What’s wrong with me at work

[WhatsthefrequencyKen]

I’ve always been awkward in workplaces or found the office politics so hard to deal with. I’m a sensitive person and can be a little socially anxious, but always get on great outside of work with my friendship groups etc.
Massive group of friends at school, college and uni, friends from hobbies and with dp’s pals etc and now a large set of mum friends. I have no issues, am pretty popular, it’s all
easygoing.
Totally different at work (teacher) I have made three of my best friends in teaching, but in terms of the group element with older teachers etc, I’ve always been sort of bullied and found the politics of it all too much and have probably been too sensitive to it.
Is it just me, is it the teaching profession? Or something else?
Currently working for myself private tutoring and it’s great. Can I just not get on in groups, In a work capacity? I try and think I’m a nice person 🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s been like this in two schools now and I can’t help but think it must be me

Many schools foster this sort of environment. I don’t think it’s you, I’ve worked in a few schools and some of the things I’ve witnessed have been awful. Very toxic. Not all mind you, some are lovely but lots and lots are awful places to work.

Some schools promote a weird competitive culture. I've seen and heard things in schools that are awful. When I moved into leadership a colleague said that I'd quickly see that sometimes managing adults is worse than the students. They weren't wrong at times.

Another thing could be size of school. I dont think you said which phase you're in, I found in large secondary schools it can be hard to gel with people as everyone is in their own department silos because of logistics.

@ClemDanFango Yes, have definitely seen that and I think because I’m sensitive (working on it) I took a lot to heart, in regards to how others were treated etc. This likely made me more awkward and not part of the group sort of, but in turn that made me a target too. I’ve never been through that in other jobs (part time as a student or childcare jobs etc) I just don’t understand the level of bitchiness. I think because I didn’t want to join in socially at work do’s (I went sometimes but felt so so uncomfortable) that didn’t help me
It’s honestly put me off that sort of role again

@LolaSmiles Primary
I honestly don’t think I can work in that environment again. Massively competitive and bitchy

I honestly wonder if I’m able to work in a traditional environment

It's not you. I can usually get on well with anyone, in a range of situations, but some schools I've been in are toxic. Sometimes there's a cohort of staff who have been there for ages, sometimes it's a bullying environment from the head down. When it happens it can take years to get it sorted, because they will be pally with governors, or so sociopathic that the governors just don't know how to deal with it. IME governors just aren't equipped for aspects of the job as it now is, not their fault btw. There are lovely schools of course, but this seems to be happening all over the country.