to feel just. So. Sad.

[mumblecrumble]

Was made redundant just before Easter holidays. I teach in a 6th form, in a less than perfect job but it was mine and I think I love it.

Spent so much time with job applications, supply agencies, building up private pupils, CV etc etc etc., I think (though I don;tknow.....) we will be OK.

I just had to call my predecessor as he helps out at exam time and he was sad too that our little department will be no more.

I know its so stupid, that some many people have it worse, that we won;t starve, I really do. But I feel so very very sad. Tears rolling down my cheeks and been asked not to discuss on facebook.

told before Eatser, will be redundant in summer

Oh, how devastating for you- I'm really sorry.

I am sorry mumble, big hugs

Arse.

Oh dear. What do you teach?

Horrible for u and Hugs

It's ok to be sad - its a huge change that is happening in your life.

An ending of one thing is the beginning of another.

Soon enough something positive will happen. Something will fill The space that is being forced into your life and take you on a whole new adventure.

Sorry you've been made redundant.

Thanks guys, I teach music. I am the only music teacher so college will have no more music department...... no idea what will happen to Christmas concerts, charity stuff, shows etc.

So sorry to hear your news, Mumble. Hope you get something good soon.

from the other Mumble

Mumble, so sorry for you. It always feels like that. I was fired several times, all from the jobs I was about to leave anyway. Nevertheless, every time I felt incredibly shitty.

Hugs, it will be better soon.

YANBU. Tis shitty to lose your job. I hope things work out for you.

Really sorry to hear that OP. I would be devastated if i had to leave my school. xx

That's sad for you personally and also sad for all those pupils whose lives were enriched by access to music education. The Arts are being denigrated as they always are in times of economic pressure.

However you obviously have great skill, teaching and working with young people so you're well placed to move forward to new things, good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Oh OP I'm so sorry for you. I teach in HE and that horror is looming over us all

However! There may be hope yet. Does your DH/ DP support you or could he for a bit? If so you might be able to cast around and find something related to do.

E.g.: SIL is a really fab musician and qualified teacher but took time off to have DNs. She has now started as an early years music tutor. I think she did something like volunteering at a local nursery (??) for the older kids, singing and doing a bit of basic piano with them. Then she got asked to do private lessons for someone - then someone else - she's got a nice little business shaping up now, I think!

She also plays at weddings.

Can you do something similar? Make some fliers and a basic website and start to advertise around town? If you have been working at a local school perhaps some of the parents will want to continue their child's musical ed.

Plus it's not unheard-of for people who have left an institution to come back to help out on a one-off basis with stuff like concerts - for a fee of course! Consultancy is the way forward.....

Good luck x

I got made redundant and had to work a months notice afterwards. It was really hard. Lots of sympathy, and of course you're allowed to be sad.

It sounds like you are mourning the loss of your music department as much as the loss of your regular wage packet. I felt like that when I lost my last job, at a pre school that had to close down. I still find myself having ideas that would work brilliantly in that setting and I miss it a lot, even though the job I got afterwards was the best possible replacement and also one I love.

It's like the end of an era, you are allowed to be sad

Yes, definieitly mourneing boththe department and the regular wage.

My work plan: Hoping I will get package that means I can work (and get paid) till August 31st as impossible to get new work over the summer in teaching/school setting. Hopefully get a ittle bit of redundancy money (been there 7 years) and enough to tide us over a few months. ALso adding some more piano pupils to put in the money pot and will be saving money etc.

Have reregistered with supply company i did work for before DD came along. They ahve suggested there is much less day to day supply but much more specialist stuff like a maternity leave or something...

Menawhile hope all this work and DH's wage tides us over. We can live on Dh's salary plus 2 of 3 hundred quid a month. Not partiularly comfortably but enough to eat OK, pay bills, not get into dept and stay in this little house etc.

DH and rest of my family and advising me not to go for first thing that somes along but wait a little and find something for keeps type thing. I really would like to feel part of a school rather than just popping in. Teaching can be very very lonely if you are only part of the classroom teaching and dont feel part of it all.

I think... just to end on a positive.... my perfect job.. would be 3-4 days a week, ideally with one full day off to do DD stuff, washing, cooking etc etc as wella s marking, prep etc. Ideally in ann 11-16 or 11-18 school that has a music department that needs an enthusiastic music teacher to get it off the ground. Really don;t fancy the full time heads of department of busy siuccessful school that I am reading ab out... perhaps low confidence but I always dreamed of going to a school like my first teaching practise where there is next to no music department and I can build it up etc.

Oooooor just be part time teacher working with a lovely head opf department I can share ideas with, get ideas from and have an occassional laugh with!!! With kids who are feisty, hard work and deserve every effort spent on them....

I worked in my last job for 9 years had a really good colleague lots of fun and support so when I was made redundant last Oct it felt like the end of an era, all of it was just over and not because I chose it. Awful feeling and every time I see him he says the place is no longer the same and how much he misses me being there. Different I think when you are in control and chooseing to make the break. good luck with your plans.

I got made redundant October last year and although in many ways I wanted out of there badly (lots of changes that meant a worse service for young people, LOADS of hideous internal politics, government cuts etc etc) when push came to literal shove it was actually way worse than I'd anticipated. My colleagues said the same - we really started to doubt ourselves, our skills and so on.

It's ok now - not great, but ok - almost my entire redundancy went on a new boiler which was gutting but that's the way it goes.

So, my general advice would be to go gently and not be too hard on yourself. It sounds like you've got some good plans there, but don't beat yourself up if things don't happen as quickly as you might like.

set up your own school?