Stepping down from SLT/ TLR

[FluffyPJs]

I'm in my 21st year of teaching, the last 14 have been in EY and I've finally got to breaking point with all my leadership responsibilities.

I work in a small school, so each teacher has about 4/5 subject areas, and as a member of the tiny SLT, I have a ton of extra work constantly. I'm getting to work at 7.30am, getting home after 7.30pm, then working at home til 11.30pm.

I'm exhausted. So from January I will be stepping down from the SLT/ TLR responsibilities, moving into year 1, and I CAN'T WAIT!!!

I will be losing £3500 a year for my TLR but, with a bit of belt tightening, we will be fine. Just won't be able to buy as much stuff for school as I have been!

Has anyone else stepped down from SLT in a small primary school? How was it when someone was doing 'your' job? I'm worried I may find it hard if/ when they do things differently!!

As someone in your position I can entirely see why you're doing it. Hopefully it will give you some quality of life back. We're so used in school to doing what we're told by higher powers that I'm sure you'll take any changes on board - at least the good bits.

And yes to not buying stuff for school! That's something I've really started to notice since our finances have been tighter (university age children). None of us should be propping up the system.

Good for you-it shouldn’t have to be this way. Are they allocating out your subject areas?

I think these new Ofsted Deep Dives will be the nail in the coffin for a lot of teachers. I’ve heard a couple of secondary teachers in a local cluster group say that we should know our subject inside out and should be able to talk at length about it and show progression, but actually it’s not easy in primary.

At my last (small) school-I coordinated history, geography, Art, DT, PSHE and RE. I’m sure one if not two of those subjects would come up in a Deep Dive. My degree is in English so I’m not a ‘specialist’.

Focusing on classroom teachers, expecting them to take inspectors on a learning walk to see evidence of their subject-showing them book trawls and identifying good practice through observations is something most have never ever done-it’s only SLT that ever get to step outside their classroom during lesson time in many schools.

It’s such a crap idea for staff mental health which is such a big thing at the moment!

Ofsted deep dives will be the end of a lot of small primary schools, let alone teachers. We have four teachers. Somehow, between them all, we’re supposed to have subject leaders for all subjects who know everything back to front and inside out, when a large primary school would have at least one member of staff per subject.

It’s completely untenable for small schools.

I did the same thing after my husband died. But in a primary special school. I just had no interest in that extra work any more. My priorities changed. I didn't regret it for a second.

The colleague who took over my role was very sensitive and thoughtful, and asked how I felt initially. I was able to tell him to stop worrying, and that I had no attachment to the role at all and he needn't think I'd be looking over his shoulder, because frankly, I really didn't care!
I went back to loving my job again, because I only had my class to think about. Best decision ever.

We looked at a small RI school for DS (he's at a small Good school in fact). The main issue with Ofsted seemed to be that some of the specialist subjects (History I remember) were not covered in enough depth. Frankly we were not bothered in the slightest; it seemed beyond unimportant compared to learning to learn, literacy and numeracy, and social skills at primary level. Yet the school was changing its name, and getting a new uniform, to redress this image.

No experience to share but I'm shocked that SLT is only £3500 in your school. What a huge amount of work for the pay.

I'm secondary so out of touch with small primary structures.

I don't blame you at all and wish you the best.

Yep. My take home monthly salary barely changed when I stepped down, Lola. Which made me wonder why I'd ever bothered! All that work and stress for next to nothing.

There is good neu guidance for teachers in small primaries facing Ofsted 'deep dives'. I posted it on another thread and I'll try to find it. The whole thing has clearly been planned by people with only secondary experience and no understanding of how primaries (especially small ones) work.

Here it is:
neu.org.uk/advice/ofsted-inspection-advice-members-main-or-upper-pay-range

All the best for the future op!

Wow interesting document thank you

I'm SLT but we have quite a wide structure, so mine's only worth the lowest TLR2 payment. Quite a lot less than £3,500 before tax.

Thank you for all the replies. It's made me feel much happier about my decision, knowing that I'm not the only one feeling like this.

I recently had a cancer scare, luckily got the all clear, but my older sister wasn't so lucky is currently having radio therapy after her recent mastectomy. Life just feels too short for all this insane workload.

I can't remember who asked, but we've employed.a new reception teacher who is taking on the leadership role, allowing me to step down.

I am so excited about JUST having maths, RE (church school so very important subject), PSHE/RSE and Values to lead!!

An update to this - we have hired a new person to take over the slt role and they start after Easter. Hurray! I am finally able to look forward to being JUST a teacher!!