Decision made - I NEED to leave

[BobPatSamandIgglePiggle]

After 13 years in teaching I've finally admitted that I need to leave. I've taught across a massive range of ages and abilities and I used to love it.

I feel that the passion, enthusiasm and, to be honest, interest has gone. I hate it.

It's making me anxious and ill. I never get any quality time with ds. I hate it.

I am handing my notice in at Easter whether I have another job or not.

This will affect everything - ds' nursery - everything. I'm terrified but I honestly can't cope any longer in this awful, awful 'profession'

Not sure why I'm posting - maybe tp make it feel more real?

Oops. You don't need to accept this or leave your job. Or ask for help from the SLT or governors. Start keeping a diary. Is this constructive dismissal?

My DH is in a similar situation. After 15 years a job he once loved has become unrecognizable. He also wants out.

Good luck to you OP.

'Agree it's seems the only people staying are just young teachers without families who can afford to spend all of Sunday marking...or those so close to retirement they can just grin and bear it. Us mid to late 30s teacher-mums (especially lone parent teacher mums like me) have been chewed up and spat out by the system.'

I totally agree with this! I'm an English Teacher of 7 years and will also be leaving at Easter. I loved it for the first few years and feel quite deeply sad that I'm leaving, but, since having my little boy, I just can't do it anymore. I haven't got enough hours in the day for the ridiculous workload and find jumping through endless pointless hoops to be utterly soul destroying. It is also destroying my self esteem as I genuinely don't know what I do well anymore - everything we do seems to have nothing but fault found with it. I don't want to neglect my own family any longer.
To be honest, I feel terrified at the thought of having no job to go to. In the short term, I have applied for exam marking and will try to find some supply and/or tutoring. It is so, so sad that so many teachers feel like this. I just don't think that full-time English teaching is compatible with having a family - I can't (and don't want to) spend whole weekends catching up with marking, so am constantly behind with everything.

I resigned today. In my second year. Hoping to get a chance in another school but feeling pretty shaky esp as they kept trying to talk me out of it. Feel sick. Can manage on supply and bits and pieces for a while but not forever. Did I do the right thing? it felt like it at the time but my stomach is churning

I very rarely read the staffroom board (with not being a teacher and all!) however I feel really sad reading this. I was actually having a conversation today with someone saying how crap it is how much target setting and crappy paperwork teachers have to do. Even as very much an outsider (pals who are teachers and 2 kids at primary level) I think the balance of power has shifted from teaching to being constantly monitored and tested.
I am a health care prof and our monitoring doesn't even scratch the surface of what teachers are expected to do all the time.
OP I am glad for you that you have made this brave decision but hope that you find your way back into education.

I left a permanent teaching post a few years ago and I've never regretted the decision to do so. It was a challenging school with plenty of pressure from management (dread to think what it's like now as it seems teaching generally is getting more and more pressurised). It was a scary decision to make, but I wasn't happy and the relief I felt when I finally handed in my notice was enormous!

I've been doing supply teaching in primary schools since and love it. Ok, it can have its own challenges, but it's a wonderful feeling to go to work, teach the children and leave without all the additional assessments/target setting/paperwork/meetings etc etc etc. Although there isn't any job security I am lucky to be getting plenty of work and have regular schools that I go to. I have been offered some longer-term contracts (at some lovely schools) which I haven't accepted as I love the freedom and flexibility of doing day to day supply. I find it fits in with family life and I love having the option of a day off when I wish!

Leaving is a big decision, OP, but it's no good if work is making you feel like it does. I'm sure you won't regret leaving - I never have! Maybe you could give supply a go while you look at other options? I find that I really enjoy teaching the children so much more now I don't have all the extra stresses teaching on a contract involves.

Lostinmusic I left English teaching 2 years ago. I don't know where you are but in Surrey there seems to be a LOT of tutoring work! I do exam marking too and some adult teaching. A lot of bits and pieces, but so much better. And financially I am better off even though earning way less, because I work when the kids are in bed or at school and don't have to pay childcare. No holiday pay or pension though, but my goodness I am so much happier. There are so many things you can do as an English teacher apart from school teaching. Good luck to you!

I think this might be me. FT English teacher (HoD) with two young dcs I feel I never see. I work in a lovely school but the job itself is horrendous. The pressure is unbearable and I think about work constantly. I feel I never see my family or friends in term time and I never have an evening sitting in front of the telly. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that occasionally after a long day at work. But I can't afford not to have a regular salary and I don't know what else I could do.

Am also feeling the pull to leave teaching after 15 years. With 2dcs the workload is too heavy and morale too low. I have friends who have made the leap and will be joining them shortly. Its so sad to see the hoards of people leaving the profession.

I'm also FT secondary English.

Just finished (well, sort of...) my KS4 planning for next half term - I'm determined to take one blooming weekend off this half term.

I'm staying; I went into teaching as a second career, I love it & I'm too arsey to be driven out of it.

Having said that, it's been enormously eye-opening this week to compare my job with that of my dh, who manages the training for a company which looks after adults with complex needs.

I'm supposed to be on holiday for half term. I've worked an 'office day' Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, wednesday & Thursday in order to catch up with marking & planning. I took Monday off to sort out family stuff & had a lazy day today.

Dh's idea of a 'work from home' day is, erm, a couple of hours writing a report & a bit of pottering, a few emails - it's less work than I'd do on a teaching day in addition to teaching & planning. It's certainly less than I'd do on any half-term day.

Different worlds!

It is so sad what is happening to teaching... :( But, it is heartening to know that so many ppl have managed to make leaving work for them. It is such a shame, because I love be

...being with the kids and the creative side of the job, but really hate everything else.
Good luck everyone!

Sorry so many of you are struggling and off. Gove has a lot to answer for.

However, I posted this on another thread about part time working. ...

I'm a teacher. Off course I work on my day off.

...and got responses saying why.? Can't you organize your time better? Etc. ha.

Yes, I'm sure that my mum and friends who aren't teachers all have a suspicion that I'm just really bad at time management - they don't understand that we all really do have that much work. Even my husband, who has a management role in industry, can't get his head around how much work we have to do.

I am so sorry for all the teachers on here. Yours should be a wonderful, rewarding job for which you are valued. It's very very sad and wrong.

Hi all - I'm still here - have done a lot of thinking since posting. My decision stands, reading some of your posts has certainly driven home that it's the right one.

I'm glad there are still some people who love it amd some who are just starting out. I dread ds starting school and being taught by someone like me who hates it.

We've been told we're being observed again, 24 hours notice (when we're meant to get 48).

Can't wait to leave.

I've just resigned for Easter. Feels great.