Made the move from SLT to subject leader

[Iveonlygoneanddoneit]

In my heart I know it’s the right thing but my brain hasn’t caught up yet.
I’ve just stepped away from SLT with a massive paycut and accepted a subject leader position.
Am I mad???
Did you do it? Are you happier??

I stepped down from SLT (AHT) to a class teacher role. I've never regretted it, especially when I swan out at 4.30pm on a mon night and SLT are all in a meeting!
No seriously, my only advice would be to get used to saying no. I became conditioned to doing extra lunch time duties, assemblies and anything else thrown my way as an AHT. I don't want to sound militant but make sure you are not taking on anything above and beyond your pay grade from now on.

I haven't done this myself but I have a friend who did it.

He has no regrets at all - less pressure, less hours and more time for his family.

SLT isn't for everyone and there's no shame in stepping back.

Done it…. Love it

Thanks all! I know it’s the right decision for me and my family.

I’m excited but also just scared of starting in a new place now!

DH is applying to step down from HOD to a classroom teacher. He went for two interviews this week, one he didn't get and one he is waiting on hearing from (should be 24hrs). He is convinced he won't get this one either as they don't like to see people step down so I'm relieved to find this thread. It's what he needs as he's dealing with a lot of subordinate bullying from staff who hate SLT and take it out on him. So he needs to step down for his mental health but if he can't get a job then he'll have to carry on and I'm super worried about him.

Yes ish. I went from Senco - whole school responsibility, 16 TA’s, never ending paper work, never knowing what would just pop up back to HOD of my subject - where I am just in charge of myself. All my lessons are planned for the next term and so my day is spent on teaching (I know where I am) and putting praise/d-marks on the system. I will have to offer a club but not yet!!

Somehow it’s the same pay. It is not at all the same job.

As others say, make sure you don’t end up doing stuff that’s not your job. You need to feel the benefit in terms of reduced work, for the less pay. If you’re staying in your current school, it can be hard to back-off when people haven’t quite caught onto you being in a new role.

In meetings, keep quiet. Don’t contribute too much and don’t volunteer for things. When difficult issues and challenges come up, your automatic response will be to start working out solutions - as that has been your job until now - but don’t. Step back and be clear in your mind that it’s not your job.

Of course, one thing you’ll find is you teach more classes and have more marking and prep. Sometimes those stepping down form leadership have shock when they remember how hard the life of a standard teacher can be, and how little flexibility they have due to limited time not teaching. But hopefully you’ll get more headspace and less meetings and be able to leave earlier if that suits you.

Good luck. And remember, if ever you want a change, there will still be SLT roles to go back to and if you’ve done a good job, your experience will still count. Hope life feels better for you.

Awww. Thanks!

New school so starting afresh. I know the teaching will be more but even now I’m planning lessons that I don’t even teach! And marking a whole bunch of extra papers that aren’t even my classes as part of supporting the department!
I just have to remember that I’ve done it for a better balance and make sure I maintain than!

If you have any final salary pension benefits then make sure you know how to protect them so they can be used forever and not just in the last 10 years when it comes to working out your pension. Simply taking a month out of the TPS will do the trick.

Good point. Final salary pension is calculated based on the last year if service before retirement or average of best 3 in last 10. Given your salary will be dropping now, you stand to lose out in retirement, if you never return to SLT and higher wages. However, by taking a month out of pension, a 3rd calculation is done, based on the break. Given your current salary will be revalued annually with inflation, it will grow and remain far higher than the newer salaries. It can make a substantial difference in retirement and few people realise then when stepping down for various reasons. This only applies if you were in service before April 2012.

@WombatChocolate I had taken 3 months out when I wasn’t working during covid. Starting teaching before 2012 so will that count as the pension break?

[quote Iveonlygoneanddoneit]@WombatChocolate I had taken 3 months out when I wasn’t working during covid. Starting teaching before 2012 so will that count as the pension break?[/quote]
Yes, any break will count. However there are two types of hypothetical calculation (the name for this rule) and the better one needs your final salary when you do actual, finally, finish to be higher that the final salary you had at the break. If it isn't then that calculation ignores your service after the break. So, it is worth working out what it was at the time and considering if you are going to teach long enough for your current salary to overtake it. Then compare that to what you have now. You can always take a 2nd break if it's doubtful that you will get a higher pension. Each and every break creates this extra calculation and you always get the best one. The advantage of taking a break now is that the rule on counting service after the break that I mentioned earlier no longer applies because there is NO final salary service after March 2022, so nothing would be discounted.