I am resigning from teaching - and I can't wait.

[Finallyquitting]

Just wanted to share this, have nchanged. I have been a teacher for ten years, now on the SMT for my roles within school.
This year has done me in finally and I am resigning after Christmas and I couldn't be happier. The fact that I have no other job to go to is not really on my mind at the moment!!

It's just got too much for all the reasons given in so many threads and I have read how teachers have left on MN and been so envious, well now I am joining them!
DH is slightly worried about what's next but I have recently specialised in a different area so am going to go down that route.

[Cataline]

Good for you!! Will you need a reference at some point in the future? The answer to that night influence what you write in your resignation letter.
Are you giving full notice and working until Easter? I've been talking to colleagues about this recently and the general feeling is that unless you're moving into another teaching post then it's perhaps not necessary?

[Finallyquitting]

Hmm yes I will need a reference so don't want to be a dick about it but I feel like I should be honest for all the poor (lovely) teachers I am leaving at school. The Head hasn't taught for a few years and honestly has no idea how bad it has got. And I also don't want to leave them in the lurch so am open to how long I stay for, so they can find a replacement for me.

Having said that I can't be too magnanimous as I will need to find a new job! I have seen one locally which is more then £10k less than I am on now but really, I don't care about the money I care about my family

Thanks for replying too, wondered if my post might have been a bit tumbleweedy with it being Christmas

[IguanaTail]

Good for you! Lots of teachers will be jealous but wish you all the very best.

[OurBlanche]

This was me last year. SMT, 12 years in and bang! All over.

I got my notice in at Christmas, I needed out and couldn't see myself making it t the end of the year. So I aimed for Easter and got out at the end of March.

I haven't worked since - I think I left it a bit too long to leave - I kept getting panic attacks when I thought about working. But I have now started a small business and am looking forward to 2016 and being back in the workplace.

I can't tell you how much life has changed for the good. OK, we are relying on DHs earnings but you will be able to sign on JSA, contributions based, that has eased the burden. But even with a squeezed budget and me still being stressy, life has been great.

I am enjoying the idea of Christmas, I wrecked last year tbh. I was stressy, sobby and wholly illogical. DH must have borrowed a big bag of patience to cope with me.

So, good luck. You will feel better, family life will improve and you won't regret leaving... I promise

[OurBlanche]

Oh and no... just give the usual I am leaving, this date and goodbye.

No one needs explain, everyone knows!

[minniebear]

I left for maternity leave in June 2014 and have had two little ones close together and have no intention whatsoever of going back into teaching! It's amazing! I'm planning a different career, still working with children. I was in state, then private, and now the private school I was at (previously lots of trust in the teachers/no set curriculum/minimal planning/no needless paperwork) has gone the way of the state schools! You're best off out!!

[IguanaTail]

Agree with OurBlanche - your ex colleagues don't need your honesty - they can choose to leave or stay as they wish. Thank your headteacher for the invaluable experience. Don't burn any bridges.

[MrsUltra]

can you sign onto JSA if you resign?

[doceodocere]

Like Minnie I'm on maternity leave and not planning to go back to working in a school. I'm continuing to work with children and with schools in an external capacity, but leaving most of the bullshit behind.

I'll need my current Ht as a referee at some point so will play nice with the resignation letter, although there are a few choice comments I'd like to make about the LA and the culture it encourages.

[doceodocere]

And congratulations, Op!! I'm sure you're doing the right thing for you, along with many others. I wonder how long the system will be able to cope when so many are choosing life and leaving the profession.

[Mehitabel6]

Congratulations! I wonder when the government will wake up to the fact there is a problem with teacher retention.
( Word your letter carefully - you may need a reference)

[DitheringDiva]

MrsUltra You are right, you can't sign on to JSA for 26 weeks if you resign. You can if you're made redundant, or leave on medical grounds (including workplace stress).

[OurBlanche]

Well, I signed on online and was given contributions based JSA with no questions, so yes!

[MrsUltra]

It would be better to make the resignation letter a simple statement of fact/intent, and separately brief your head, maybe after you have left? S/he might even offer you a temp p/t consultancy role to look at ways of improving staff morale

[Finallyquitting]

YY doce am hoping to branch out into something else, still educational.
All good advice re letter, I definitely shouldn't burn bridges as you say, especially with no firm job yet.

And ourblanche I have been a complete wreck this year, I am still getting anxiety pangs in my stomach when I think about some of the things that have happened this term and I think my DH has borrowed that bag of patience from yours as he is pretty patient, up to a point.

Thanks for the congratulations, I honestly can't wait to say the words, my life has changed so much for the worse in the last few years, I can hardly believe I have finally made the decision.

[OurBlanche]

I know how that feels I held on for 2 years more than I wanted because DH was made redundant and had an operation. That's why I used the Christmas deadline instead of waiting for the end of year, I just could not bring myself to stick it out

Be warned though, your notice period might be the worst of it, with freedom so close and all your colleagues hanging on in there. You will feel extremely conflicted. I made up a happy clappy story and tried very hard to believe I was simply retiring very early. That saved me having to explain anything more personal

[jellyfrizz]

I would appreciate it if people spoke up Finallyquitting. Perhaps the resignation letter isn't the best place but perhaps request a meeting with the head to discuss your reasons for leaving (if you don't have leaving interviews).

A few people at our school have given feedback when they left and it has led to positive changes - a staff meeting every other week rather than every week for one, getting in supply rather than everyone losing their PPA is another. I guess it depends on your school and you are the best judge of that.

I've started kicking back on anything pointless that I am asked to do. I can't carry on just wasting time doing nonsense tasks, it was driving me crazy. And it they decide to manage me out because of it, so be it. At least I will be standing up for myself and the children I teach. If nothing changes I will be leaving anyway.

Good luck Finally, I haven't heard anyone say they've regretted making the move.

[leccybill]

I left in July after 11 years - the final two were particularly unpleasant for me and I never should have stayed that long. I took a month off, then started my own tutoring business and do some supply as and when.
Have not looked back - absolute best decision I've made in my entire life. Good luck.

[Finallyquitting]

I used to do some tutoring as well when I was part time but hadn't thought of that, good on you leccy and YY jelly I challenge decisions that have no obvious benefit for the children too, sometimes successfully, sometimes not!

I have a sneaky suspicion that if I resign, there may be a few others who might be spurred on to do the same as well ourblanche which is so sad but it's just so horrendous now isn't it.

I feel so unhappy every day, in a job I used to love.

[OurBlanche]

You have to stop taking responsibility like that.... if other people are spurred on by your actions, that's down to them!

On top of the 2 years I waited because of DH, redundancies etc, I stayed at least 2 terms after I made the decision to quit because I thought I could manage another year and didn't want to let anyone down!

Not saying you need to rush it, just that you need to disconnect from it all. Life is much easier once you have

[PhyllisDietrichson]

I think schools do need to know the real reasons teachers are leaving the profession. There are very diplomatic ways of saying why however. You can big-up the school whilst quietly saying your piece. Alternatively, you could offer to give some feedback / full reasons for quitting and leave the ball in their court; they can take you up on the offer or not as they wish.

Can I add an aside here. I have recently begun to find teaching very difficult; with the dread-in-the-pit-of-the-stomach feeling as holidays draw to a close. In my case, this is linked to anxiety related to the peri-menopause. May be why teachers of certain age get out when they do.

[thelaundryfairy]

Good luck with your next job.

Will your school give you an ¨exit interview¨ ? Perhaps that would be the time and place to air your grievances. I think in the long run you will feel better if your resignation is just short, simple and factual. If there is no exit interview, you could ask for a meeting with your head and discuss your feelings there.

[PrincessHairyMclary]

I see someone else has mentioned tutoring, you can also apply to be an examiner so you know you'll have work through May and schools are always looking for Invigilators.

[LeaLeander]

OP, no matter how tempting, do not vent or unload in your letter of resignation. Just give the bare basic facts required.

Never put anything in writing that can be misconstrued or held against you at a later date. You never know where life may take you or how you may encounter some people again. To give an example: I just hired as a freelancer a woman who was my manager 10-plus years ago; I am sure she NEVER expected that some day she might be dependent upon me for a job, and vice versa.

You want to give constructive feedback, criticism and advice but to be honest it probably won't be heeded and will just cast you in a bad light as a complainer or malcontent. Even if you wait until after your final date and then just have a verbal sitdown with the person in charge, it's unlikely to effect any change.

[IguanaTail]

Agree with lea.

Schools rarely do exit interviews and staff leaving rely on a reference from their last headteacher if they go onto another teaching job. It could be that the OP decides she might want to go back into teaching in a few years' time.