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Original poster

Is it too early to resign now?

36 replies

GivingUpforgood · 26/09/2015 11:11

I started teaching Primary in a new school in September. I'm an experienced teacher of several years and I was going to give up teaching last year due to excess workload, pressure and all of those things. I decided to move schools and give it one last shot because I've always been told I'm a good teacher by Ofsted, SLT etc and I thought it was a shame to give it all up.

It was a huge mistake. This new school is awful. It is full of micromanaging leaders who clearly have their favourites and are constantly dropping in and observing. Yesterday I was pulled in for a meeting, told that I wasn't implementing their new English initiatives well enough and they had written a list of daily targets for me to complete and they will be formally observing me to check I've done it all on Friday. It was incredibly patronising and made me feel awful.

I was told about one of their NQTs who handles things really well (she trained there, with her current class, so obviously she knows the school and class well and is more settled.) It was all in a very condescending 'why can't you be more like her?' way. I felt really sad and insulted because I left a school where I was held in high regard to be treated like this. They were talking to me as if I'm incompetent. I'm trying so hard but it's difficult to be in a new school with new routines, the behaviour of my class is terrible and I've been working on that and at the same time, trying to implement about 5 new schemes for 'progress' which require a lot of setting up and resources. Sad

I want to leave because this is not the right environment for me. I was very tearful and upset last night and I feel down today. I have a tutoring centre who seem interested in giving me some work in the new year so I have something else I could possibly move on to.

I'd be grateful if you could help me with these questions:

-Is it too early to hand in my notice on Monday for the 31st October deadline? I definitely want to leave at the earliest opportunity, which will be Christmas. Should I hold off until later in October or do it now?

-Will I be able to omit this job from my CV, considering I never want teaching work again? Will they be able to give me a terrible reference if I ever needed one from them?

-What should I tell them about my reasons for leaving? I'm very conscious of the fact that I only started in early September. The HT is very intimidating and I don't want a difficult conversation. Should I say I'm moving away?

Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
GivingUpforgood · 26/09/2015 11:13

*When I say I never want teaching work again, I mean I will never apply for a teaching job in a school environment again. I may possibly do some 1:1/ group tutoring work either independently or through a tuition centre in the future, as this is another area I have experience in.

OP posts:
MischiefInTheWind · 26/09/2015 11:31

Would your previous school give you a good reference?
You are entitled to leave without needing any excuses or pretence that you are moving, a short note thanking them and saying that due to personal circumstances it is with regret that you have to resign.
You could do supply and tutoring until you get your balance back.
I wouldn't resign until the 31st deadline, gives you a month to see if you can turn things around, with the secret knowledge that you can quit by Christmas.

Original poster
GivingUpforgood · 26/09/2015 11:37

I know I have a glowing reference from my first school (I have a copy) and I think the one from my most recent school is fine, although I haven't seen it.
I think they will really grill me about it if I say 'personal circumstances.' It's difficult to know what to say. Confused

OP posts:
IguanaTail · 26/09/2015 11:40

Agree. You can't leave till Christmas anyway, so hold onto your letter till at least mid-October. Things might turn around by then and you might enjoy it. But if they don't, you could get the cold shoulder for longer than you have to.

You don't have to give a reason. If you are asked why, tell them you don't believe you need to give a reason.

MischiefInTheWind · 26/09/2015 11:42

Don't be bullied, you are an adult and don't have to say anything to justify your decision. Just say 'I really don't wish to discuss it' and let them wonder if it's marital, health or that your cover has been blown and you have to suddenly leave the country.
Try and be positive, or at least neutral about things over the next month. Although screaming, slamming doors or peeing in the head's coffee might be momentarily satisfying, in the long run it will harm you more.
If you do choose to leave, do it with dignity and self-control.
One of the brilliant things about supply is that you see all the independent kingdoms, dictatorships and democracies for what they are.

anothernumberone · 26/09/2015 11:45

I honestly do not know how teachers in the UK do it. I teach elsewhere and what you all go through sounds nightmarish. It is not like this everywhere. From what I have seen in UK outcomes, when they are compared to other countries, it is not having the desired outcome of improving the overall UK system and instead it is driving good teachers like you out so it seems so counter productive.

In your situation I personally would leave, sooner rather than later. The workload of implementing these changes is simply not worth it when you are not going to see the value in being more prepared in future years as a result of this work. I would not elaborate on my reasons for leaving with them even if pressed.

temporarilyjerry · 26/09/2015 16:50

Resigning sooner rather than leaving it till the deadline would give your school a chance to advertise and interview before resignation day. However, perhaps you could leave it a week or two and see how you feel.

IguanaTail · 26/09/2015 18:55

I personally would leave, sooner rather than later.

Contractually, she can't. The earliest you can leave is December 31st, having given notice by October 31st.

temporarily - yes it would be nice of her to give as much notice as she can, but I have the impression that her school might just lumber her with more crap if she does; unbelievably, some schools are petty and vindictive enough to take 'revenge' on staff, adding in cover, demanding additional schemes of work etc.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 26/09/2015 20:03

I can think of several jobs I've had, when I hated it until half term at least, so do you think that you could maybe feel differently in time?

There is an argument for giving the school plenty of notice, so they can find a replacement, but we're not even at the end of September yet and if you resign now, you have three months still to be in the school.

You will need a reference from your most recent employer, even if it only says Givingupforgood was employed from September to December 2015. Of course, that in itself, might ring alarm bells with future employers.

I wouldn't lie about your reason for leaving. That could come back to bite you and if you might work in a tuition centre you will need to avoid any skeletons in the closet.

If you're set on leaving, I'd probably wait for another couple of weeks to hand in your notice and say that you don't feel that you're the right fit for the school.

lurkinginthenorth · 26/09/2015 21:17

if this was me (and TBH, a lot of what you are going through is similar to what I went through this time last year), I would hand in my resignation at the last moment and then go sick (if it is possible?)
I was let down so badly last year, that I wouldn't be that thoughtful to give them as much notice. I would lumber them with it at the last minute. No respect for me, no respect for them.

MischiefInTheWind · 26/09/2015 21:23

She doesn't need to lie about her reasons for leaving, she doesn't need to give details at all.

Pico2 · 26/09/2015 21:25

It's worth considering whether you will feel better having handed in your resignation and knowing you definitely have an end point. Obviously you have to weigh that up against the reasons to leave it to the last minute, but it can feel really good and make the remaining time more manageable, just to know that there is an end point.

badgergirl82 · 26/09/2015 21:29

I'd resign. Don't go into detail - just say "this letter is to inform you of my formal intent to resign from the above post effective from 31st December 2015. I would like to thank you for the opportunity for working at X school and wish you and the school the very best for the future."

LottieDoubtie · 26/09/2015 21:34

Wait until the deadline. Doing it earlier is a nice thing to do in a school that deserves your loyalty - a school where you are patronised and bullied is not one of those.

Either don't give a reason beyond 'with regret, personal circumstances' and absolutely don't elaborate- they cannot make you and don't own you! Or, if you are feeling very brave cite that you don't feel well matched with the ethos of the school and go into (polite) detail if asked.

Either way, refuse to be bullied! Good luck Flowers

badgergirl82 · 26/09/2015 21:35

I actually disagree. I think the sooner the school know the OP is leaving anyway, they will back off.

LottieDoubtie · 26/09/2015 21:39

That's a gamble which may or may not pay off and not worth the risk imho.

To quote downton 'What's the use of a month of sour looks' except in this case, well, 3.

badgergirl82 · 26/09/2015 21:40

What do you think the risk would be?

LottieDoubtie · 26/09/2015 21:44

Further bullying, unpleasant conversations and 3 months of being sniped at and made to feel even shitter! This is a school that has already(in 3 weeks) made the OP tearful and seriously want to leave her profession. This is the time they should be nurturing and supporting their new staff.

badgergirl82 · 26/09/2015 21:47

Yes, and based on that, by the sounds of things she has been targeted.

knowing she isn't going to put up with that (resigned) will almost certainly cause them to lose interest and back off. If not - well - I wouldn't normally suggest it but get signed off. But I don't anticipate they will.

Scarydinosaurs · 26/09/2015 21:52

I did something similar and I just omit it from my CV.

Put it in now, you never know, they may want you out earlier- bonus!

Say you don't think you're a good match for the school and don't elaborate. Use phrases like "It's not any one specific thing" "I've really appreciated the experience" "I believe my skills are best suited elsewhere"

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 26/09/2015 22:44

I don't think that the school will necessarily back off if the OP resigns quickly. In some cases it appears to up the ante and makes life more difficult.

Original poster
GivingUpforgood · 27/09/2015 09:39

Thanks for your replies.

I don't know what to do. I know I want to leave teaching but I don't know whether to leave at Christmas or try to stick the year out and leave at the end of the year. It will look better on my CV if I've done a year and then left but I feel so unhappy there. Would I be shooting myself in the foot if I left at Christmas?

OP posts:
Finallyonboard · 27/09/2015 09:52

I left teaching and had a job that I loved for 10 years. Never looked back. I've just changed jobs again and I'm feeling like I did when I left teaching (feeling that there is more to life and wanting to resign). I'm probably going to resign having been there 6 months. What I learnt from leaving teaching is that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

Everytimeref · 27/09/2015 09:54

I was in a similar situation, got over looked for a promotion, give to someone with 1 years experience, I have many years of experience in the particular job, because they interviewed well. (shame they cant actually do job!) I wanted to resign but glad I didn't because it wouldn't have made any difference to the school but I would have to me.

Personally I would wait until Christmas and decide then. The first term in a new school is always the toughest. The students have to try you out to see what they can and cant get away with. Your a good teacher and it will get better.

Everytimeref · 27/09/2015 09:55
  • but would have to me