To leave a teaching job after 3 weeks?

[nocontactforevermore]

I am ready to break:/

I left a very stressful head full time of department job in the October half term. I decided to go part time, without extra responsibilities etc and my DP is supportive of this. I had originally felt so bruised by it all that I wanted to leave teaching altogether but was approached by a very local school to me who offered me part time and I thought I'd hit the jackpot. On paper it sounds amazing - 3 miles from my house, working only Tuesdays and Thursdays. The trouble is....I've inherited a department that doesn't have a leader (it's very small anyway) but also is in a big mess. Kids have been entered for wrong exams, haven't completed coursework and to top it off, they've been wild in my lessons:/. I started just before Xmas and within the first day I was sick with anxiety. It built up all over xmas and now that I'm back, it's worse than ever. I am only contracted two days, but the workload means I will have to work at least another 2 from home. They also schedule me for meetings that are the responsibility of a head of department, but that was not the deal. I've pointed out that they are asking too much of me and pushing the kids to achieve too high a level of the qualification that I will never get it gone in time for summer. All I keep getting reminded of is that I was a former head of dept and 'can handle it'.

I can't though. Well I could, if I didn't sleep or felt resentful that I left a full time job for a part time one only to realise I'll be working just as hard. The reason for this is purely and simply because the department has been left to shit. I am on a temporary contract (suited me fine) and feel like they are simply going to 'milk me' until summer, while I'm sent over the edge.

How bad would it be to walk? I've an unbroken 15 year employment history. I am not flaky, but I didn't sleep at all over Xmas and this isn't the fresh start I envisaged.

It sounds like a nightmare and further they may place full blame on you when and if targets are not met. Another very important point to consider is that this job will build and build into massive on-going anxiety. It is best to leave now rather than prolong a no win situation.

When I first saw your heading I thought 3 weeks isn't long enough so stay longer. Now I've read your post I think you should leave. Why should it be on your head to sort other people's mistakes when you are only there two days a week. And if things aren't right they won't be blamed you will. Leave and let somebody else take the stress and blame.

Hi OP,

I too am a teacher (14 years) and 10 years ago I started a new post at the beginning of the Spring term. The reality of the school was nothing like I was led to believe - department in a mess, unruly children. I've never worked in a school so bad. We were encouraged to look doors in corridors to stop kids running out of lessons and around the school! Each class had a walker talkie I'm case of violence! By dinner time on the first day I was in tears and knew I'd made a mistake. After 3 days I couldn't face returning and I was signed off sick (only time in my career). I broke my contract at the half-term. Luckily for me I wasn't sued but I doubt you'll be too - I've known other people break their contracts and nothing had happened. Last October a friend left my school as had a sudden job offer abroad! I was also lucky to return to my old school as they employed long term supply to take over. I have since moved into another school (been there 7 years now) & have never declared I "taught" at this other school & if I move on again I never will.

Please get help, I know only too well the stress teaching in a school you hate can bring - I would vomit, I couldn't sleep and developed rashes. It's not you - I have never had a period of stress-related absence since.

Resign. If you can't cope with the notice period go sick. Your future CV will simply read 'period of casual and contracted supply work'.

Honestly, life is too short. They are absolutely ripping the piss out of you. The SLT type has been dumped with them, made a balls up and will use you as her scapegoat when the classes fail everything. It sounds like a very dysfunctional school. Get out for your own health and sanity.

Keep your resignation short, polite and to the point. Don't be afraid to clearly say that the job was misrepresented to you and on that basis you are giving them notice. I would also request a short notice period to allow a replacement to be found. If they won't grant it and you are getting anxious and sleepless, take time off.

Their mess should not destroy your health.

Hand your notice in today. Just say that you had been thinking about it since your first day. Say you found the department in total chaos when you started the job and they need a full time head of department to organise it. That person is not you as you want only to work a normal teacher job and part time.

They are intending to blame you when their targets are not met. You will be expected to take the weight of the disaster

Hand in your notice today, and tell them you're going to dr about anxiety - who will give you a sick note. School can choose to keep you until end of term but have to pay to cover you as you will be off, or let you go straight away. If they are sensible they will realise it isn't worth keeping you on til then.

Thanks everyone. I've actually just had a lesson where the kids were brilliant. It's moments like these where I feel I could do it. Those kids feel let down, they really do. They've lost trust in the endless supply teachers and don't believe anyone is going to stick around.
After this though, the SLT person came and informed me she has signed me up this afternoon to attend xyz meetings, even though I actually finished teaching after lunch. Fuck sake.

Just say no. You are unavailable.

Ummmm, say no! You have to put your foot down OP! That is completely unacceptable. Tell her that you are handing in your notice as of today and that until you leave you are only prepared to work your hours. If you haven't decided then say that you have to be somewhere else this afternoon and that you cannot possibly attend these meetings.

Whether or not you decide to leave, you must discuss with the Head that you were appointed for particular duties and you are being forced into doing HoD duties and this is wrong.

Also keep in mind that they're likely to need a scapegoat and it'll be you.

You think they will be able to scape goat a temporary teacher who started in December?

Probably not but in any case say that you have other responsibilities and that is why you work part time, as I often say to jealous friends who work full time "part time work equals part time pay".

If you stay there until the end of the year sure as hell they will find a way to.

Get legal advice from your union. If you have no written contract your employment is based on what was discussed in the interview. Make sure you have a written record of everything you have been asked to do that falls outside the original job description.

mouldy is right, if they can't organise their students/curriculum/exam entrance they certainly wont be organised to launch a legal battle against you particularly if you have all the evidence you need to sink them.

Love that last message about not having the gumption to organise a legal battle, - so true!

Thanks everyone. Despite feeling more positive about my last lesson and not having to come back now until Tuesday, I know in my heart that this place is wrong wrong wrong. There is so much mess in the department that I cannot fix on a part time contract. All I keep hearing from this SLT person is that I 'stress too much'. I'm sorry - but I wasn't promoted to HoD in my last job for sitting on my arse being relaxed about everything, and nor did I get that job on the basis that I was a stress head. I am basing my current opinion on experience and professional judgement and yet they are telling me I am wrong.

Ps I did sign a contact - a standard teachers contract.

'It's weird, because for this job there was no real formal interview, I went in and did a lesson '

I think this is the problem - by not specifying terms and conditions, they can exploit you. They thought they were getting someone with HoD experience and skills that they could draw on, you thought you were 'downsizing'.

Can you talk to whoever handles their HR or IR and ask for a meeting about your contractual obligations? You can say you need absolute clarity as you are part-time, and need to ensure that you can manage your workload within your allocated hours, including any expected administration. You should be able to get a union rep to accompany you to the meeting. You could also say that there seems to be a lack of clarity on the school's part regarding what your role is. If at that stage they try to give you HoD duties, you refuse them. Then - fingers crossed - with the clarity you come out of the meeting with, you can stick to your part time hours until summer, and then walk. It sounds like you are reluctant to resign.

Or just resign now, but I understand how that can be difficult.

I have a friend who arrived at a school like and stayed for seven years. Difference was - a new head was there too and was very supportive of all staff in their common aim to turn the school around. They did. It became a flagship school. She said she's never worked so hard in her life, that the pace never let up for the whole seven years she was there and that she couldn't do it again. But it was worth it because of the support and the common aim. If other staff are lying, passing the buck, foisting unagreed responsibilities and pressures onto newcomers, jump ship without regrets.

Is there no probation period on both sides? I've left two jobs early on with a week's notice.

OP genuinely I would resign now. The reason I'm repeating this is because I completely understand the whole thing of getting sucked in because of the kids, feeling sorry for them. But look at what the SLT person did. They shat on you. You let them do it.

You are in a very strong position here. You don't need the job. So now is the time to make that very clear. You need an urgent meeting with the Head (I'm talking before school ends tomorrow). You go in saying clearly what you will and won't do. If they don't like it say you are resigning. If they push you / guilt trip you, you say clearly that you don't need the job, it is not what you signed up for and that you feel exploited.

It is not worth it. They are looking for a fall guy for the shit results they are going to get at the end of the year. The SLT member who is whipping you will be desperately casting about looking for a scapegoat so he / she doesn't have to justify their own crapness. Believe me, I have seen this happen. Get out now.

All the staff here seem to me working hard to be fair. It's more a case of the fact that they haven't invested in the subject - there is literally not even a fucking text book and they laughed when I asked for a budget to resource the department. The school don't seem to want to spend money on the department but want the results. Not uncommon in FE for example but bloody shocking for a school. I couldn't even find a single marker for the board.

Yes I am reluctant to resign. I don't want to damage my reputation. I will definitely be contacting my union as per the advice on here. I've stupidly let them arrange meetings for me this afternoon that will keep me here until 5pm, 5 fucking hours after I've finished. My buzz after the good lesson this morning has well and truly worn off.

Go home! You are not being paid so don't work! Or go to theSLT person who asked you to stay and ask about home to claim to be paid for these meetings. Then watch them back peddle needing you there.

OP in the nicest possible way if you stay for that meeting you are a fool. You are being steamrollered.