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

Have you considered sticking with teaching but moving out of mainstream education OP? I made the move into a special school two years ago and would never look back!

Gosh, are any of them likeable?

I am sorry but not surprised, what you describe outlines some of the many reasons I'm so glad I didn't go into teaching when I qualified.

Ironically we now have an ex-head where I currently work and they are truly awful, hypocritical, selfish, entitled, beyond arrogant, treating us all like ten year olds, never listening to anyone's opinions, not sharing what they should be, oblivious to the larger organisation, and generally focusing on minutiae instead of the strategy and relationship building they should be working on. They don't know they were the only person who applied or just how desperate their senior was to shed the load but if they continue like this it will surprise me if someone doesn't tell them. (Not me, I do my best to avoid them as much as possible which is a bit tricky given the number of pointless empty meetings they insist on having.)

I'm tied in to a university course for a couple of years but if The Head is still there at the end of that time I will be looking for another job. I'd go sooner if I could face having to look.

Have you contacted your union?

Maybe she's too expensive.
I know plenty of experienced teachers who tried to get another job before leaving but on many occasions those jobs went to someone just qualified.

Well said.

I actually quit my teaching job on 30th July after we got our holidays. I’ve resigned with immediate affect and head accepted my resignation. It was for a multitude of reasons and even though I was also part time I couldn’t face going back in September. I completely understand how you feel.

You’ll find a new career, don’t worry about that for now. Best of luck for the future.
Take time to recover. The majority of people don’t realise how toxic schools can be.

This s so true. The lack of management training for teachers outside the classroom is such an obvious problem if you’ve worked in other sectors (and probably if you haven’t!)

I agree with @Mumoftwo1316 - it really doesn’t have to be like that. In my Dept we have a lot of part timers and in recent years there have been lots of family/health issues and everyone is very supportive. It makes all the difference. I’m really sorry for the stress you must be suffering.

Yes, I had a suicide plan worked out that would have left my young children motherless. I think on balance, it was better that I had nine weeks off sick until my notice period expired - though I remember posting on here at the time and being told I should return my salary to the school. The lack of compassion in some people is very disturbing.

If it's not the job itself and the issue is your colleagues I would try another school. My department is lovely. I've never experienced workplace bullying, everyone is really supportive and friendly.

You could find a horrible group of people in any workplace. Between us my husband and I have worked in 6 schools and mostly had lovely colleagues so I don't necessarily think it's a teaching issue.

If th actual job was making you unhappy, I would suggest leaving altogether but it seems a shame to let a few nasty people force you out of a career you like.

If it's not the job itself and the issue is your colleagues I would try another school. My department is lovely. I've never experienced workplace bullying, everyone is really supportive and friendly.

You could find a horrible group of people in any workplace. Between us my husband and I have worked in 6 schools and mostly had lovely colleagues so I don't necessarily think it's a teaching issue.

If th actual job was making you unhappy, I would suggest leaving altogether but it seems a shame to let a few nasty people force you out of a career you like.

@PrettyPinkShoes

You said There was a huge debate in The Times on this last week with real MH professionals saying it has to stop.

Do you mean the disgraceful article by Matthew Paris?

I feel sad that this seems to be the way of the English education system (making an assumption here). I work in a Scottish secondary and I don't find this toxic culture at all. Management aren't always great but there is support there and I have never received a nasty email. My direct line manager (head of dept) is briliant. So supportive.
I echo what others say - surely there's a school out there for you? Teaching really is still a good job. The kids make it. Good luck OP. And you are right to go off sick to get away from bullies!

Your headteacher / the governors might release you from your contract if it is clear that you will be off sick then leaving. That is better for them than paying sick but also avoids you job hunting with a chunk of sick leave in your recent history.

I think you should consider looking at other schools if you do enjoy the actual work, as well as being open to new opportunities too. If you can handle the secondary age kids you're ahead of many.

Exactly this. It was having two months off with a physical injury that made me realise how much work was damaging my mental health and that I couldn't do it any more.

Look with the best will in the world none of us know if she is being bullied or what that means.

It could be a personality clash or differences of opinion at work. None of us know.

I've already said many times here that there are proper channels to deal with bullying at work and OP should access those. Talk to snr management, her union or other formal channels.

It would be better to work through those issues even if she still leaves.

I've always found colleagues supportive and many of my friends are former teachers, none of whom have found other colleagues competitive or nasty.

The OP has said she loves the job but not her colleagues. So it seems to me to be shooting herself in the foot to engineer a 3-month sickness when that may count against her in the future.

@SuePreemly the amount of (unpaid) leave allowed for those suffering a miscarriage is shockingly inadequate in many roles, it's so sad. Sorry for your loss.

I have the theory that it is because teachers are at the front line teaching but now you have to be very careful around kids in case they make a complaint. After class, teachers - like all human beings - have to let off that steam somehow, so they are bloody to the nearest adult they can relax with - usually another teacher, so they bent all their frustrations on them.

i believe that if the culture of parent and student teacher-blaming stopped, then teaching could be a lot nicer profession.

teachers (and all front line professionals like nurses) should have regular counselling sessions as part of the job. They are humans and they need to offload the huge pressure they are subjected to daily from the threat of ‘complaints’.

You asked on AIBU and didn't specify that only teachers could reply, hence you got a variety of responses.
Regardless of my questions, I do hope things improve for you and that you find a role that suits - not sure your subject or qualifications but would there be openings at a local college or something, working with adult learners or tutoring? That might still allow you to teach but in a different environment? Could you tutor privately? Could you write a text book in your subject?

I used to teach, and got out after nearly 20 years. I worked in a lovely school with great kids and SLT but I just got worn down in the end and desperately needed a change.

The expectation you'll keep on ploughing through when you're ill is really weird compared with being in the non-teaching world. I had 1 week off for a miscarriage and was then guilted into being back. I put off an operation date because it fell at the start of term and had it the last week before Xmas instead because it was more convenient to school. That guilt tripping and feeling the need to not be ill in schools is very odd and unhealthy.

There are jobs out there: I took a pay cut from p/t teaching for F/T in current role which sort of compensated and it has been worth it.