I don't want to go back :(

[KareninsGirl]

That's it in a nutshell. We have experienced huge change in our workplace and I'm doing three times the workload I should due to others either bring absent or not doing their jobs properly.

I used to love my job but all I feel now is disillusioned and exhausted.

Please remind me of why education is such a great sector to work in?!

[ReluctantBeing]

God, you poor thing. I'm frequently forcing myself to ignore the powers that be hammering down the stress, and focus on the kids. They are important.

[Endofmyfeather]

This thread actually just made me cry on a BUS!

I'm a teacher, on a few years hiatus while living abroad and working in HE Admin. I miss teaching, my ex colleagues and the kids so, so much. But then I read these things and remember all the shit that had crept into the job I truly loved and it actually makes me weep (...on a bus!) because even the thought of going back into it makes me anxious.

Michael Gove: the biggest exception to "don't hate the player, hate the game". What a bloody tragic mess.

[OrangeMochaFrappucino]

What is HE Admin? A couple of posters have mentioned they have gone into this from teaching? I am going on my second maternity leave in April and don't want to return to teaching. I just don't know what else to do and we can't afford for me to have a gap. I have thought of exam marking and transcription work though I worry that working at home may be isolating. I can't keep up teaching though - as evidenced by the fact I am awake at 4am searching for alternative job ideas!!

[Misssss]

I've just left my job. Don't have another to go to at the moment but the dole queue is better than five more minutes in my hellhole school. I had an interview last week (I didn't get the job) When I asked my head for the morning off, she turned round and said, "Oh, they probably had a cancellation." School has recently got inadequate in Ofsted and it is just awful.

Was scared about leaving but I feel ten stones lighter - so happy, cannot wait for the 20th! I have two interviews next week at nicer schools so fingers crossed I get one of those, if not something will come up.

[ninah]

Good luck missss! I feel quite envious. Even the thought of lasting til Easter seems grim in my school

[Misssss]

Thank you Ninah! You will be fine! Are you definitely going at Easter? Just having and end date makes everything so much better. Roll on next week...

[SummerPlum]

jelly, HE Admin = working in a university, but on the support side (not as an academic, which is every bit as stressful as being a teacher).

Jobs.ac.uk

Good luck.

[OrangeMochaFrappucino]

Thanks - would working in HE admin roles be term time or do they run year-round? I am prepared to work full time in a less stressful role than part-time in teaching so I would work five days for a similar salary (or less) as I am currently getting for three days but I have brilliant term time only childcare so ideally I am looking for term time work but I realise this is the holy grail for a lot of people!

[ninah]

thanks! I have written my resignation letter out several times, sometimes with fantastic frankness but am yet to hand it in.

[SummerPlum]

Jelly, most professional services jobs in Unis will be year-round. Things don't stop when the students are on holiday! It can be hard work, but it's office work (so at least you can go for a piss when you like, unlike teaching!), and the pay and conditions tend to be quite good, depending on where you live. Term-time only work is indeed popular, and I know some admin workers who have managed to wangle it, but you'll obviously stand a better chance if you're flexible and prepared to work full time.