To move on from this place

[Donthaveagoodusername]

I worked at a fantastic school for around 2 years, one of the best places I've ever worked, never got that Monday dread feeling. Had a lot of praise and good feedback, never any issues.

Sadly things turned sour when we got a new head of dept/line manager. She changed my role and just wasn't nice or professional at all, she targeted me and 2 others.
Even colleagues commented on how she spoke to me. She was told by another senior staff member to stop raising her voice at one of them in a meeting.

Alongside that I moved house and ended up with a 1h30 commute, which became too much.

Handed in my notice. When I booked the day off for an interview, said manager told me I was 'selfish" and how it was "so unfair on the children for me to leave during the year" (I wasn't in a teaching role) she had no right saying that to me.

I ended up cancelling my interview out of guilt, then she was nice to me. However things didn't last, I got another job offer and handed in my notice. She didn't acknowledge my notice in any shape or form.

I reported her to HR but not sure anything came of it, it's not the first time she's been reported though

Anyway I left and did agency work which I still do, but I really missed the job before she'd been there. I saw job adverts for roles similar to mine but not working directly under her, applied but never heard back.

I then saw her role advertised online, and figured she was leaving. My old job came up on the job website, and I applied, figuring she'd have left and maybe I'd be in with a chance.

Didn't get offered an interview either. Heard from an old colleague that this Manager was supposed to quit and then had decided to stay on last minute.

I won't get a job there again it seems, I'm sure there are just better applicants but I feel I did the job well for 2 years and have other relevant experience. She doesn't want me back there so I have to just move on. I do get nostalgic looking at the school's social media pages, but I have to remember that if I went back, she'd be there still. Anyone else had this sort of experience?

The ironic thing is that she originally did the job years ago, left to go travelling and then reapplied for it, got it again

Anyone please?

I think when the staff change the whole workplace dynamics change , sometimes better sometimes worse depending on your perspective
It's hard to come to terms with it when you have had a good time at that workplace , I can remember being amazed that I actually got paid to be somewhere I loved ! But like most things time moves on , the world revolves , people come , people go and you must move on as well
Sorry but you will find somewhere you love again just keep looking

Yes you're right, I just have to accept I won't work there ever again most likely, maybe in a few years but I've been rejected twice in a year by then. It will be for the best though if she is still there

The only solution to this is to throw yourself into finding something just as good or better.

It's probably more a sign that you're bored, unhappy or unfulfilled in your current work, than that the old school is your spiritual home.

I used to work on a big famous magazine. It was fun, but I hated being full time, and eventually left yo ho freelance. When my current work is going well i never give the old job a thought; when it's not going well, I lock myself for leaving.

You'd still have a 3-hour daily commute. It wouldn't be the same as it was.

I'd throw myself into finding a different job. If you were meant to work there again, you'd have got the job.

Oh, and watch The Remains Of The Day. That's all about nostalgia.

I kick myself! I don't lock myself anywhere.

I was a teacher for just over 4 years. Loved the kids, loved teaching, got on well with the parents but the sheer bitchiness that went on between staff had to be heard to be believed. I was so glad to go on maternity leave and never went back. I think schools are cess pits of nastiness.

Sorry to hear that, sadly they really can be.
It's a shame as the majority of people at this school were lovely. This manager however spoke to me as if I were a naughty child even though she was only around 5 years older than me.
I'm sure I am not getting reoffered a job/interview because of her,.but never mind, there'll surely be great places to work just have to keep looking