To ask if you know teacher leaving a school after 2 weeks?

[beautifulnails]

Basically at the school I work at, an ECT lasted 2 weeks at the start of term before going on sick leave for stress and never returning. In the short time I knew them, they was really lovely and I think genuinely surprised they passed their training and perhaps their confidence was not very good at the time. Anyone ever experienced similar if they have worked in a school?

Yes did it myself at age 24. Returned 10 years later with liife experience and a child. Was so much better 2nd time.

With the way things are in education right now I'm not surprised in the slightest!

I’ve worked in a school when someone went for their break and didn’t return on day 1. Many years ago my brothers gf lasted max a few weeks, she was totally out her depth. Really not for everyone, sometimes it’s sad though that people can’t see their own qualities.

At my children's school long term sickness is rife. Teaching must be a very dangerous job.

Not an ECT I don't think, as didn't get the chance to find out. But at my last primary school, the year I first started there, one of the Year 6 teachers came in for the 2 INSET days in September. Then apparently injured herself somehow and claimed it was a work accident...and was never seen by anyone again! She didn't even meet the children in her class 😯

Yes I had a colleague who left at break time of the first day back.

We had a teacher who didn’t even make it through the first training day.

School my mum works at got a new headteacher September but he was off on sick leave for stress before October half term. They still aren’t sure if he’s returning.

I've known a few NQTs leave very quickly, it can be completely overwhelming having your own class for the first time and it's often sink or swim, especially if the school's not very supportive. It's very sad.

I am not sure if I detect a sneery tone to your post, I can say for certain that I would be off long term sick in about 5 minutes - I have nothing but admiration for teachers and other education professionals.

I handed my notice in at half term and has left at Christmas.
i realised teaching wasn’t for me. It’s a complete vocation and I realised I didn’t want to dedicate my life to it

Ive known it, yes. One left after the first inset day in september. Some off sick within first term. I worked with a maths teacher who did the training year (well paid) then nqt year, then quit teaching and moved to london to work in finance. Always the intention if that teacher but a massive pain for the dept.

i think for some, they believe the media that teachers work 8.30-3.30 195 days a year and are shocked when they are working every waking minute, or sinking.

I'd been successfully teaching 6 years. Moved to a new school. The ethos was horrible...I couldn't buy into being unkind to children, so I went on sick leave 3 weeks after starting there. Never went back.

Screwed my pay progression up for 2 years and screwed my head for about 5 years, whilst I rebuilt my teaching confidence doing part time, tutoring and supply work.

Definitely seen ECTs/NQTs leave in the first half term before. I think it's really difficult when you have your own classes for the first time, and if you're not properly supported, then it's very easy to feel like it's impossible. And in many schools/departments, everyone else is so busy/stressed, support for ECTs is limited.

The ECT I worked with handed notice in after 4 weeks saying she didn't know it would be such hard work? 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Teaching is all about:

1. The attitude of those you work with.
2. the cohort you have that year.
3. the management

I have just left a job I started in September - the first time I have ever walked out before the end of term in any school and I’ve been teaching over 20 years. For me it was my direct team - I could see we were not going to “fit” and never would - no one was winning.
Lots of people change jobs when they aren’t satisfactory - teachers are no different - we just feel worse about it because there are kids involved.