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Original poster

Teachers - notice period is this week to leave at Christmas

266 replies

Workyticket · 24/10/2022 12:02

I'm on a Facebook group for teachers looking to get out

Notice has to be in by the end of this week I believe (I'm FE so different) and there are so many teachers putting theirs in.

I know that @Noblegiraffe is usually the one to start these threads and some people think she exaggerates

We're in the shit people - already in crisis and way more will be gone at Christmas

Email your MP, back teachers striking when they (inevitably) go out and be prepared to start forking out for stationery etc to send your kids into school with.

OP posts:
Postapocalypticcowgirl · 29/10/2022 12:25

Wondershoe · 29/10/2022 00:01

It's not the same job as it was 40 years ago though. That's a big part of the problem. Teaching used to be fun

But is it just not that what was ‘fun’ in your 20’s isn’t 25 years on? Thinking about primary only (as that’s my only experience) the NQT’s seem to be full of enthusiasm and fun. But, as someone on my mid-40s now, I can’t imagine having that enthusiasm and energy on a day to day basis!!!

FWIW, I know some older secondary teachers who are incredibly enthusiastic, and have the confidence to do things students find "fun"- which less experienced teachers can lack the confidence to do.

And, in some cases, they are able to relax and have fun with their classes more, because they are better at managing behaviour or have built up respect/reputation in a school.

I'd also say that many GCSE students these days don't want "fun"- they want someone they trust to get them the qualifications they need!

MrsHamlet · 29/10/2022 12:48

I had a conversation about my classes' results earlier this term which went like this:
These are a great set of results. How did you get Bob this grade when all his other grades were much lower?
I just taught them everything they needed to know really well. It's not magic.

I'm a teacher. I am not a party entertainer. I don't, and never have, planned "fun" lessons.
I have good relationships with my classes, and we work hard. That's what gets results.

FrippEnos · 29/10/2022 12:55

As has been mentioned many times, Ofsted are not fit for purpose and they failed their last review and nothing has been done as the government seem to be so enamoured of them .

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General education
Iamnotthe1 · 29/10/2022 13:18

FrippEnos · 29/10/2022 12:55

As has been mentioned many times, Ofsted are not fit for purpose and they failed their last review and nothing has been done as the government seem to be so enamoured of them .

Absolutely. If nothing else, the leaked documents demonstrated how out of touch with reality they truly are. But fit for purpose or not, they are playing a key role in forcing education down particular routes.

withaspongeandarustyspanner · 30/10/2022 07:43

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 29/10/2022 12:22

I think what some posters on this thread are missing is that these days a lot of teachers do not train straight out of uni. I didn't, I trained around 5 years after graduating, having worked in labs and also an office based role in industry. I left because I wanted role with more interpersonal interaction, and to feel like I was doing something worthwhile, and also because I wanted to live more rurally.

But I could still go back to that sort of role if I wanted to- indeed, during the pandemic, I was getting emails and phonecalls from recruiters, who were offering me a higher salary to go back to a lab based role, but I felt I'd be letting down my school to leave them at such a difficult time. And ultimately the pay progression in teaching is better- I'm not convinced I will ever see the pension.

When I trained, I was in a cohort of nearly 40 science trainees- I'd say about 60% of the trainees had done something other than an undergrad degree before training- most of those had worked in industry, but there were a couple who'd done masters/PhDs. The distribution wasn't evenly split, btw- most were biology trainees, and then there were <10 chemists, and just over 5 physicists.

Ultimately, several of the cohort dropped out, some more went straight to teaching in private schools or oversees, and just over 50% ended up teaching in English state schools. I obviously don't know where everyone from that cohort is now, but I know that a few more have gone overseas or are looking to, and a few have moved to jobs in industry or for government agencies and at least one more has moved to teaching in the private sector.

I do think a lot of teachers have really good transferable skills, but I think it's really important for non-teachers to realise the stereotype of someone who went to uni, then did a PGCE, then has only taught isn't the case for a lot of new teachers now. People are often attracted by the large bursaries, think they fancy a change, but then they don't all stay.

And as someone who is still "mainscale", it helps me hugely to have experienced people around to ask for advice and support- I think I have a lot to offer my students BUT I wouldn't have progressed so quickly without the help of other, really experienced teachers. My friends from training who struggled the most are the ones where they have gone into inexperienced departments, or ended up being e.g. the only physics teacher in a school as an NQT. It's really hard work, and without subject specialist support, I don't think you develop as quickly.

I always planned to teach after uni but it took me over 20 years to do it.

Would I do it again? Probably not.

withaspongeandarustyspanner · 30/10/2022 07:44

FrippEnos · 29/10/2022 12:55

As has been mentioned many times, Ofsted are not fit for purpose and they failed their last review and nothing has been done as the government seem to be so enamoured of them .

Absolutely. Who assesses them? It's the same with the CQC.

ememem84 · 30/10/2022 08:20

Dsis is a teacher. She went for a new job the other day. Didn’t get it because our gov here slashed teachers pay (for nqt’s) a few years ago. So because she has 10 years experience and is on higher pay she struggles to move on from her current job. Why pay more when you don’t have to?

KitBumbleB · 31/10/2022 16:32

I am so so glad I am leaving at Christmas. I am utterly drained and exhausted with unrealistic expectations and poor attitudes and behaviours. Not just from the kids, but from staff and parents as well.

Just had a mum call up crying because she is terrified every time her child gets home, she is terrified of her child....but SLT want to know why I cant get that child to write an essay.....

BreatheInFor4 · 31/10/2022 18:01

I resigned today. The relief is immense.

Every parent with a child with anxiety or a friendship issue or a family issue expects the school to arrange a mentor and a counsellor and someone to check in with them and support in class and support out of class and a safe space at lunch time and and and….all with no extra funding, cut to the bare bones CAMHS, high social care thresholds, a SEND system that isn’t fit for purpose, a building that is falling apart, cuts to staffing, cuts to resources, staff with insane workloads…and on and on.

Everything is ALL OUR FAULT.

I’m so fucking relieved to be out of this hell at Christmas.

izzy2076 · 31/10/2022 18:07

BreatheInFor4 · 31/10/2022 18:01

I resigned today. The relief is immense.

Every parent with a child with anxiety or a friendship issue or a family issue expects the school to arrange a mentor and a counsellor and someone to check in with them and support in class and support out of class and a safe space at lunch time and and and….all with no extra funding, cut to the bare bones CAMHS, high social care thresholds, a SEND system that isn’t fit for purpose, a building that is falling apart, cuts to staffing, cuts to resources, staff with insane workloads…and on and on.

Everything is ALL OUR FAULT.

I’m so fucking relieved to be out of this hell at Christmas.

Are you a SENCO? I have identical reasons for resigning!! It's relentless! Well done you!

KitBumbleB · 31/10/2022 18:49

BreatheInFor4 · 31/10/2022 18:01

I resigned today. The relief is immense.

Every parent with a child with anxiety or a friendship issue or a family issue expects the school to arrange a mentor and a counsellor and someone to check in with them and support in class and support out of class and a safe space at lunch time and and and….all with no extra funding, cut to the bare bones CAMHS, high social care thresholds, a SEND system that isn’t fit for purpose, a building that is falling apart, cuts to staffing, cuts to resources, staff with insane workloads…and on and on.

Everything is ALL OUR FAULT.

I’m so fucking relieved to be out of this hell at Christmas.

Oh absolutely!

"Becky and Louise have fallen out"

SO FUCKING WHAT I'M TRYING TO TEACH THEM HOW TO MULTIPLY

HMU · 31/10/2022 20:03

I haven't resigned today, because I have nothing lined up, but I considered it seriously after I watched a fifteen year old boy who had squared up to me and told me to fuck off in my lesson, try to assault his mum who'd been brought in for a meeting about his behaviour at the end of the day.

Similar to PP, if his parents have called the police on him and don't know what to do with him, why am I responsible for 'getting him' a GCSE?

RoastedTurnip · 31/10/2022 20:04

I was talking (moaning) to our head recently about how tight the rooming at our school is at the moment. We've increased student numbers but we've ended up reducing numbers of classrooms because the rooms are now being used for TAFs, EWO, SEND provision, counseling and so much more, that has gradually moved into being the responsibility of the school.

We've had INSET today and whilst I won't be handing in my notice just yet, it's convinced me I need to try one more school, and then get out of it is no better....

TheNefariousOrange · 31/10/2022 20:11

I wish I'd handed my notice in today. I got berated by my manager for not finishing my to-do list for the holidays and I didn't respond to any of her texts over the holidays with jobs to do and things to proof read.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 31/10/2022 20:20

@BreatheInFor4 Totally relate and it spills into the classroom too, specific seating arrangements, A and B need to sit near each other, at the back of the room X can't sit near Y, and Z needs to sit near a door etc, I need to sit them all where I can support them easily... I really want to be accommodating, but sometimes it is physically impossible (especially when you have more children than tables anyway!). And then sometimes specific/time consuming demands that simply aren't possible to meet- last year I had a class where two children needed a reader, and one also needed a scribe for assessments, no external help/support available, but I'd get complaints from the parents if I didn't support them perfectly. Plus multiple kids in my tutor who needed me to "check in" with them during the week, alongside a packed tutor program.

@RoastedTurnip I'm now on my 3rd school, and honestly it makes such a difference. The first school I was in was a nightmare, and I wanted to move anyway. Second school was great when I moved to it, but lots of changes meant it was a nightmare last year. In a new school now and despite the problems it all feels a lot more manageable. It's honestly worth trying a different school before leaving altogether!

And YY to so many things becoming the responsibility of the school because the children don't quite meet the threshold for SS or CAMHS but need some kind of intervention to enable them to cope. Schools are honestly papering over the cracks so much, and if this additional provision is cut due to funding etc, I think it will have a major impact on society.

@TheNefariousOrange Worth speaking to your union rep? Or your line manager's manager? That really isn't reasonable, and they need to be told so.

Xtraincome · 31/10/2022 20:30

@XjustagirlX I like your logic there. If only it could happen IRL.

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