Anyone ever walked out of a job....literally walked out?

[nocontactforevermore]

I posted a thread on AIBU a few weeks ago and fb eh suggested asking on here as well. I have been in a temp post 6 weeks approx. Its part time, an academy and basically awful. In the briefest terms, the dept is a mess, kids are wild, and have embarked on an almost predicable witch hunt against me because they are disillusioned, fed up etc. The kids seem to rule the school, calling me foul names etc. Line manager tries to support, takes naughtiest out etc, but it's truly awful. No books, little ICT equipment, kids wee even studying wrong exam board. It's dreadful.

I want out. Union just said 'check their terms and conditions to see when you can leave/read the behaviour policy etc. useless.

Trouble is, I don't even want to go back Monday. I feel ill already and I'm only part time. I literally cannot face it.
I've had an 11 year unbroken career before this and took this jib so I could be in a less stressful role. I was a middle manager before this with a successful track record. I'm an idiot.

[nocontactforevermore]

In teaching?

[Tigerstripes]

My husband worked at a horrible school, sounds similar to yours. He was signed off with stress, resigned and dropped it from his cv. It now says 'day to day supply' in that part. No one has ever cared.
If you break contract I believe they can sue you. Whether they would or not is another matter. If I were you, I would get signed off then resign properly.

[ThatVikRinA22]

yep - get signed off then resign. or just resign.

i wouldnt advocate just not turning up on monday tempting though it may be.

get signed off
resign
look for another job in a better school. use previous school/teaching job for references.

how likely would they be to sue for breach of contract? really?

[beatricequimby]

Hi OP, I am a teacher too and really sympathise. I think you should email your resignation and say that you will not be returning given the circumstances. They probably won't pursue it but go off sick if you have to. I bet all the other headteachers in the borough know how awful your school is and will understand the situation you are in so I don't think it will affect your chances of employment as you can get a good reference from your old school. The very worst thing that could happen is that you have to do a bit of supply to get a foot in the door at another school and another good reference. Then in future if you do have to mention awful school on an application form it will just look like short term supply.

[ilovesooty]

Fwiw, in my experience references are only taken up if they like you at interview - on any application forms I have filled in, there is a box you tick if you don't want them to contact your references before interview/before they decide if they want you (which is needed for situations where you are applying for a job before handing notice in)

That doesn't apply in teaching due to Safer Recruitment.

[Dromedary]

I wouldn't take time off with stress - it would look bad if mentioned in a reference. If you have to take time off it's better to have flu than stress. Not long till Easter...

[ilovesooty]

I think your best option is to go sick, hand in your resignation, and try to negotiate early release from your contract. You will have to state that school as your last place of employment but it would be quite reasonable to seek a reference from your previous head as well. Other schools in the LA will doubtless be aware of the problems there.

You really can't just not turn up to work though, tempting as the idea might be. You do need to get out though: no job should be like this.

[ilovesooty]

I think it would be quite reasonable to explain that the school caused you to be ill. Your previous good work record speaks for itself, surely?

[Dromedary]

You're a teacher - can't just not turn up to work!! And it would be terrible for your reputation, surely. If you're ill, go off sick. And maybe arrange to meet with the Head and discuss the situatoin and negotiate early release.

[nocontactforevermore]

'You're a teacher'!

This plays over and over in my mind 24hrs a day. This is what I mean about being subject to expectations and conditions quite unlike any other job.

[ThatVikRinA22]

i dont think your job is necessarily unique in the expectations stakes - but i think what people are trying to say is that there will be a class of children waiting on monday morning - what ever you think of them and the school.

i think you owe it to the children in that class and the staff who will bear the brunt not to just abandon them - to at least allow the school to arrange cover.

i went off sick but i did not abandon any of the victims i was working for - i appraised my supervisor and he re allocated the crimes under investigation for them. i had victims expecting results, suspects coming back on bail, interviews lined up etc etc. I could not have just left everyone in the lurch and i was really ill at the time.

i do understand the pressure - i went off ill after i attended a particularly violent incident alone and out numbered. i was placed in physical danger. i had to come to terms with what my role entails and decide if i wanted to go back or not.
i went back. i have been fine since going back. i just now know im alone and i accept those risks now and am ok with it.

i dont think you are thinking straight - either resign and give them notice to find a supply or go off sick and let them find a supply - but dont just walk out. There is a right way and a wrong way to do this. you can leave either way - but do it the right way.

[ThatVikRinA22]

im a police officer btw.....i know many on here know what i do but my last post sounded all cryptic without explaining!

[TimeToPassGo]

You had great advice on last thread OP, including how to explain the CV. 'Temporary teacher of X from 1st Jan to 24th Jan 2014.' Or substitute 'supply teaching' for temp teacher.

You need to get out of there. Why are you dithering? Go in tomorrow and tell them you won't be returning. If they decide to be twats about it tell them you are giving notice and will be signed off sick. They will let you go without a murmur.

[TootlesPootles]

Don't go off on 'stress' unless it's 100% genuine. it very easy to fake but it's also extremely dishonest.

If you genuinely think you may be unfit for work then get down to your GPs immediately!

Your union must help you. (Surely!) Can you start documenting everything and preparing a 'defence'. If you hand in your notice ASAP then you may be able to negotiate that you can leave immediately especially if you offer to go without pay or at reduced pay. Any normal and I can see they are not normal wouldn't want an unwilling employee turning up.

[Athrawes]

Sign off sick.
Then ask for a meeting with the Governors/Sponsor and talk to them. Tell them what you told us about a student videoing you in the classroom and how the head handled it.
They are running this as a business and should want that business to succeed.
Then put it down to "short term relief" on your CV and look for another job.

[nocontactforevermore]

I did have good advice on the last thread, and I took it. I sent the email I was advised to and I've also posted on here.

I wouldn't call in sick on a whim. I've had around 12 days sickness in 11 years. This isn't something I would do lightly. I'm dithering because I am in a turmoil about it.

[Lagoonablue]

Don't go in but ring in sick. Go to GP get a sick note for stress. How long is your contract? Either resign or stay off sick til it ends. Look for another job.

[nocontactforevermore]

Contract til summer. Doubt I could get covered until then but also doubt I could get another job at this time of year. I will do TA work on supply or something. I am finished with teaching.

[silkknickers]

sorry for not responding sooner!
I saw the HT on the Friday and just said 'I'm leaving today and I won't be back'. He didn't really say anything - it was really odd. Your story sounds very similar to mine, but I was an NQT. I was covering all the lower ability classes and had no resources to hand - the HoD would have to 'authorise' every bit of photocopying I did, and I too had no permanent classroom; I was nomadic. I would also call for help - but no one would come!
I was not having regular sessions with anyone senior regarding my NQT stuff, either.
I just realised that it wasn't worth getting ill over it (and I have a history of depression and I could see the symptoms beginning to develop already!)
I was very lucky as I had a previous profession that I dropped back into temporarily and then got a job teaching in the adult sector.
With hindsight I think I would have had grounds to complain about my treatment there, but really I just wanted out of the whole place. I am honest on my CV, and when questioned I explain the situation professionally and honestly (although I AM careful not to run the school down as that wouldn't look good to a future employer!)
No contact, if I were you I really would walk. You really will feel SO MUCH better once you are out of that environment.

[Juliealpha]

I walked out of a middle management job in the NHS last year. I had worked my way up over 23 years. I worked full time, as the department was 24 hours I was being phoned all hours 24/7 and I have 3 children. I was making myself very ill
I was signed off ill and then walked straight into another job in a school (not teaching) I now have lots of time with my children. it's honestly the best decision I've ever made!

I was very honest at my last interview, they said they could see that and that's what got me the job

[nocontactforevermore]

Silk and Julie.
Those are promising stories. Thanks.

[meerschweinchen]

Sounds awful. Do you actually want to stay in teaching though? If you don't, could you just stick it out until half-term, and then hand your notice in then ( and not go back?) If you're looking for a new non-teaching job, presumably you could always list your previous school for references? If you do want to stay in teaching, I guess just hand your notice in immediately and leave at Easter ( unless you could negotiate with the head to leave earlier? Might be worth a try?)

[nocontactforevermore]

I won't be sTaying in teaching but i would still like to work in a school - perhaps support work. I have a young dd so the hours suit me and besides I like being around young people and education. I just don't want to teach anymore. Sad isn't it?

I couldn't stay there til summer so I will definitely be negotiating an early dart.

[TimeToPassGo]

What was the outcome of the email you sent? What response did you get?

If it wasn't satisfactory I would have walked at that stage and told them why. If you think your mental and physical health is worth sacrificing for a temporary job where you're treated like shit then by all means stay.

If not, pull on your big girl boots and walk. Believe me, this school has bigger problems than coming after one teacher who left. They've probably been expecting it for weeks now.

[winklewoman]

You were advised on the other thread to bypass your school union rep and go straight to the regional office. Did you do this or was the advice on policies etc. from the school rep?