In 1970, Carr decided on a change of career and embarked on a course at the Margaret McMillan Memorial College of Education in Bradford from where he obtained a Certificate in Education. Later he obtained a Diploma in Special Educational Needs at the Bradford and Ilkley Community College. His first teaching jobs were as a geography teacher at Brookside secondary school and Stainsby School in Middlesbrough, and in 1975 he was appointed head of geography at St Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic High School in Darwen, Lancashire. He moved in 1982 to be head of general studies at Blackthorn County Secondary School in Bacup where he remained for five years. He joined the Lancashire County Council School Support Team dealing with disruptive behaviour in 1988.