To feel broken by teaching, and need to know how to get out?

[SachaStark]

Name changed for obvious reasons.

I haven't slept all night after coming to the realisation yesterday that I'm finished with teaching. My school is unsupportive in every way imaginable, so I can't ask a colleague for help with figuring out what to do (it would all be fed back along to SLT), so can I please ask here?

How do you leave secondary school teaching when you're not going into another teaching role? Could I leave before the end of the school year? At this point, I don't even care if I don't have another job lined up, I just can't bear the thought of work.

Sacha I remember that - primary teachers are always disbelieving that secondary tears are expected to teach remotely by sending and then when they return marking cover work for all their classes no matter how ill they are!

Just say you need an emergency appointment.

Tell the receptionist that you are feeling very anxious, which is the truth. Or tell them nothing; it's none of their business why you need an appointment

Obviously send cover work if you're up to it. I wouldn't worry about a dressing down, though. If you don't feel up to doing it, look the fucker in the eye and say, "I didn't feel able to set cover." How dare anyone give out a bollocking to someone for being ill!

Phone is engaged, bugger. GP has irritating new phone set-up where you can't queue on the phone, you just have to keep trying until you magically ring when nobody else is already on the phone.

I was like this last year. I went onto supply because I wasn't sure I was finished all together. I was actually at what I now recognise as a good school (having been in many others) but for reasons I have yet to quite put my finger on, I was done there.

I have loved supply. I am a shortage area subject so there has been no issue getting work. I have worked in just about all schools local to me and it has been a massive eye opener. I have also gained experience in primary which I desperately wanted a go at as well. I am currently in a long term position which I am enjoying, even with the planning and marking. It is easier once you remove the responsibility for progress and become the person who is getting everyone else out of a hole!

Thank you all for so many suggestions of ways out and new job ideas. I didn't realise there were half of these opportunities out there. It's made me feel a lot more confident in my decision, and that there are definitely escape routes, so thank you. I will make sure to keep this thread to hand for when I am ready to start looking about.

the head was adamant that I did not have to mark anything as she was going to drive the books around to the ill teacher and wait while she marked them that night.

How the hell do people get away with stuff like this? I would be on the phone to my union before you could say 'Get off my property, you mad bint.'

Just wanted to share my experience - I've been pretty much where you are. I moved into primary for 6 months, wasn't for me. I moved country! Continued in primary doing supply, then taught adults for two years, in a college setting and 1-1 TEFL. Finally on the suggestion of friends I began teaching 1-1 in my original subject and that's where I found the joy. I've been doing that for the last 10 years now and haven't looked back. The money is not great but being my own boss, being able to look after my kids and just being able to enjoy work is priceless. Good luck, I hope you find your path.

You have my deepest sympathies OP. I taught English for one term at a school who clearly had staffing issues, as it was not my PGCE subject. My God I don't know how ANYONE manages the workload. Marking 30 pieces of coursework is about the same as reading a novel. And then marking other years on top of that. Regularly. It was hell.

I was struck by how happy the staff at my child's 6th form college were. When we went to the open day they all emphasised the fact that they only had to focus on A levels.
The principal there is fantastic though and leads by example.
I really hope that after a break you might be able to find a better work place. You sound like a lovely teacher.
My dc had some great teachers and I will never forget them.

You can leave. At any time. I just walked out. Halfway through a lesson. I though Sod it Ive had enough. I knew however I didn't want to get another job teaching.

How much notice do you have to give? Have you checked your contract?

I left my position as a college lecturer after 17 (long and stressful) years in August 2017.

I'm now self -employed. My income isn't what it was in education, but we manage.

Most importantly, I now have my health and happiness.

@SachaStark. Leave when you want, while getting through to GP read our pet peeve thread it will cheer you up and let's you have a good moan.

A large boy felt it was ok to walk up to me and kick me. Slt instead of removing him asked me to reconsider if he had kicked me! Er no. I'm a science grad. There are other jobs!

Really, headofthehive? What happened when you left middle of a lesson? I felt very close to that yesterday, but it was after a meeting about "supporting my marking load" (it wasn't, it was an opportunity for one to one criticism with the deputy head because my DIT tasks for KS3 weren't considered to be individual enough for every single member of the class in a drop-in). I just sat and stared at my computer for a bit, really considering it, but then forced myself to get up and go to lower school parents' evening. That made me feel even worse, because I know so many of the parents quite well now, and lots of them say such lovely things. And all I could think was, "I'm planning to walk out on your children."

You poor thing.

I have been in your position - I used to cry on the way home every evening. I have now been a supply teacher since 2008 and it's been great. Obviously there are bad days, difficult classes and schools that I don't like but it's always just a day so it's doable.

I now work at a lovely school where I am happy, covering PPA and any supply that they need.

Your school sounds horrible. It is not reasonable to expect an ill teacher to set and send in cover work.

It sounds to me like you need to be signed off for at least a few days. Get some sleep and some perspective, it is just a job, not your whole life.

You can self certify for a week but getting a sick note will help you relax. Initially they will probably sign you off for two weeks but in my experience they will be happy to increase this.

Your school sounds horrible. It is not reasonable to expect an ill teacher to set and send in cover work.

I have never worked in a school where this wasn't expected.

Have pmd you

Grrrrrrr, the whole system sucks.

I feel frustrated that so many teachers are off work and that my y11 son is being taught by supply teachers but then reading this, you can see why.

Have PMed you.

If you feel you are able to teach your year 11s then your Dr can write a 'fit note' saying that is all you are capable of.

Deptford

I have never worked in a school where it is expected!

If you are on a course, in a meeting or something similar then you have to set work but if you are unwell then another teacher or senior manager will sort something out. Or alternatively the supply teacher will be asked to do their own thing.

Hope you’ve managed to make a doctors appointment.

I considered going into teaching my degree subject is very in demand. If I could just have taught I’d have been very happy but there is so much extra demand on teachers these days it’s not surprising so many are at breaking point.

Take care of yourself first and foremost.