Am I being unreasonable to feel like this?

[hollytom]

I moved to my current school a couple of years ago as a job share (0.5). I have found it difficult to move into someone else's class, it has never felt like my class as my jobsharer was long established in the school and has her own ways of doing things. At first I was covering her for maternity leave and changed things a little like the tables and seating when it was just me but when she returned to jobshare she changed everything back to her old ways without speaking to me. I let it go because I told myself that one of us has to take a back seat as it won't work if we both want to do things our own way and as I am the 'new person' it needs to be me. i wasn't particularly happy with this but I put up with it as a necessary part of being part time.
However at inset today it was announced that there is going to be a staff restructure and my jobsharer is now the team leader. This was a complete shock to me. It is not entirely clear what this will entail but observations and scrutiny was mentioned. I feel really unhappy about this firstly that there has been no discussion about the restructuring and secondly that she will now be in effect above me and checking my teaching etc. I feel it will tip the balance between us even more. I am struggling with working there anyway and just feel this is one step too far. I don't know if it's me because I am just fed up there or would anyone else feel like this?

I think it's quite usual for a member of SLT to job share a class, particuarly when they have 2 or 3 days a week out of class for their leadership responsibility. Does this mean that she was working part time since mat leave and has now gone back to full time work?

I suspect that you're finding it hard because you're not happy there and are finding it hard to work with her. You've got until half term to decide whether it's time to move on and hand in your notice, or if things settle down and you think you can make it work!

Thanks for the reply she is not SLT though she is a normal teacher who has now been made into a team leader with no consultation!

I think you might find that "team leader" brings with it quite a lot of shit that you can bypass. Extra meetings, duties etc.

Oh yes I agree with that I just don't like the idea of my colleague scrutinising me. Maybe I am over reacting I think it is all linked with my dislike of the school

It sounds like you're over that place. Time for a fresh start somewhere else?

I would hate that situation.

Start looking elsewhere from tonight! Get the Guardian and TES job alerts set up on your phone, and register with some supply agencies - you can specify that you'll only consider a long term or 0.5 position etc.

I signed up with several supply agencies a few years ago when I was desperate to get out of an abysmal school with no SLT support, that was in special measures. I was constantly ill and exhausted.

I told each agency I would only consider long term positions, and I was very fortunate to have been informed about a few of these that were available.

I took a long term position in one school for 5 months and I adored it. It refreshed me mentally, and professionally, and whilst there, I gained a permanent, full time post (via TES) at another fabulous school beginning in the new academic year. I never looked back after that.

If you feel unhappy, try your best to get out of there. You will feel worse the longer you stay.

Thank you for your response. I keep trying to be positive about it telling myself I am lucky to have got a part time position but I just feel like I have freedom or input really into my class. I have come to realise that I really enjoy having my own class to develop over the year.
I think it's also because it's a smallish school my last school was bigger so there seems to be a lot of control and scrutiny such as submitting plans each week and being told that I can't have small groups working outside the classroom with a TA even though the classroom is small. I guess at my last school I was used to more autonomy. Hopefully not all schools are so prescriptive.

Morning. I had a very similar situation with a job share and it was difficult. Always feeling on the back foot and being treated as a child. I'm the end I left but that was the best thing I ever did! I spent some time on supply and I'm now working in a much bigger and happier school. I'm also in an area where there is not a teacher shortage and I am expensive but it worked out ok.

Thank you that's good to hear. Yes I know what you mean about being treated like a child I was spoken to by the HT like a naughty child. I just keep thinking oh it's ok it's only part time I shouldn't care so much but I do!

Look for another job? She sounds like a twat.

I'm on SLT and job share, teaching 0.6 (although I am on mat leave at the moment 😀).

Although I am team leader of the age group I teach, I do not line manage my job share colleague, another member of SLT does. This was my decision as I wanted us to be 'equals' in the class. Job sharing a class is hard enough without any power dynamic stuff going on.

Thank you for your reply this is exactly how I feel we are not really equal partners now and this will tip the balance even further. I think I need to establish what exactly they are thinking in terms of management but I am thinking that this is not really the school for me and it's time to move on. I am lucky in that I can be flexible in terms of hours this was my attempt to get some work life balance by going part time.