Is it time to leave?

[WantOut1000]

Hi,

been teaching for 15 years and I used to love my job. We felt like a proper family and as teachers were involved in discussion and felt listened to etc.

We now have a totally new SLT and they have made some very big changes. The whole mood is negative with constant nit picking, meetings all the time and being told we are doing after school interventions. PPA is now on a rota with people getting snippets here and there but the timetable for this is only given at the start of the week meaning no one is sure of what is happening from week to week.

As a 0.6 I am now being told I will get a lump of PPA one week but then none the next. We’re told when to have our year group meeting. Told when to plan. The whole culture is one of mistrust, as if we will only do our job if told to do it at a certain time.

Everyone is crying. One teacher has already been signed off and others are clinging on. We have awful behaviour due to SEN needs not being met but then told there is no money for support for these children.

I had a panic attack at work last week and haven’t been able to stop crying. I’m a single mum to 3 and I feel like I no longer have anything to give to my children after a day of fighting fires at work.

I keep wondering whether this is just education now or whether a different school
would be better.

I get some UC. What would happen if I handed my notice in but then couldn’t find another job? Would I have made myself intentionally unemployed?

My head is scrambled right now

No, what you describe isn't normal. Sounds such a horrible place to work.
Definitely time to look for something else. In the meantime is there anyone you can talk to about the situation? Governors? Local authority advisors?

I have been in a similar situation- a once happy school became a nightmare. You are clearly very stressed and need to see your GP to be signed off. I resigned, but fortunately was able to cope without a regular wage for a short time. I did supply for a term and through that found a permanent role in an amazing school where I couldn't be happier. Could you try supply in the shorter term? I wish you luck Wantout. You are clearly a caring teacher and mother and you deserve so much better!

Thank you.

I think I have admitted to myself that I need to be signed off for a bit. I’ve gone from a strong confident teacher to feeling like a nervous wreck

Now I’m at home I feel like I will be ok by the time I’m due back on Tuesday but my friend likened it to being in an abusive relationship - you feel like you were overreacting once the ‘abusive’ part isn’t there

I’m so glad you are now happy where you are. Scary how much SLT can change everything

I agree - see your GP about this. Your job is not worth sacrificing your mental health, family life and well-being for. Sorry the situation is so toxic. Sounds really grim. I would suggest you think carefully about what boundaries you need to put in place to protect yourself from these stresses.

I know how hard it can be - I think last year I worked to the point of burnout in a really stressful school situation. In the end I stepped down from an additional responsibility I had and that made a huge difference to me, but obviously it came with a pay cut. I wish I had taken some time off for my own well-being, rather than kept going to breaking point.

I really hope your situation improves. I think if you can get a bit of headspace from it that would help, and definitely think you should be looking at other schools. With your financial situation I imagine you need to be really careful about resigning without something else to go to. Do you know what the situation is with other local schools? In my area lots are struggling to recruit, but I know it can vary a lot regionally.

Thank you. I think headspace is what I need but I worry about what affect getting signed off will have, both with my current school or any future school.

There seem to be a lot of teaching jobs locally and non-teaching jobs too. Or even supply, there seems to be a lot of call for supply in my area recently.