How on earth do you ever decide to apply for a new job when your current one is… fine?

[Bernadinetta]

My current job is, you know… fine. Has its ups and downs. I enjoy what I do but there are some toxic management folks and it can be a stressful environment. I’ve been there for 10 years so am very comfortable there, know it’s inside out. I work 4 days since returning from maternity leave, which is great. It’s also nice and close to home, around ten minutes drive.
I’ve seen a job advertised that I’m interested in. It’s the same job but a little bit different, with more responsibility. It’s full time, and also an additional payment point. It’s further away- a 20-25 min drive on a route prone to traffic.
As well as weighing up all the pros and cons, I’m also cringing at the thought of needing to ask for a reference (childish I know, but like I said- some toxic management), then they would know I was looking for other jobs, then if I didn’t get the new job would things be awkward etc.
How on earth to decide?!

Apply and see how you feel at interview. I’d not want more responsibility or a worse commute but toxic management will never improve and that is more damaging ultimately.

References aren't usually requested until an offer is made.
Have you been in the same job for ten years or just the same employer? I've been with my employer 14 years but have had numerous jobs, locations, secondments, promotions in that time, all had to be applied for. I couldn't imagine just doing the exact same job in the same place for a decade.

If you were happy you wouldn’t have seen the other job so just apply and see what happens.

I was in my last job 15 years and I never even looked at other roles for over a decade. It was fine until a management change around year 13. I was at the point of driving to work praying for a car crash so I could legitimately be off work for an extended period- that’s when I started job hunting.

I’m a teacher (maybe should’ve mentioned in OP but I didn’t want to limit replies to just related to teaching as am interested in anyone’s views!) so references are requested prior to interview.
I have been at my current school for ten years (including two maternity leaves) and have taught 5 different year groups, led 4 different subject areas and become SENCO.

Ah ok, that does make it more awkward. You'll just have to be open with your line manager that you're looking and why. Is there anything they could offer you to stay?

FWIW my aunt was a SENCO. Having previously had various leads, head of dep, pastoral roles etc all trying to find the bit she loved most as well as classroom teaching (SLT wasn't for her) and wanted to apply to work in settings just for children with significant additional needs. She just told her boss that the work she'd done there had inspired her and she wanted to immerse herself in that kind of teaching. They couldn't offer her anything that would meet that development wish. I'm sure the evil were disappointed but it is what it is. You can't expect someone to stay forever, and you've given them ten good years.
My aunt's now really really happy as a department head in a residential school for children of all ages with additional needs. Take the leap!

Well funnily enough I reluctantly gave up my SENCO role when I returned from maternity leave last year because I felt it would just be too much work with two little ones at home (I wasn’t a non-class based SENCO, so still had a full teaching timetable alongside). I have really enjoyed concentrating on classroom teaching as there’s no way I could’ve done both, but the new job I’ve seen is a move back towards SEN- it’s an advisory teacher working for the local authority going into schools to give support and advice to teachers, parents etc. I think it’s suitably different enough from my current job to be able to explain to my Head Teacher why I would want to leave for it- eg if it was just another classroom teacher role in another school it may lead to awkward questions!