Help - one week to decide

[punygod]

Basically, I hate my job.

I teach English in a small rural secondary school - which sounds idyllic.

It's not.

Behaviour is appalling, SLT are useless, the school is just out of SM and every day there are new initiatives, scrutinies, etc etc. It's impossible to keep up.

I've been observed to death and earlier this year my GP signed me off for three weeks for work-related stress, prescribing sertraline to get me through to the end of the year. He advised that I change my career.

There's a misogynistic 'lad' culture in the staff room - we're talking scat porn being passed around on phones, and last week a cover supervisor exposed his bare arse in the staff room. I came home and cried all night.

I know this job is unsustainable, but the hard facts are I'm not qualified for anything else, my dp is currently looking for work and as a result of some poor decision making, my stbxh gives me no money for our kids (we do 50/50) even though dp and I do the lion's share of buying their things, treats etc.

I have kept our large ex-marital home on because I want my children to have some stability and because house prices mean I would be selling it very cheaply - and it's my main asset.

I have no mortgage and I do have a small income from investments, so I might be able to make ends meet - but the thought of losing the main household income really scares me.

I've no idea what to do. I feel trapped.

Does anyone have any advice?

[Petrasmumma]

Glad you're out. I love teaching but have seen the lethality of a toxic institution. I'm sure you'll find an employer that will pay your more for less stress. Best of luck!

[TeenyfTroon]

puny, I'm delighted for you! Teaching is hard enough without working in such a poisonous atmosphere. Poor bloody kids, wish they could resign too.

longtallsally, please tell me, what sort if admin course did you do? Do they still run?

[punygod]

Thanks all

[AntoinetteCosway]

Oh well done

[twentyten]

We'll done!!! Enjoy half term and then start the escape plan!!

[longtallsally2]

Good luck Puny. I resigned in May many years ago, from a stressful teaching job and bumped into a colleague in the street in September. The texts started pouring in from former colleagues as he had been telling everyone how amazing I looked - apparently I looked 10 years younger already! I did a 13 week admin course and got a job straight away. English teachers have very transferrable skills. Never looked back.

Best of luck.

[SueDNim]

Congratulations. That is a strong, positive action.

[HerculeMarple]

Well done - the school sounds awful. Enjoy your half-term and start planning your positive,happy, new life.

[punygod]

I did it!

Thank you to all of you - I don't think I'd have done it without you!

I feel like a weight has lifted already!

[twentyten]

Oops so good I said it twice!

[twentyten]

Go for it. It sounds appalling. And then enjoy half term.

[twentyten]

Go for it. It sounds appalling. And then enjoy half term.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Aldi pays better & the staff seem happy enough.

One of my colleagues was very well off after her divorce & bought a small house for her and her kids with a small mortgage but kept some savings back.

She had a job in the public sector so wasn't likely to be made redundant but her plan was that if it all went wrong she could go and work in a supermarket and still cover the bills.

[punygod]

I keep saying 'I'll work in bloody Tesco's'.

It seems to be a teacher mantra :)

[phlebasconsidered]

I'm leaving in July, I can't wait. I'm going to supply, I hope it will build my confidence again after a frankly horrible period in an academy that has been like a nightmare. (Rubbish SMT, no support, crazy behaviour in kids, being blamed for their lack of progress when i've only had them since February and they were VASTLY overlevelled, bullying head, staff in tears, and so on...)

And if I hate supply ( which I shouldn't, I loved it before, it's only this school that have murdered me, I hope), then i'll work at ruddy Tesco. The weight off my shoulders is amazing.

[punygod]

Sorry for multiposts.

[punygod]

Thank you. I 'm feeling stronger all the time.

Plan is, resign tomorrow, then go for a good night out, spend half term updating cv and job hunting.

[punygod]

Thank you. I 'm feeling stronger all the time.

Plan is, resign tomorrow, then go for a good night out, spend half term updating cv and job hunting.

[punygod]

Thank you. I 'm feeling stronger all the time.

Plan is, resign tomorrow, then go for a good night out, spend half term updating cv and job hunting.

[SueDNim]

I can't add much more, except that I have found that as an ex-teacher, subsequent jobs have really valued the skills that I developed while teaching. There are huge amounts of transferable skills that you probably take for granted at the moment. A quick list includes:

Organisational skills - including meeting multiple hard deadlines.
Ability to persuade.
Excellent communication skills and ability to explain complex concepts, tailored to varying audiences.
Resilience (you might not feel it now, but you have got it)

[punygod]

It's honestly totally normal at my school.

[AntoinetteCosway]

What?! You need to change unions too. I'm flabbergasted.

[punygod]

A shrug and a smile.

[AntoinetteCosway]

Holy shit. Get out, get out, get out. And while you do so, put in a formal complaint. That is AWFUL. What was the rep's response?!

[punygod]

So, I sat in a form tutor meeting yesterday and listened to the head of yr8 describing students as 'retards' and 'window lickers'. My union rep was present. I had to explain to him why that was offensive.

So I think that was the last straw.