Help! Don't know what to do now.

[TeacherAnon]

It's not looking good with my job. I have chronic illness (I should be considered disabled) and where I work is making me quite ill, for a number of reasons. My attendance is also poor. One way or another, it will be coming to an end.

I have well over a decade of teaching experience in a core subject and have always been well regarded. My competence has never been questioned. It is just unfortunate I can't cope with the pace at the moment. I don't want to write too much about it here because I don't know what the outcome of all of this will be yet.

I'm in a bit of a panic about what happens next. I am UPS3 so have a lot to lose financially. Most jobs advertised are FT and, with my current track record, I'm not hopeful.

I can set up as an independent tutor as there is a demand where I live, but this won't be enough money by itself. There is also supply, but I'm hearing mixed stories about what it pays and work availability. As I'm in a shortage subject, I would hope I'd be okay. I'm also in a city. I think I would also manage short bursts of FT.

If anyone has any advice, or wants to give me a million pounds, it would be greatly appreciated .

Do you like where you are? Is asking for PT an option? They may be understanding as they know your medical history?

Have you thought about going on supply? More pay, you can work the hours you need to, no planning ect.

I've been refused part time four. Nobody has it in my school. I did like it, but suspect it will be changing quickly as we have new management.

user I think this is my only option atm, but have no idea what the pay is like as I've read some worrying accounts of people not getting very much.

I've been refused part time four. Nobody has it in my school. I did like it, but suspect it will be changing quickly as we have new management.

user I think this is my only option atm, but have no idea what the pay is like as I've read some worrying accounts of people not getting very much.

Is it maths? (Would go for English too)

Lots of schools hire maths teachers for intervention work with Y11s, and for after school tutoring of PP kids. Primaries might be interested in a maths teacher doing a bit of teaching to stretch whatever their level 6s are now called. Tutoring can be very lucrative, especially if you can offer A-level (I've heard £50 an hour!), tutors around here are booked solid. Don't forget exam marking in the summer, IGCE in Jan and resits in November.
I think if you're prepared to be a bit of a jobbing teacher, it would be possible to arrange work for hours that would suit you.

Have you considered part time work in an independent school - much less stressful or supply teaching? If you are competent and teach a core subject you could probably state your own terms. Last year I had a one day a week supply,contract in the same school and did extra days supply as and when I felt,well enough. I also do some after school tutoring. I now have a permanent part time job doing literacy intervention work with groups of no more,than 4 - it's lovely.

I'm English noble and suspect the jobbing teacher approach will be my only option, yet, as you say, it could work out well for me. I already examine and I've tutored in the past.

curry that sounds ideal. I doubt I'll get any job directly given my current attendance record (which is shocking), but I hope that agencies will sign me up. I know I am capable of regular work, it's just all or nothing where I am now.

for all the replies .

One of my friends had to give up her English job because she suffered from Chronic Fatigue. She didn't think she'd ever teach again.

However, a couple of years later she saw a job advertised for small group intervention at a local school. She got the job and has never looked back.

It sounds great. She rocks up for three mornings a week and works with small groups of mostly GCSE students and has very little planning or marking.

I think the school have asked her to do more but she's happy with what she's doing at the moment.

Luna that's essentially where I am at the moment - chronic fatigue DX pending to go with my Fibro. for a tale to give some hope!

I hope this is not bad advice, but I would be inclined to write some speculative letters to some schools, perhaps independent schools, explaining positively what you have to offer... you never know who might have the post that might just suit you in terms of hours etc. All the very best

OP, I know several PP are saying go supply, it's better paid. I doubt very much if it will be. I'd certainly contact your local agencies to find out what you could expect. FWIW, I did supply for a couple of terms and had a daily rate of £90 (this was outside of London and before doing my NQT year).

The positive side of supply was, I found out loads about local schools, and was able to find a part-time NQT job that really suits me. If you did supply for a while, you might well be able to set up a part-time job on your terms.

My understanding was that they cannot ask questions about time off sick or health now until after an interview, and have to have a good reason for retracting a job offer that cannot be seen as discriminatory. I could be wrong though, but it might be worth seeking union advice for clarification so you know how easy it will be to move on.

Can you email schools speculatively with vacancies asking if they'd consider part time for the right applicant? You never know what might work with their timetable. And supply is always a good option - sadly due to so much stress and so many leaving the profession there seems to be a fair bit of work around at the moment!

Try to be positive. English is, as you say, a core subject and I think with examining and tutoring you will at least be able to bring in some income.

Have you considered perhaps looking into a certain amount of retraining (I don't know what it would require) to move into SEN teaching? At the independent school where I work we have a core team of SEN teachers whose timetable is almost entirely made up of one-to-one learning support lessons. Sometimes they come into classes to support specific students or in a TA role, and during the exam season provide invigilation for students who don't sit exams in the main hall along with scribing/reading duties.

It would have its own challenges but I thought the one-to-one work might be more manageable than whole classes and all the marking that entails?

Oh TeacherAnon, poor you!

There is hope but it was a looooong old haul for my friend. It took her good few years to recover and even contemplate getting back into the class room.

You definitely need an understanding SMT, which wasn't present at the school we taught at. I would say leave as soon as you can and concentrate on getting well again. My friend was allowed to go mid term.

Re supply - it is not better paid.
There is plenty of work in areas with lots of schools, but agencies do not pay to scale - you will have to negotiate and until you have proved your worth to the agency you are unlikely to get more that 120 per day (including holiday pay) to start (in London, don't know about other cites) as there are lots of ex-teachers, EU teachers etc doing supply. (You can negotiate higher as you get asked back by schools). The first few weeks in September is thin, as are the weeks after the GCSE classes go as regular teachers use their released time to cover classes.

Thanks you for all of your replies.

I am definitely out and terrified!