11 out of 12 teachers leaving

[catnipkitty]

Why would 11 out of 12 teachers leave a previously stable infant school within a year and a half? No change in the head teacher, nothing obvious at all to parents.

OFSTED? Inspection looming?/recent? Do the staff have cause to think it is bad?

Is the head a bully?

What's the 12 th teacher like?

They were a close-knit team and once one key person had left, it wasn't the same place any more so others began to leave and then the trend gathered momentum.
When a new person or people joins a well established team, it can completely change the dynamic, so that it no longer feels like the same place, especially if the new person introduces many changes.

Could be lots of non-sinister reasons: health, maternity, partner/husband moving job and relocating, promotion. Could be, as 80sMum says that one key person left and the place no longer feels the same, making others also think about going.

I'd ask the head if you are concerned, but I'd only be concerned if the new teachers coming in were poor or a string of supply folk.

It can just be a fluke.
Half the teachers left at dc's primary one year including a couple who had been there around 10 years. Gossip ran riot about how there must be a reason. Major arguement in the staff room was the most popular one.

I know (dh is a governor) that the reasons were all genuine, and independent. The list was along the lines of 2 retired (one expected, had told them the end of the previous year that she would, other early retirement as she was going to have to become a carer for her elderly mum who had just been widowed), 1 maternity, 2 moving area (1 dh's army, other getting married), 1 daughter had moved some years back to New Zealand and she was going out for 6 months, 3 promotions.

The only one that was really a choice to leave the school was the one going to New Zealand. The others if they hadn't happened that year, they'd have happened shortly. Just a fluke that they all happened the same year. Never had more than 1-2 teachers leaving a year before that, as far as I remember.

What was the last Ofsted report like?

Our DDs primary used to be very stable in terms of staffing. Most had been there for ages. Then Ofsted came, rated the school outstanding and within a year most of the very experienced teachers including head and deputy left. We are now stuck in a situation where teachers are coming and going all the time. Rumour had it that the majority of the teachers that had been there for ages had left to go and work in so called failing schools. Our primary had now lost outstanding status but is still "good". Majority of parents are saying that this school is no longer the school they chose for their DC and would not choose it again. Some are already having younger siblings at other schools. If you are at all worried about the changes of staff it may be worth talking to the head. Trouble is that there is not a great deal parents can do about this. Sadly it is not possible to make teachers stay if they want to move on to further their career or are no longer happy in their job.

I agree - it could be sinister, but on the other hand it could be coincidence. At the school I used to teach at we had a similarly stable staff, then within a year or 2 there were a lot of changes. They were completely independent and genuine, but the parents were concerned. Reasons could be maternity, relocation, promotion, leaving teaching, etc.

I'm surprised so many of you are saying this all could be innocent. If you are concerned don't speak to the head (they are probably the issue) but try and speak to someone who left if at all possible. From experience- you should be worried if 4 teachers leave at once when the school usually averages 1 a year.

Yes it is unusual, but it could be a one off fluke. I can see it would alter nature of school