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?

Are you earning a graduate level wage though? Or did you go in and work up?

I did take a pay cut just to get out, have since been promoted to similar upper teaching salary level. But was in a lucky position to be able to do this, I know it’s very hard to quit for a lot of teachers. I had to think about transferable skills and get creative with a new CV

I'm happy to be paid less initially if there's a prospect of it improving. I already earn much less in adult Ed... Thanks. Was it easy to progressfeom an entry level admin role up?

It breaks my heart to keep reading these threads on here. Teaching is a vocation, and if it's so awful there will be no-one left to teach our kids A bit like the nhs....

I agree with an earlier poster that teachers are not taught how to manage colleagues. Even headteachers can reach that level with no clue, and prior to academies had never had anyone to answer to. I moved from an HR role in a national private company to a small p/t job in a local secondary school when i had children, it was a massive culture shock! Like the dark ages - but you can see why as there' s no oversight.

I'm not sure academies are the right solution for education in the UK, but they will at least hopefully provide some support and training going forwards.

I’m so sorry @Delilahhhh but glad to hear you are OK now. The OP doesn’t sound far behind either.
I feel so sorry for teachers and children who want to learn too.
I attended a very rough school and the experience made me determined if I had children they would not go through anything similar, thank goodness we are looking at Uni stage now.
There doesn’t seem to be any viable way forward either with private schools likely closing so even less opportunities to move.
I really wish you well OP there will be so many jobs you are already really well equipped for.
I am wondering how many ‘extra’ maths teachers will materialise- will those who consecutively leave be counted?
Money clearly isn’t an answer here and I despair all the fantastic ‘committed to teaching and children’ type teachers are feeling they need to leave.

I am wondering how many ‘extra’ maths teachers will materialise- will those who consecutively leave be counted?

If my last school is anything to go by, they'll be PE teachers, Classics teachers or any of the other few subjects that are oversubscribed and be told they'll be teaching their specialist subject, but end up teaching mostly Maths with maybe 1-2 hours of their actual subject per week thrown in.

It may be worth finding value post in a different school first as you say you essentially like what you do and give that a go. I do really feel for you. Supply work is an option too. This is now much more controllable than it used to be.

I agree with your theory.

Seen the insecurity of incompetent SLT and HTs who know no other way of life. Bullying is part of being a pupil and becomes part of being a teacher/management. The cycle continues on and on…

I also agree with the other poster who says they are threatened by you if you’re competent and skilful. You’d think they’d want teachers like that but many are simply threatened and want yes men.

I got out a few years ago after ten years of teaching. Never again will I teach.

@Teenagehorrorbag for most teachers, teaching IS a vocation. Most teachers will say they love the actual job of teaching but quit because of all the other stuff: the bullying (amongst staff), the ridiculous paperwork, the inane target setting, the long hours, the toxic culture, ofsted and more.

Well done on lasting so long!

Good advice too. I especially like relaying back your notes at any meeting.