, family and wellbeing first. She shares what it was really like to step away from teaching, navigate supply work on her own terms, and eventually build a successful bookkeeping practice supporting educators and education-led businesses.

Today, Danielle runs eduAccounts, supporting more than 25 clients - from sole-trader tutors to seven-figure tutoring agencies with large teams - offering bookkeeping and admin support that allows business owners to focus on growth rather than spreadsheets.

This episode explores boundaries, confidence, grief, supply teaching, money mindset, imposter syndrome, and what it looks like to build a career that genuinely fits your life - not the other way around.

A thoughtful, empowering listen for anyone questioning whether teaching is really meant to be “for life.”

Find Danielle here:
Website: eduAccounts | Expert Bookkeeping & Admin Support for Educators
LinkedIn: Danielle Crossland
Instagram: @eduaccounts_

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Edited with finesse by our Podcast Super Producer, Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real

Today, Sharon and Sarah sit down with someone many of you already know from the Life After Teaching community - David Fountain, the teacher-turned-educator who has made understanding the Teachers’ Pension Scheme his personal mission.

After 27 years in the classroom, teaching maths, science, IT and computer science, David reached a crossroads. Caring responsibilities, exhaustion and the constant reinvention of curricula pushed him to rethink his path. But leaving teaching wasn’t simple - not emotionally and certainly not financially.

In this conversation, David breaks down the journey that led him out of school and into a role he never expected: supporting teachers across the UK to understand the pension they’ve spent their careers paying into.

David isn’t a financial adviser - and he never pretends to be - but his clarity, integrity and generosity shine through every part of this conversation. Teachers trust him because he’s walked their path, made the mistakes, understood the system the hard way and is determined that others don’t lose out as he once did.

Whether you’re years from retiring, curious about opting out, or considering when to leave teaching, this is essential listening.

Find David here:
Website: dfountain.co.uk
Facebook group: Teacher Pension – Teacher to Teacher (UK)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOdIEXubpfIRkFvPZ57KITQ
JustGiving fundraising: https://www.justgiving.com/team/davidfountain

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Buy Us a Coffee ☕️

Loving the Pit Pony Podcast? We’d be so grateful for your support! We’ve set up a Buy Me a Coffee page where you can make a small donation to help keep the podcast running.

Contribute to the 'Silenced by Support' Campaign

If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in our podcast there are organisations who can help:

• Education Support
• The Samaritans
• Mind
• Andy's Man Club

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• Subscribe to the Pit Pony Podcast
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Thanks for listening 🙏

Edited with finesse by our Podcast Super Producer, Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real

This week, Sharon and Sarah sit down with the brilliant Elaine Mackechnie, known to many as Maths with Mrs Mack - a tutor whose journey out of the classroom has inspired hundreds of teachers to rethink what’s possible.

After 26 years in education, spanning roles from Joint Head of MFL to Head of Year, Head of Key Stage and eventually 2nd in Maths, Elaine found herself pushed, pulled and reshaped by a system that never quite knew what to do with someone who could teach anything. What followed is a story of reinvention, grit, humour and the moment she realised she didn’t need permission to build the career she truly wanted.

In this episode, Elaine shares how she went from languages to maths, from burnout to business owner, and now helps non-specialist teachers become confident GCSE maths tutors through her growing platform:

👉 Maths with Mrs Mack – https://info.mathswithmrsmack.co.uk/home-348504

It’s honest, uplifting and a reminder that the skills teachers carry run far deeper than a job title.

Happy birthday, Elaine - and thank you for celebrating it with us in true Pit Pony style.

If you’d like to support the Pit Pony Podcast and the wider Life After Teaching movement, you can do so here:
👉 GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/670442768

Follow us on Facebook

Voice Message Us

Buy Us a Coffee ☕️

Loving the Pit Pony Podcast? We’d be so grateful for your support! We’ve set up a Buy Me a Coffee page where you can make a small donation to help keep the podcast running.

Contribute to the 'Silenced by Support' Campaign

If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in our podcast there are organisations who can help:

• Education Support
• The Samaritans
• Mind
• Andy's Man Club

Join Us:

• Subscribe to the Pit Pony Podcast
• Sign up to our mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/i1L5ck

Thanks for listening 🙏

Edited with finesse by our Podcast Super Producer, Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real