'I quit teaching to focus on my side hustle - and started making £10k a month'

A stressed-out teacher who quit the classroom to focus on her side hustle has already made her yearly salary in just six months.

Carrie Booth was left with poor mental health after teaching in secondary schools across the north for almost two decades.

The mum-of-one started her teaching career in north Manchester and worked in schools as a science teacher up until 2019.

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But as the classes grew bigger, workloads became heavier and pupil behaviour worsened, the 42-year-old soon found herself struggling with anxiety and depression.

The former teacher can recall feeling intimidated by some older pupils in the corridor, with one even blocking her in a classroom doorway on one occasion.

The stress made the mum feel “physically ill” and she was signed off for five weeks before going on to work at an independent school.

Despite taking almost a £10,000 pay cut, Carrie, from Chorley, said her mental health began to improve – but the hours were still long.

That’s when she decided to take a leap of faith and quit in July 2023 to focus full time on her side business, The Science Booth.

The Science Booth offers interactive science demonstrations for children, including lots of whizzes, pops, bangs and explosions while offering a hands-on workshop where kids can make slime, sherbet and edible goodies.

As the main earner in her family, the risk of quitting her job left Carrie fearful she wouldn’t be able to pay her mortgage and other bills.

But the business took off almost immediately – seeing her make her yearly teaching salary in just six months.

“The business turned over £10,000 in a month,” she told the Manchester Evening News.