I'm quitting teaching, I've decided, AIBU?

Not every school is like this. You say that you love the boys. Maybe try another school? Don't give up teaching completely. I was in a toxic school and almost gave up but moved and have the nicest colleagues and SLT. I now love my job and teaching. Take this time on sick leave and find another school who values you.

Not unreasonable,no. Good luck for your future.

Teaching is so punishingly stressful now and you have the additional burden of a bullying work environment. It is absolutely right for you to leave.
I abandoned the stressful job of social work when I was 50 .. I was depressed and burnt out like you ... and have enjoyed a crazy time in arts outreach, photography, picture editing, running singing workshops ... couldn't be more different but a new lease of life and a new person emerged. Just do it .... give yourself time to lick your wounds and return to health, then start blossoming!

Do it - sounds miserable. Chat gpt is excellent at writing passive aggressive resignation letters btw 😀

This is the biggest load of crap I have heard in a long time. I was a teacher. Retired now.

YANBU. It’s really refreshing to hear a teacher say “I hate this” and actually leave.

Yanbu to leave a job that is affecting your mental health, life is too short.

I'm a nurse so different but my stress level was probably similar and i handed in my notice with nowhere to go early August and it felt liberating. I’ve got an interview for a lower band post I hope I will get but we will see.

I think when you know it is time, it is time.

Good luck

Best decision I ever made...15 years and it sucked the life out of me! The classroom and a few members of staff were the only thing that kept me there so long.
You have so many transferable skills, you just need to remember what they are. I took a pay cut but only took 18 months and I was back up to just below what I was earning and no stress, when I finish work I'm done nothing to do at home. I can choose my holidays. I work in Safeguarding now...not in a school, I'm in a university (still kind of education but no toxicity)

So the local authority will still be paying you and supply staff?
What are you hoping you can convince your doctor to write?
Shouldn't you have given the adequate notice at the start of the summer?
I hope you find peace but I feel you could have gone about the leaving process in a less disruptive way.

Many careers involve doing less of the original job as you move into management. Some schools do a great job of management and leadership training.
toxic workplaces are, and should be made to recognise it by losing staff, but ‘teaching’ isn’t a terrible profession!

both those jobs btw can be really important roles. Enrichment is massively complex and deserves the time especially as it’s both great for the children and for schools requirements to meet its obligations eg moral and social, cultural education, Gatsby goals. And 2nd in a big sept usually has responsibility for a particular area eg ks3 or subject within a faculty. There are very few professions with uncapped salaries for the SAME job as you started in. Most careers require you to shift a bit and do something else as well

@thequickbrowndog I'm a business and development manager

Speak to your union leave and get another job. Schools are often awful places to work but some are amazing. Good luck x

I've thought about this a lot.

First and foremost, there's a perverse-incentive promotion system. The only way to get a raise (if you've been teaching a moderate amount of time and reached the top of the ladder) is to get promoted into management. That takes you out of the classroom somewhat, which some struggling teachers find a relief. So you get mediocre teachers getting promoted into stupid roles like "Assistant Head of Lower School Enrichment" or "2nd in Command of Humanities Faculty". They have no real talent for management so they think their reason for being is to catch out failings among the ordinary teachers. This promotes a culture of competitiveness where everyone tries to avoid being Scapegoat of the Month.

Do it! Best decision I made.

Yes I took a pay cut
Yes I 'lost' the holiday

But I've gained confidence
I've gained happiness.
I've gained job satisfaction

Depending on your years of service and the terms and conditions you could be entitled to 100 days sick at full pay and 100 more at half. If it's as bad as you say and I can well believe it then see medical advice and utilise this to make an exit plan.

Join 'exit the classroom and thrive' on Facebook an excellent community for everyone trying to make the escape!!

On a serious note though, nobody deserves to be bullied and dread going to work. Life is too short. If you can leave, leave.
Maybe a different school may be what is needed, or maybe something new entirely. I did that a few years back and it’s been the best thing I did.

There's a fantastic Facebook group (if you're not already a member)... Get Out of Teaching, Exit the Classroom and Thrive. It's a great group of thousands of teachers/ex-teachers in similar situations to you.

It’s your career and your income.
If you don’t like it, and you either don’t need the money or have another way to earn, then just quit I guess.