To quit my job leaving my students with no support?

[toquitornot]

I have been working in a school for the past 3 years as a Teaching Assistant. I started as one of my friends was going for a job in the school, and said I should 'give it a go' as it would give me something to do during the day. I am (and was) self-employed, running my own business primarily after school hours, which meant that whilst my 3 DC were at school I didn't have much to do. The thing is - unlike my friend - I enjoy pottering around, reading, watching tv, going to coffee shops, ambling around the national trust / parks.

I am now still self-employed (working a minimum of 16 hours a week on my own business), and also employed by the school for 12 hours, 3 days a week. That doesn't sound too bad in principle - but some days I am doing 8 hours of work, plus commuting, plus juggling the children, and by the time I am finished at 8pm I am knackered. I don't need the money from the job, my business earns enough to afford us a nice lifestyle. I spend my whole weekend dreading going to the school, as well as the half term and holidays. There's nothing 'wrong' with the job, it pays well and the other staff / students are nice, I just hate the restriction on my life. I dislike the fact I can't join the gym (no point if I can only go 2 days a week), I dislike the fact I have to try and cram everything else (housework, leisure activities mentioned earlier), into 2 days. I've started to eat shit and gain weight because I just don't have the time to prepare dinners, (unless I batch cook on the 2 days I am not working during the day or the weekend, and then it feels like a chore, rather than enjoyment as I actually love cooking!)

After COVID and everything just finally opening up, I really just want to quit and not come back after the May Half Term. The only thing that worries me is that the students will be left in the lurch with no support. I'm considering sticking it out until the end of July, purely for that fact, despite how much I hate it. I spoke to another friend last night who said I should just quit - life is too short - these children aren't mind or my responsibility. I don't need the money and I should enjoy my life and not spend any longer being miserable!

AIBU?

If you quit this job, will you increase the hours on your business?
I'm interested as on another thread recently the OP was roundly criticised for wishing to remain working part time. What about pensions, savings etc everyone said.

If you quit this job, will you increase the hours on your business?
I'm interested as on another thread recently the OP was roundly criticised for wishing to remain working part time. What about pensions, savings etc everyone said
Asking about pensions and savings is sensible if a poster doesn't seem to have considered it. Pensions poverty for women is a big issue.

The OP sounds like she is savvy enough to have built a successful business and can afford the lifestyle she wants, so I would guess she has already made appropriate financial plans.

Do you not have a notice period? Surely that is what you should go by.

Lola OP on other thread had a rental property, she seemed sorted too.
Obviously this OP is not unreasonable to want to leave her job if she can support herself. It just interests me when different responses come out for the same dilemma. (And as a part time worker, I have some skin in the game!)

Mistressinthetulips
I missed that thread. If she's switched on enough to have sorted her finances then she's probably going to have considered pensions.

I'm also a part time worker. Annoyingly nobody in our family expressed concerns when I went part time, but a few older relativea were concerned about DH's career and pensions when he went part time too. It would seem that some people still expect women to drift once they have children.

Oh yes I can relate to that! Mine went pt for a while and was asked what else he would be doing, which no one ever asked me - I think they assume a man will be writing a book or something while a woman will be doing housework.

If you are in a secondary school, the school will probably be delighted if you announce that you want to leave at half-term. Why? Because once year 11 go, that frees up those who have been supporting them, so they'll probably be able to use them to cover your timetable and save on salary costs.

If you're in primary, just give whatever the notice period is in your contract. They'll replace you quickly enough. Supply agencies also provide TAs, so if there's a gap they can use them.

We all like to feel indispensable, but few of us really are!

(If your notice period is longer, then talk to the school about whether they can waive some of it, or put in your resignation saying "I'm resigning with effect from as per the notice period in my contract. However I would be willing to leave sooner, if that were agreeable to the school." In the first case above, or if they know they have a potential replacement available, they might well immediately say half-term is fine; in other cases they might agree to "as soon as we can find a replacement".)

You've been there three years. I would wait until July. It's only a few more weeks and you will leave at the same time as some of the children. It will be a much nicer ending and you won't be torn wondering if you are leaving them in the lurch.

I would definitely give it up though. It doesn't sound like it adds much to your life.

What's the notice period in your contract? Whatever that is, the school is clearly happy to have someone quit with that much notice. If they weren't, they would have made the notice period longer. My friend (HoD teacher of an in demand subject) has two terms notice in her contract, and she's not allowed to leave at Easter hols just before exam term - so basically potentially a whole year's notice! They obviously think she's that difficult to replace! If they'd put her on two weeks notice and she gave that notice, then more fool them.

Quit whenever suits you, OP, and give whatever notice you are required to.

Schools usually ask for half a terms notice. I think as you're just quitting for work/life balance I'd stay til the end of the academic year.

It's nearly half term then it's what six weeks until summer? I'd give notice now but to leave at the end of the academic year given you've got no pressing deadline at to why you're leaving. That gives the school plenty of notice and you finish the year with the children, the last week or two are usually pretty relaxed anyway

I think I'd speak to the school if you get on well and they're reasonable. Tell them you want to leave but don't want to let the kids down, can they take this as your resignation but if they struggle to find someone straight away you will be prepared to consider working a bit longer and review it on a week by week basis. Then you stay until they get someone and have the option to leave if you decide you cant take it any more

Work your notice. I think it is fine to give notice and leave. What isn't fine is leaving the school suddenly without notice. I agree that the students will be fine. I am a teacher and I do a good job. If I left, the school would find someone else to do a good job too!

Talk to the school and say whilst you are resigning at the latest at the end of term you would ideally like to leave sooner. There may be someone else who the head knows would appreciate more hours. It may be useful to recruit someone who can follow the child through to next year and have a few weeks working with them in July. The HT would probably be able to see what would be the best plan for their school.

If you want to leave, leave. But, for those saying they will recruit a replacement quickly enough, that really depends on the school. At my school, the only support staff who are being replaced are those who are funded to work 1:1 with children who have an EHCP. In the last four years, we have gone from having four general TAs, a specialist SEN ta, and 2 HLTAs, plus 1:1 staff, to having 1 'full' time general TA, 1 general TA who works 10 hours and 1:1 support staff. We still have to cover the work we used to do with a bigger team and have no capacity to support when issues arise. This is as a result of the changes to school budgets over the last few years.