Leaving teaching advice

[ellierosetheteacher]

Hi everyone. I need some advice.

I've started a new job in my fifth year of Primary teaching, following a period of private tutoring after leaving my previous school at Easter after a rough period as the school was in Special Measures. I wasn't enjoying the job and wanted to see whether a new school with a change of environment would make me start enjoying teaching again. My private tuition contracts were ending so I thought, why not? I saw a job at a school that seemed lovely and jumped at the chance when they offered me a job.

It's two weeks in and so far, it's been awful. Terrible behaviour from the children around the school and in class, unsupportive SLT who 'drop in' daily and criticise everything, hundreds of new schemes that have been implemented with no time to set them up, unhappy staff and impossible expectations. I feel sad and regret taking the job as it's worse than my last school. I've gone from feeling like a good teacher to being made to feel useless as I'm criticised so much.

I want to leave at Christmas as I know this school isn't for me. I want to leave teaching altogether and start again. I can support myself financially for a while but I'm worried about telling them as they aren't going to be happy that I started in September and am leaving a few months later. What reason can I give for leaving? That it isn't the right environment for me/ I'm not right for the school? Should I say I'm moving away? Any advice? I don't know what to do but I know I can't stay here.

If you are feeling unsupported - no, worse - constantly criticised, then I'd let them know that. If you are leaving anyway, you've got nothing to lose and possibly everything to gain.
I wouldn't wait until you've handed in your notice, I'd go to them now and be open. Say that you are struggling with behaviour, and that you'd like to know how they can support you with that.

Tell them that you want to make it work, but you need to feel you are all working together as a team and it hasn't really been made clear to you what the behaviour policy is, the sanctions, the support when it is a bad day, etc.

In the first instance, I would focus on that.

If you get no support afterwards, then start addressing the criticisms.... is it the way they are saying things, or is it inconsistent what you are being told, or are they actually completely unfair criticisms, or what?

Don't be afraid to challenge / ask for a clearer instruction / ask what they want to to prioritise / whatever, when you feel they are just criticising you.

I know it's more writing, but I would also keep a record / diary of what you ask for and what their response is, and what the criticisms are.

Thanks for your reply.

I have already approached them for help with behaviour. The main issue is a child in the class who was excluded for the whole of last year who has been put back into class with not enough support for him. He cannot cope and it is impossible to teach when he is in the room. He is also violent towards the other children and I complained after he attacked another boy and had to be pulled off of him by another adult. SLT agreed to remove him from class for half the day but that lasted one day and now he is back, with a TA to support him - which makes barely any difference because he ignores adult instruction.

Their behaviour policy is weak too because after the first few steps, the children should spend 10 minutes sitting with them but they are never available. I sent a child to them last week (following the policy) and they sent them back saying they were busy.

As for the criticisms, I feel that they are unfair as it's constant. They dislike my classroom environment because the back of the room isn't tidy enough. I explained that I am slowly sorting it out but it isn't my fault, as last year the classroom was a spare room and was a dumping ground for everyone. When I started, it was full of rubbish and paper which I've had to clear on my own. There is hardly anything there now and they still complain.

They also dislike the way I have my seating (in rows initially, because the class are so chatty), the HT came in the other day shouting because we were a few minutes late out as the boy I mentioned earlier had run out of the room again so we were held up. They didn't like the way I carried out their new scheme of pupil meetings because the targets were 'too academic'. Nothing is right.

They are constantly displeased and I've never experience management who are like this. I've been keeping a paper trail via email of what I ask for but nothing changes. I want to leave teaching but I'm not sure if I should be honest and tell them it's because I do not like working at the school.

I would keep a record of this, and then phone the union, tbh.
It's wrong that this boy is unsupported - or, not adequately supported.
It's wrong that they have a behaviour policy that can't be implemented as they aren't available... they need a 'Plan B'.
It's wrong that a member of staff who has asked for help, is not being supported.
You've tried to do it all the way things should be done, and you are not being supported to make it work, then it becomes a union matter.

Really feel for you. I've been where you are now. I've no left teaching. Please message me and I'll tell you all about how I left. Would write it all here now but it's very long and I'm meant to be working (at my out of teaching job! )

If you're sure you want to leave teaching then this school, its problems and its inadequate management really don't matter - you don't need to prove a point. I would make an appointment to see the HT and explain that, after much serious reflection, teaching is not for you. Avoid criticising the school or individuals - even if it's deserved. Make it about you - be gracious. And write a nice resignation letter too - it doesn't have to be long - picking out the positives you'll take with you.

Agree with catford