My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

The staffroom

How can I frame this situation positively?

3 replies

kay1919 · 10/06/2015 14:33

Hi everyone,
I need urgent advice about a difficult situation. I left my most recent teaching job at Easter after a year and a half for several reasons. The main reasons were:

  • When I joined, the school was graded Good but it quickly went into Special Measures and the workload/stress increased. Staff morale was very low and it was a very negative environment from the time I started.


-The SM judgement sent the school into chaos. A lot of the SLT left, the Head left after several disastrous monitoring inspections, there was an outcry from parents about the school being forced into converting to an academy and it was very stressful. This situation is still ongoing and the future of the school is uncertain. Lots of the staff were put on capability and left.

-A new SLT was formed and although they seemed to like me, I felt like they didn't listen to the views of many of the teachers and just did what they wanted and seemed to take everything positive (such as any training/learning opportunities) for themselves.

-With all this going on, I wasn't receiving any career development and I was losing enthusiasm for a job I previously loved. As my previous school had been Outstanding, it was a big change. At one point, I was so demoralised that I considering leaving teaching altogether.

I'd wanted to leave at the end of the previous academic year in July, but (at their request) I did the school a favour by holding off my resignation until they would find it easier to replace me. It was a decision that I didn't take lightly and when I left, I made sure I wrote detailed notes for the new teacher taking over my class. This is a situation which has not done me any favours because now, new schools seem to think something fishy went on.

I viewed a school this week (lovely school, Good Ofsted and I could see myself working there) and straight away, they had issues with why I'd left at Easter. They questioned me about it and I feel that perhaps they won't get past it. I told them I'd left on good terms but I wanted a new working environment and was looking for new opportunities - which is true. I don't want to be negative about my previous school and if I explained the reasons why I left in detail, it wouldn't come across well.

I'm so frustrated because my teaching has never been rated as less than Good and sometimes Outstanding in Ofsted and SLT observations. I feel like I've been tarred with the same 'inadequate' brush of my last school. I want to start again and be at a new school for the long term.

How can I frame this situation positively in both my application and (if I get one) an interview? I'm so worried that no school will go near me now and it's a shame, as I haven't done anything wrong.
OP posts:
Report
WinnieTheWilt · 10/06/2015 20:41

You could legitimately say that you delayed leaving til Easter at the request of the school.

Report
BerylStreep · 10/06/2015 20:47

Just say that you had intended to leave at the end of the previous academic year, but at their request you delayed until they found a replacement, and you were keen to help them out.

Report
kay1919 · 11/06/2015 00:25

Thanks for your advice. I'm feeling really sad tonight. I started writing my application then got an awful, crippling stress headache and had to stop. I know it's the anxiety coming from applying for another teaching job. I'm worried it'll be like my last school - generally very negative and pressurised. I'm not sure if it's the right thing to apply. I like teaching but I'm so anxious and the moment. I don't know if I'm ready to go back. Sad

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.