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?

[punygod]

I really just want out. I hate it there.

I'll think of something. I 'm not proud.

[Kitsmummy]

If you only need £1500 surely you and your DH can both get a job in a supermarket? How come he's not finding a job, is he being too picky?

[Kitsmummy]

Supermarket or similar I mean? Use your initiative, cleaners make £10 per hour and are never short of work, dog walkers are always needed etc etc

[punygod]

I've wondered about dog walking - we have two of our own.

He's applying like mad. He'll get something, I'm sure.

[Finola1step]

Along with the GCSE marking, look at applying for marking KS2 papers. I can tell you that there is a real shortage of markers for the KS2 level 6 papers because many of the primary based markers have limited experience at Level 6. Worth looking at for next year.

[punygod]

That's useful to know, thank you.

[Biscuitsneeded]

Am in a similar school, facing the same ridiculous pressures, and am going to vote with my feet. Never thought I'd consider it but have started applying to independent schools. Not afraid of working hard (far from it) but the constant scrutiny, box-ticking, back-stabbing, game-changing, silly edicts from on high that are forgotten about in three months, bullying of staff who can't or won't play the stupid games etc are pushing me out. I can cope with appalling behaviour and a disenfanchised student body if that reality is acknowledged, but somehow it's now all our fault! I'm a dedicated teacher with excellent subject knowledge and I'm off to a culture where that is valued and appreciated - just as soon as I can persuade someone to employ me! Would that be an option for you?

[punygod]

I wouldn't rule it out, but the thing is, I've really lost my confidence.

I just want my life back.

[somedizzywhore1804]

If you possibly can, leave.

I'm a secondary English teacher of seven years and I'm about to go on maternity leave. I hate it and am trying to think of what I could do so I don't have to go back again.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Voluntary termination doesn't affect a credit rating. Crafty motor trade people will tell you differently though.

Research it. I VT my car and got another one plus a mortgage a few years later.

You are acting within conditions that they wrote.

[punygod]

I'll look again, thanks.

[IHeartKingThistle]

Our circumstances are different as DH is our main breadwinner, but I jumped 2 years ago and I have been surprised at how much work there is out there for English teachers. I now teach 2 adult literacy classes a week (daytime), tutor 7 private students in the evenings and mark GCSE papers for WJEC. This did take a while to build up, I'll lose 3 of my students next week when they take GCSEs and the sessional teaching is paid by the hour so it's not as secure as teaching in a school, but my God it's the best thing I've ever done. Living under that sort of stress is unsustainable. That said, money stress is awful too, but if you can make ends meet I would do it - I would be surprised if you can't find something.

Good luck OP - not to make out that other teachers have it easy, but English teaching is a special kind of hell at the moment.

[SweepTheHalls]

Write to any other local secondaries offering PP intervention, part time, pop in, teach small group, then leave again. That with exam marking and tutoring should keep you afloat?

[punygod]

There are options, aren't there?

[NearTheWindymill]

The thing is, being entirely pragmatic, you've a weeks holiday coming up; then you've, what, six weeks until a six week holiday. That takes you to September and gives three more months' of pay cheques. Get your application techniques sorted and start applying for other jobs like gusto. Your present job might not be great but can you detach yourself from the horridness and switch your energies into job hunting. IME it's always easer to get a job when you have a job and even if it is beyond horrid you've a big break coming up and can buy yourself at least three more months.

Resign if you wish but how about resigning in September or waiting the result of the next Ofsted which could shift the present SLT that at least gives you until Christmas, another six months, with the money coming in to pay the bills. And by then DP might have something and it might all sound less of a massive step

[Lottiedoubtie]

Near because if she resigns in September she'll have to work until Christmas, such is the teachers notice period. By resigning now, she will be paid until the end of August.

[NearTheWindymill]

That's precisely the point I made Lottiedoubtie. Please read my post "resigning in Seprember or waiting until the result of the next Ofsted which could shift the present SLT, that at least gives you until Christmas, another six months, with the money coming in to pay the bills.

If the OP resigns in September, meanwhile she has 7 weeks' holiday and as soon as she resigns the albatross's grip will loosen and she will be able to look forward to leaving. That also buys a few months during which her DP can find work.

[Lottiedoubtie]

Sorry, your first paragraph suggests otherwise, but I have now re-read the second.

I think Christmas is an awfully long time to wait out a horrible job. But OP try and make the decision as shrewdly as you can re. your money situation.

[Viviennemary]

I haven't read the whole thread. However, it seems you are unsure whether or not to resign. Could you not reduce your hours from Septeber say to three days per week. At least for the time being rather than resign with no job to go to. I don't think three weeks absence will make a huge difference to your record in the grand scheme of things.

If you go for the part time option then you could look into other things. But I know it's not as easy as I've known even people on .5 having to go in five days.

[punygod]

I don't think there will be much opportunity for p/t. It's a small school and a tiny dept (5 of us) and we have one p/t member already.

I hear what you're saying about pragmatism, and that's what's kept me there thus far.

I'm just starting to think that if I don't make the break soon I never will. I'm getting too downtrodden to put any energy into my future prospects.

[twentyten]

The school sounds awful.
Have a look at first tutors website- a friend has lots of work from it. Over the summer lots of parents are desparate for child care - even for older children - offer locally?


My dp has a box of cards from pupils he gets out when it's tough.

Marking etc looks good- so much support and brilliant advice here.

Trust your instinct. Get some advice- cab/ money supermarket. Reason to leave- career change.

[punygod]

So much good advice here. Thank you all for taking the time.

I just want to be happy! I had a miserable marriage, ended that, now I have a miserable job!

Sad fact is, if the buggers just left me alone to do my job, I would still like it. I like the kids and my subject.

It's just the ever-increasing hours of meta-work that eat my time, and the horrible culture of the school.

I think I'm done. I'll let you all know.

[punygod]

Just wanted to thank the posters who advised me about VT on my car lease.

I spoke to them today and I can return it without paying a penny!

Thank you so much!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Yay! Don't forget what I said last night! It's not over till they've checked it over.