If you’re a teacher looking for a career change but still love working with children, becoming a governess or governor could be the perfect next step. Your teaching background gives you a huge head start. In fact, the transferable skills for teachers becoming governesses are exactly what private families are looking for. I used my own teaching experience to secure my first role.
In this post, I’ll break down the top 10 transferable skills for teachers becoming governesses, based on my own experience working in private households.
Top 10 Transferable Skills for Teachers Becoming Governesses
1. How Teachers Use Differentiation Skills in Private Education Roles
We all know that no two children learn in the same way. As teachers, we rise to this challenge, but equally, when faced with more complex differentiation, the planing and delivery of lessons can quickly become overwhelming. With more and more teachers facing large class sizes (with reduced or no additional adult support) teaching today, can quickly lead to burn out.
As a governess or governor, you are usually working with either one child or two. So immediately your planning and teaching, even when working with SEND children, is so much easier and far less stressful. You’re not tied to one method or prescriptive curriculum and you have the freedom to shape learning around each child’s needs, interests, and strengths. Teaching in such a way, is a joy and a pleasure, one I have had the privilege to enjoy for the last fifteen years.
Using Transferable Skills for Teachers Becoming Governesses in Real Roles
The favourite teaching moments I’ve had over the years whilst working as a governess in private households, were when I realised just how lucky I was to be doing what I loved (teaching) but having the freedom to decide how I did it. I have fond memories during the early days of my governess career, teaching phonics. The boy I was teaching was a complete beginner in English. Once, during the winter, I hid all of the letters of the alphabet outside in the garden, in the snow. My phonics lesson turned into a fun treasure hunt, with the little boy driving around in his toy car, digging around in the snow to find my letters.
This creative, flexible approach is what makes governess/governor work so rewarding. You’re not just teaching, you’re making learning an adventure.
2. Communication Skills Teachers Bring to Private Roles
Teachers are natural communicators. We are skilled at explaining concepts to children and building strong, trusting relationships with parents. These skills are essential to work as a governess or governor who must not only support a child’s learning and development but also work closely with families to ensure consistency, understanding and mutual goals in their child’s care and education.
Many families have moved from abroad and rely on their governess to explain school systems, speak with teachers, and guide them through expectations.
You might:
- Attend parents’ evenings and help interpret school feedback
- Talk with teachers about homework or extra support
- Explain school policies to ensure parents feel confident
If English isn’t the family’s first language, your role becomes even more vital. You’re the link between home and school, making sure nothing is missed and everything runs smoothly. On a number of occasions, I have been in roles where I have had to explain that there was a ‘gifting’ policy for parents. It is quite common for UHNW (Ultra High Net Worth) families to be very generous with their staff and child’s teachers at Christmas and the end of the school year for example.
3. Emotional Intelligence in High-Profile Family Roles
Teachers bring patience to every lesson, you simply can’t teach without it! In private family homes, (especially with UHNW families) this becomes essential. These children often move between homes, countries and schools. Amid the change, you may be the one stable, trusted adult in their world.
Your role goes beyond teaching. You’re also a mentor and emotional anchor. Many children feel pressure to achieve or fear getting things wrong. Your calm presence helps them feel safe and supported.
You might:
- Ease a child into a new school and routine
- Turn lessons into low-pressure learning
- Use play or daily rituals to offer comfort and connection
During one of my governess roles, I knew that the family were relocating and moving countries. The youngest child had never been to school and was expecting to join Year 1 in a UK school. To help him to prepare for a ‘day at school’ I used role play and we acted out a typical day in school. We had registration time, playtime out in the garden, various lessons and lunchtime. He loved it and so did I, as I used my ‘lessons’ to establish what he had learned with my personalised activity worksheets. Mum was very happy too as she could see evidence of his learning and he was excited to be starting school and not at all nervous.
Teachers are experts at reading emotions, staying steady under pressure, and building trust. This kind of emotional awareness is one of the most overlooked but powerful transferable skills for teachers becoming governesses, especially when supporting children through change.
4. Classroom Management Skills That Transfer to Governess/Governor Work
Teachers are professionals at keeping lessons on track. We do it day in day out, adjusting them when something unexpected happens etc. In a home setting, you’ll use the same skills to keep learning structured, focused and fun.
Private education still needs:
- clear routines
- calm, consistent expectations
- smooth transitions between tasks
You might be managing siblings, keeping playtime balanced with lessons, or encouraging focus without screens. Your background helps you stay fair, firm, and adaptable.
You’ll know how to:
- set gentle boundaries
- use positive reinforcement
- match your approach to the family’s style
These skills are vital in a home where routines change often. Your calm structure helps children stay motivated, secure, and ready to learn wherever they are.
5. Planning Creative Lessons as a Governess or Governor
As a governess, you can design lessons around a child’s interests. This freedom makes learning meaningful and fun.
I once taught a preschooler using her love of elephants and Frozen. We built vocabulary through stories, games and role play. Her progress was incredible because she was truly engaged.
You’re not tied to a curriculum. You can adapt the pace, style and content to suit one child. That’s what makes lessons effective.
Your teaching background means you can turn maths into baking, use museums to explore history, or teach science through experiments. You bring learning to life.
It’s not just about schoolwork either. With creative planning, you help children build confidence, curiosity and independence. That’s what makes you the perfect fit.
Find out just how transferable your skills are with my FREE Mini Guide. Click the link to access it.
6. Using Your Organisational Skills in a Governess/Governor Role
Teachers are natural multitaskers. In a governess role, you’ll use those same skills to plan lessons, track progress and coordinate with families.
Without a set school timetable, you’ll structure each day to suit the child. This means balancing core subjects with music, languages, or life skills, while making sure the child isn’t overwhelmed.
For example, if a child has sports, music, and tutoring, you’ll create a weekly plan that keeps learning steady and enjoyable, with time to rest and play.
You bring:
- forward planning
- clear routines
- the ability to adjust when needed
A governess is more than a teacher. You’re the one shaping a daily rhythm that supports learning, confidence and calm. Organisation is a key part of daily life in private homes. It’s one of the most important transferable skills for teachers becoming governesses, especially when juggling travel, tutors, and routines.
7. Child Development Knowledge That Makes Teachers Ideal Governesses or Governors
Teachers understand how children grow, learn and behave. This insight is a huge strength in private education, where teaching is one-to-one and fully personalised.
As a governess/governor, you’ll adapt your approach to each child. You’ll notice when they need encouragement, when to adjust a lesson, or when confidence is low. If a child is struggling with maths, you might switch to baking or a game to make it click. That flexibility builds understanding and removes stress.
You also support emotional and social growth. Whether it’s helping a child settle into a new school, develop friendships or manage perfectionism, your support goes beyond academics.
Teachers are already skilled at reading children. In a governess/governor role, that skill becomes even more powerful. You’re not just a tutor—you’re a guide, helping them grow with confidence.
8. Problem-Solving Skills Teachers Use Outside the Classroom
Teachers are natural problem-solvers. You calm upset pupils, manage tricky moments and find solutions fast. In private education, this skill is even more valuable.
Children may be settling into new schools or cultures, and a governess helps them adjust—building confidence, tackling frustrations and supporting social skills.
For example, if a child feels anxious in a new environment, you might practise conversation skills or role-play school scenarios to boost their confidence.
You also:
- ease learning frustration with playful strategies
- support friendship or sibling challenges
- coach children to express emotions and solve problems on their own
Your calm, patient approach helps children feel safe and capable. You’re not just there to teach, but to guide them through every challenge they face.
9. How Teachers Can Support Social and Life Skills as Governesses or Governors
A governess/governor is more than a teacher. You’re a mentor, guide and role model, helping children grow in confidence, resilience and independence.
In private education, children may not have the same peer group or school support. That’s where your role becomes vital. You help them build friendships, manage stress and plan for their future.
You might support:
- university prep, like personal statements or interview skills
- career choices and subject guidance
- life skills such as time management and self-discipline
Particularly with younger children, it could be building confidence, encouraging decision-making or teaching responsibility through everyday routines.
As a teacher, you already nurture the whole child. In a governess/governor role, that care becomes more persona and even more powerful.
10. Professionalism and Discretion for Teachers in Private Homes
In private homes, a governess/governor isn’t just a teacher, you’re part of daily life. That means families must trust you completely. Discretion, safeguarding and strong boundaries are essential.
You’ll often be present during private moments or high-profile routines. Trust is built by:
- respecting family privacy
- staying professional in your words and actions
- understanding and following safeguarding responsibilities
Many families require NDAs and expect full confidentiality. No posting on social media, no gossip, and discretion at school gates is a must.
You’ll likely become close to the child, but your role is still professional. Therefore, that means:
- knowing when to step in and when to step back
- keeping communication respectful and focused
- handling all information with care
As a teacher, you already understand trust, ethics and child safety. In a governess/governor role, those values are not just important, they’re everything. If you’re wondering whether you’ve got what it takes, you probably already do. These examples show how the transferable skills for teachers becoming governesses are exactly what high-profile families need.
Why These Transferable Skills for Teachers Becoming Governesses Matter
Without a doubt, whether you’re a newly qualified teacher or have years of classroom experience, your teaching skills are incredibly valuable beyond traditional schools. So if you’re thinking about leaving teaching but still want to work with children, a governess or governor role could be the perfect fit. These transferable skills, from lesson planning and classroom management to emotional support and creativity, are exactly what families are looking for in private educators.
You don’t need to retrain, and you don’t have to give up the joy of teaching. Instead, you can use your experience to step into a more flexible, rewarding role with better work-life balance. Becoming a governess allows you to teach in a personalised, one-to-one setting while making a real difference in a child’s life and in your own career.
If you’re ready to explore this career path further, download my free Teacher to Governess Mini Guide to get started.
If this blog post has peaked your curiosity and you’ve checked out my FREE Mini Guide, then why not head over to Facebook and join my free Classroom To Playroom Community. It’s a friendly group of teachers and governesses and a place to learn more about this exciting role.
