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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To consider quitting teaching before summer

67 replies

Anothernameschange · 02/03/2025 13:51

Interested to hear from other teachers / ex teachers etc.

Sometimes it gets to the point when July seems a long way off and I'd love to leave this school/ position behind as soon as possible.

Is it crazy to think I don't even want to stick out to till then and leave earlier? Means I'll miss out of 6 weeks of summer pay.

The plan is to get out teaching and this awful job share - gone down to part time but still have 5 classes shared with an unqualified cover supervisor - so I'm responsible for classes, she just takes lessons she finds and hands out resources.
Right now feels tempting to even take a big pay cut if it means I get my weekends / evenings back.

OP posts:
Leafy74 · 02/03/2025 13:59

Do what's right for you.

The school will cope without you. Don't think about loyalty. If walking away is the right thing to do just go and don't look back.

Teaching is a lot like being on an abusive relationship. You don't realise the true extent ti which you are being abused until you leave.

Think carefully but put yourself first.

DazedDragon · 02/03/2025 14:02

Anothernameschange · 02/03/2025 13:51

Interested to hear from other teachers / ex teachers etc.

Sometimes it gets to the point when July seems a long way off and I'd love to leave this school/ position behind as soon as possible.

Is it crazy to think I don't even want to stick out to till then and leave earlier? Means I'll miss out of 6 weeks of summer pay.

The plan is to get out teaching and this awful job share - gone down to part time but still have 5 classes shared with an unqualified cover supervisor - so I'm responsible for classes, she just takes lessons she finds and hands out resources.
Right now feels tempting to even take a big pay cut if it means I get my weekends / evenings back.

Not all schools are the same. How many other jobs have you applied for in teaching?

A teaching friend of mine HATED the school she was at as it was so poorly managed. Micromanaging everything, pointless marking that took hours and didn't benefit the kids etc... She got herself a job at another school and was so annoyed she didn't change earlier.

I teach at a secondary school. It used to be amazing but after a VERY poor choice of head teacher it has massively gone down hill. If things don't improve I will look elsewhere.

Your job share system sounds VERY unusual. There are loads of part timers where I work, and the timetable is done to fit with part time workers e.g. you have your own classes on the days you work, and certainly don't share a class with the odd exception. I'm part time (4 full days) and have 10 of my own classes.

Zippidydoodah · 02/03/2025 14:04

Teaching is a lot like being on an abusive relationship. You don't realise the true extent ti which you are being abused until you leave.

wow. I’ve never heard that before, but my goodness is it true!

I handed in my notice at the end of February last year and left on 30th April. I think you might have missed your deadline to leave before summer, if your school follows the burgundy book.

I am like a different person since I left teaching, and will never go back.

good luck with your decision!

wonderstuff · 02/03/2025 14:11

You’ve got to do what’s right for you. I’m in a very difficult school and absolutely miserable, I’ve resigned and have a job elsewhere for next term, but I’m really struggling to get through this term, just getting up everyday is hard, I’ve got a particular parent constantly on my back and I feel at some point I might just have to sign off sick, I’m spending every weekend recovering from the week and every week there’s a new disaster.

If you think staying teaching in another school is what you want I would try to look now and aim to resign by may. Even if you want to leave it may be worth trying to get to the end because at least you have 6 weeks paid to sort yourself out.

The jobs share sounds crap, are you getting FT level of PPA to allow for the fact you are planning a full timetable and resourcing it?

noblegiraffe · 02/03/2025 14:17

Yeah you’ve just missed the deadline to leave at Easter so you’re stuck till August.

This time of year always feels really tough though. Have you got many exam classes? Gained time in the summer?

mugglewump · 02/03/2025 14:22

It's so tough when you think you have the solution by working part-time, but you still have all the responsibility. If you want to get out sooner than July, do. The school will try to persuade you to stay - who will write the reports? - so you may be able to negotiate some extra free time, which might make it easier for you to stay.

But beware, if you choose to go on supply whilst you job hunt, be prepared to take a big cut in income and earn nothing over the summer.

daisypetula · 02/03/2025 14:25

"Teaching is a lot like being on an abusive relationship. You don't realise the true extent ti which you are being abused until you leave."

100% this. Physical and emotional.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 02/03/2025 14:30

You do know they can sue you for breach of contract, especially if you leaving incurs additional costs for them.
Please bear in mind they could also stop you starting a job in the public sector until your contractual end date.

Globules · 02/03/2025 14:37

daisypetula · 02/03/2025 14:25

"Teaching is a lot like being on an abusive relationship. You don't realise the true extent ti which you are being abused until you leave."

100% this. Physical and emotional.

It doesn't have to be this way at all.

I love my job. I've loved 3 of the 4 schools I've worked in over the last 25 years.

I hated the 4th, so I left.

Is this your first teaching job @Anothernameschange ?

AndThereSheGoes · 02/03/2025 14:37

I handed my notice in (along with a few others) to quit in the summer. I had made the decision in Feb but the summer holiday pay was a big factor.
I was though the only one who didn't go off sick for the last 7 weeks ....

Original poster
Anothernameschange · 02/03/2025 16:11

@Leafy74 💯 agree that I don't owe the school anything in terms of loyalty - they sure haven't made my life easier with this job share.

@Globules I have worked at two other schools before, the one was a large academy but should be referred to as a franchise because it was run a bit like that- lots of modern ideas but really just faffing about. Loved my department and my colleagues and the students too but a lot of pointless additions to our workload.
Another was complete opposite, poorly funded, very traditional, sometimes no schemes of work and compared to what I had before felt like I didn't know what was going on and marking expectations were crippling.
Not sure I have in me to try again, and if I do it will be for a non permanent role just to get away from current school.

@AndThereSheGoes I actually can't blame those people for going off sick.
Honestly, sometimes I think I should just make an appointment with my GP about my gut health, back pain, on going anxiety , insomnia and the list goes on and see if I can't get a few weeks off sick. The only thing that has stopped me from doing it already is the fear I'll be adding to workload of colleagues who already seem annoyed I'm part time...

OP posts:
Fourleggedfanatic · 02/03/2025 19:03

I left teaching 8 years ago to be a tutor. Absolute game changer! If this would be an option as a replacement career, you could start setting up alongside your current position. Yes hard work but mentally you’ll start detaching yourself from school and investing in your new role. Income still there while you set up too. Best of luck!

Jiski · 02/03/2025 19:16

Can’t you stay until the end of term? Think of the poor pupils. I had cover supervisors for most of year and it really affected my progress.

Welshmonster · 02/03/2025 19:21

You are stuck until summer now as you have likely missed the resignation deadline to leave at Easter.
Why do you have to plan for others? If you are not HOD then not your job.

Ignore the people saying about doing it for the kids. I taught for 20 years and ignored my own health issues, missed out on time with my own son and for what? It took a full mental breakdown, baby losses and my kid yelling at me that it doesn't matter as I'm never there for him anyway.

Welshmonster · 02/03/2025 19:22

Jiski · 02/03/2025 19:16

Can’t you stay until the end of term? Think of the poor pupils. I had cover supervisors for most of year and it really affected my progress.

A stressed out teacher who is on the verge of a mental breakdown is not good for progress either.
It's always for the pupils but nobody cares about the wellbeing of the teachers themselves. You need to speak to your MP about ensuring teaching is a viable profession as 40000 left last year.

Cannotbelievepeoplecanbesojudgemental · 02/03/2025 19:24

I am in exactly the same position. I was in the head's office last week crying about having no work/ life balance. I've been teaching for 25 years and absolutely love teaching but cannot cope with the additional workload. Paperwork, expectations, meetings, emails, targets, lack of SEND support etc are never-ending. When I told my head that I was intending to leave teaching completely she burst into tears but could completely see my viewpoint. I'm lucky that I have a really supportive SLT but the guilt (students and colleagues) is overwhelming. I need to put my family and health first so I'm leaving in July but going to PT until then.
Could you ask to have reduced hours until July?

Redlocks30 · 02/03/2025 19:25

I feel the same and am planning to leave in the summer. What do you intend to do with your notice period as you've just missed the resignation date to go at Easter.

JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 02/03/2025 19:26

Jiski · 02/03/2025 19:16

Can’t you stay until the end of term? Think of the poor pupils. I had cover supervisors for most of year and it really affected my progress.

the simpsons helen GIF

🙄

Walkden · 02/03/2025 19:28

"Can’t you stay until the end of term? Think of the poor pupils"

Honestly, ignore this. Whenever SLT massively increase workload, or exploit staff in some way it is always justified as being "for the kids."

There is always going to be classes affected by a teacher leaving but at some point you have to put yourself, and your family, first.

Part time teachers are always warned they end up doing full time workload for a part time salary .

Leafy74 · 02/03/2025 19:35

Jiski · 02/03/2025 19:16

Can’t you stay until the end of term? Think of the poor pupils. I had cover supervisors for most of year and it really affected my progress.

Think about the poor teacher.

This reflects my earlier post about teaching is like being in an emotionally abusive relationship

An abuser will use emotional blackmail to keep you in the abusive relationship.

Bushmillsbabe · 02/03/2025 19:37

Welshmonster · 02/03/2025 19:22

A stressed out teacher who is on the verge of a mental breakdown is not good for progress either.
It's always for the pupils but nobody cares about the wellbeing of the teachers themselves. You need to speak to your MP about ensuring teaching is a viable profession as 40000 left last year.

Show quote history

This. I really worry about the MH of teachers. My friend and I were both talking about this today, we both have bright 10 year olds who strongly feel they want to be primary school teachers. We both said, 'I will be trying to gently redirect her, it's an incredibly worthwhile job but it has been so undermined by both governments and parents, that I don't want this stressful life for my child'.

It's only going to get harder and harder to recruit good teachers. My daughters go to a leafy primary in a fairly affluent village, but the head has had anonymous death threats, 2 Dads had a punch up at school last week due to one of these child supossedly bullying the other, they are at brink of bankruptcy due to high cost of staff to support children with SEN which the council wont cover, a really unfair recent ofsted and numerous other challenges.

talktalk66 · 02/03/2025 19:38

it will be a shame to lose the summer pay. Maybe if you hand your notice in now to leave in the summer, it may help you to be more relaxed, as you'll see a light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck.

juraandme · 02/03/2025 19:44

I left last year and can honestly say it is the best decision I ever made. I am now a dog walker and my days off are actually days off, my stress levels are almost non existent and my mental health is so much better! I was absolutely skint for a good few months but it was worth it 100%.

OldChinaJug · 02/03/2025 19:47

Teaching is a lot like being on an abusive relationship. You don't realise the true extent ti which you are being abused until you leave.

The most succinct and accurate summary of teaching I've ever read!

Julimia · 02/03/2025 19:49

You need to think this through more. Remember you are workng the hours you do for your benefit and not that of the other half of the share. You will be the one to miss out for her short comings meanwhile she will sail through. Talk to the head or someone, spell out the problem and what you would like out of this situation for you. Don't just quit. Why should you suffer?