I'm quitting teaching, I've decided, AIBU?

[thequickbrowndog]

That's it, I'm done, I'm leaving! I've spent the whole summer dreading going back. I adore the kids (secondary boys school) but I can't be bullied anymore. I can't stand my work colleagues, I've had to make a formal complaint about bullying. My boss clearly favours other staff over me. Everything always just seems unfair but I just have to get on with it. I work part time but am stressed about it full time because of all the passive aggressive emails while I'm off.
I don't have a job to go to yet, but I'm just done. I can't go back. AIBU?

It’s not unreasonable to quit a job where you’re bullied and receive p/a emails.

Of course yanbu. But if you enjoy the actual teaching and are just fed up of the toxic management, there might be a different school out there for you.

I never believed I could find a school with non toxic management until my current one.

How are you going to get around the fact you can’t leave till Christmas?

You'll have to work the autumn term if you give notice now. I'd always recommend trying another school if possible before leaving teaching. Not all schools/departments are the same

For example at my current school, you can't send emails before 8am or after 6pm, and only on weekdays.

I've literally had no emails all summer except on Results Days (and very occasionally "just to let you know if you're on site, we're testing the fire alarm".

So, literally about 6 emails in my inbox since term ended.

At my last school it would have been more than 10x that

I was wondering the same. I suppose the positive is that you will know the end is in sight.

Why is there this toxic culture in schools? Why are teachers so bloody awful to each other? Everything is a competition and everyone is a tell tale. I just hate it,
I'm glad you have found somewhere nice. It's good to hear.

I'm planning to go off sick. I think I need to prioritise my mental health above all

Do it, and don't let yourself be dragged back in a few years later once you've recovered like I did! It's crap, and always will be crap, because teachers know how to manage children not adults. Things will not change until there is proper training for senior teams on how to actually run a team.

Quit, find something you love and don't look back

It’s your career and your income.
If you don’t like it, and you either don’t need the money or have another way to earn, then just quit I guess.

Why be so nasty?

There's a fantastic Facebook group (if you're not already a member)... Get Out of Teaching, Exit the Classroom and Thrive. It's a great group of thousands of teachers/ex-teachers in similar situations to you.

Oh that's amazing, thank you!

On a serious note though, nobody deserves to be bullied and dread going to work. Life is too short. If you can leave, leave.
Maybe a different school may be what is needed, or maybe something new entirely. I did that a few years back and it’s been the best thing I did.

Do it! Best decision I made.

Yes I took a pay cut
Yes I 'lost' the holiday

But I've gained confidence
I've gained happiness.
I've gained job satisfaction

Depending on your years of service and the terms and conditions you could be entitled to 100 days sick at full pay and 100 more at half. If it's as bad as you say and I can well believe it then see medical advice and utilise this to make an exit plan.

Join 'exit the classroom and thrive' on Facebook an excellent community for everyone trying to make the escape!!

I've thought about this a lot.

First and foremost, there's a perverse-incentive promotion system. The only way to get a raise (if you've been teaching a moderate amount of time and reached the top of the ladder) is to get promoted into management. That takes you out of the classroom somewhat, which some struggling teachers find a relief. So you get mediocre teachers getting promoted into stupid roles like "Assistant Head of Lower School Enrichment" or "2nd in Command of Humanities Faculty". They have no real talent for management so they think their reason for being is to catch out failings among the ordinary teachers. This promotes a culture of competitiveness where everyone tries to avoid being Scapegoat of the Month.

Speak to your union leave and get another job. Schools are often awful places to work but some are amazing. Good luck x

So happy for you! What do you do now?

@Mumoftwo1316 this is absolutely spot on! You're completely right. It's almost a relief to hear that it's not just me, it's an actual thing!

@thequickbrowndog I'm a business and development manager

Many careers involve doing less of the original job as you move into management. Some schools do a great job of management and leadership training.
toxic workplaces are, and should be made to recognise it by losing staff, but ‘teaching’ isn’t a terrible profession!

both those jobs btw can be really important roles. Enrichment is massively complex and deserves the time especially as it’s both great for the children and for schools requirements to meet its obligations eg moral and social, cultural education, Gatsby goals. And 2nd in a big sept usually has responsibility for a particular area eg ks3 or subject within a faculty. There are very few professions with uncapped salaries for the SAME job as you started in. Most careers require you to shift a bit and do something else as well

So the local authority will still be paying you and supply staff?
What are you hoping you can convince your doctor to write?
Shouldn't you have given the adequate notice at the start of the summer?
I hope you find peace but I feel you could have gone about the leaving process in a less disruptive way.

I feel like I wouldn't know where to start in a new career. All I know is teaching, and my subject - which isn't one that can side step me into a different career easily.

Best decision I ever made...15 years and it sucked the life out of me! The classroom and a few members of staff were the only thing that kept me there so long.
You have so many transferable skills, you just need to remember what they are. I took a pay cut but only took 18 months and I was back up to just below what I was earning and no stress, when I finish work I'm done nothing to do at home. I can choose my holidays. I work in Safeguarding now...not in a school, I'm in a university (still kind of education but no toxicity)