teachers what are the handing in your notice deadlines.

[twinsetandpearls]

That's it really, have become very unhappy in my current post but don;t want to make a hasty decision but want to know key dates around which to frame the decision making process.

usually half term, any later at the discretion of the governors. Why are you unhappy?

Lots of reasons mainly that I think I am sacrificing any kind of quality of life for myself and my family. My school needs exceptional teachers who are willing and able to dedicate their lives to the school and I just don't think I can do that any more and keep my family together and stay sane.

Also because it is such a tough school the atmosphere is tense and their is a lot of bitching and back biting some of which has come my way and I just don;t want to work somewhere like that.

dp (teacher of one school and governor of another) found out about this very thing a week or two ago.

It varies from LEA to LEA, where the school that he teaches it is one full term, the school where he is governor at is one month.

He thinks that probably the TES website would have the information that you need.

good luck

I've worked in places like that too - I know the feeling, it's not nice if you have to work your arse off and are worrying about backstabbing also.

I may feel better in a few weeks, I do have dips because the place is such hard work but I have been casually looking at the jobs section for a few weeks now.

When I enjoy my job I don't mind the fact that I have to work 80+ hours a week in what is feeling increasingly like an out of control madhouse but I am beginning to resent it.

Our school is bankrupt so while they may not want to see me personaly go everyone who leaves helps balance the books. Although I do feel very guilty about leaving the kids.

Don't feel guilty - do what is best for you and your family.

At the moment I don't have much choice, as there are no jobs. I really want a lancashire school as dd is due to start at a very good school in september but I have seen possibilties in London and Dorset.

I thought that there were standard terms and conditions in our contracts, but I might be wrong. I've always given half a term's notice (or a little more). ie. if you hand in your notice now, you'll be able to start a new job after spring half term. Watch out for terms where it's a very short half term - the cut off date may vary.

You need to phone personnel at your LEA to be sure.

Thanks I will ask our personnel lasy tomorrow, tbh I would feel very uneasy leaving before the end of the academic year as i am a head of year and I know that me leaving would have a massive impact on the children and there is no obviouls replacement for me.

Are you in a Union? I only ask because they might know. More importantly, who do you not mind knowing that you are thinking of leaving?

From personal experience, one school I was at gave me ALL the cover possible after I'd handed my notice in - until I pointed out I wouldn't be able to complete the SOW they wanted, if the situation continued .

Hope it does get better or the perfect job turns up.

There are a few of us leaving so at least if my school does land us with cover there are a few of us to split it between.

I would keep it to myself as I don't want the children to know and they are difficult at the best of times but can make your life hell once they get a sniff that you are leaving.

I tried that, too, but some kind colleague told a group and it went round like wildfire. I don't remember it being that bad, them knowing, in the hardest school I was at. Or maybe, having gate-fever myself helped .

Was there anything in Friday's TES? Or are you thinking of doing something different?

I have to be honest, teaching isn't particularly a family-friendly profession, considering the values it should be imparting . Nice hols, but only if you're not too shattered or ill to enjoy them. I remember one staff-room pre-Christmas, the staff in looked dreadful: all grey and tired and post-Christmas wasn't much different - most people had had flu'.

When do you have to decide?

Have looked in the TES and there is nothing locally , a post in DEvon that intersted me but dp could not get work and something that I find very temting in London but TBH I think it could end up more stressful than where I am now.

We are about to move to be near dd new school so something between preston and clitheroe would be perfect as I am worried that from September I will have to add a commute to my current working day.

I will try not leave before the end of the year as the school is in enough shit without as key person leaving in the middle of a year, however if the perfect job comes up I would leave as I have to put my family first.

It is unbearable at our school when they know you are leaving, they reduced an establised member of staff to walking out this week as when the kids found out she was going they gave her hell.

I am always too ill to enjoy the short holidays, the 2 week ones are OK although tbh now I spend a week recivering and the 2nd week in school so even those are not really relaxing.

I remember that and the Sunday 4 o'clock shadow, when you know you have loads to do for Monday, but really, really want to have a weekend.

I might be about to preach something verging on heresy here, but have you looked at the private sector? I moved into it, almost by chance, after surviving a year in a particularly awful school - assault, verbal abuse, SMT totally useless. It was an eye-opener. I got to teach. I worked as many hours, but didn't get ill. It was heaven for me. No, I know it wasn't perfect but with my bottom groups, we could get Cs and Bs at GCSE, not Fs and Us. It was rewarding.

Whatever happens, I think you are right to play this one very close to your chest. There is something intrinsically rotten in a school, where a member of staff can be driven out. Look after yourself because it sounds like your SMT won't.

Sorry you're having a tough time twinset - I've never heard you speaking like this before.

Keep your eyes open, I'm sure there will be lots of jobs advertised around Easter time - there usually are.

I've had a grim day at work today: phoned a colleague to talk to her about it and she told me she's handing in her notice tomorrow.

DH has to only give a half-term but the done thing in this LEA is to give a full term's notice as a courtesy.

Hope things work out for you

I want things to get better and will hold on for Easter unless something perfect comes along. I can just see lots of people thinking about leaving anf the kids have so much experience in their home lives of abandonement that I don't want to add to it.

The only way to really influence a school is to be part of SMT. So, why not go for promotion but say part-time? If you have to, create a job-share and find the other person to go halves.

Twinset - do not assume that responsibility, put it down. You are a teacher and by the sounds of it, a very committed one. You cannot (for the sake of your own sanity) take on the role of a parent. You can leave this post, if you have to.

Go onto the NUT site

www.teachers.org.uk/resources/word/noticeper.doc

? to leave at 31 December, give notice by no later than 31 October;
? to leave at 30 April, give notice by no later than 28 February;
? to leave at 31 August, give notice by no later than 31 May.

I have just taken a promotion to middle mangement and want to get used to that level of reposnsibility before moving on but SMT is something I have planned for the future.

But you are right that the only way to really influnce a school is to be part of SMT so much of what I am trying to achieve is blocked by innaction from above.

I don;t want to be a parent to these kids but I know that I teach in a school that struggles to recruit staff - any staff - never mind committed and able staff and these kids need every advatantage in life they can. Enough staff are leaving without me adding to the list.

No wonder you are feeling the squeeze - middle managment is the pits. Get another promotion ASAP. You don't have anything to prove, have a closer look at SMT and you'll often find that they have less experience and, more importantly, vision than you.

I really think my primary responsibility is to me and my family. From that, I draw my energy to teach and love doing it. Two of my moves were absolutely essential to my sanity - both posts were soul-wearying, largely due to ineffectual SMT, or in one bizarre case, a SMT from a parallel universe . If your present job is starting to impact on your health, family, or in my case - ability to sleep on Sunday night, it is time to write that letter. Life is TOO short.

I know you speak sense but it is a big leap from knowing to acting.

No, it is more likely that the positives still out weigh everything else. You like your job (I think that makes us very lucky); you, by and large, like/empathise with the kids you teach; you can see the potential in your work-place.

So, how about having a talk about your career-path with senior management, showing your interest in being part of SMT asap and, suggesting a job-share, if that is how you want to cut yourself some time/space. They need to see you as SMT material. Take care. This is the hardest term.

A teacher at our school came back to work in Sept after having a baby and is now leaving at Christmas to be at home with her.