Backstabbing colleagues

[TiddlyToes21]

I'm going to change a few details as I don't want this to be too outing.

I'm a primary school teacher and have been for the last 12 years. Now part time as I have young children. Last term, it was just one thing after another with big brother warching, backstabbing colleagues. I feel like I'm constantly being watched and then complained about to senior management. It's been over quite minor things too in the scheme of things. For instance, I'd not structured a lesson on PowerPoint as it should have been done. A teacher in another class in the same year group had noticed this and spoke to slt. I also incorporated a few short creative activities into the last week of term which sometime then spotted and went to slt about as I wasn't sticking to the exact timetable. I was, but we're talking 5/10 mins here or there to do a bit of art and they're 6 year olds!
After this, I was then told that I wouldn't be teaching a particular subject to my class as the children weren't making enough progress in it. So another teacher would be teaching that this term with me supporting. This obviously feels pretty rubbish and has totally sapped my confidence.

I made a technical error on saving a document recently, which was easily resolved. However, the IT technican who I was asking to support me with this, went to management about this error instead of speaking to me first. I've had other teachers look at my line of children and say that they're being too noisy or they should be standing in a certain way. I don't think my behaviour management is bad at all and I am very aware of keeping everyone in check. I just don't understand this need for other teachers and staff (of the same level) to bring each other down and grass each other up. Is it a power thing? I've never done this to another teacher or colleague.

I've been so stressed by these past few months in this school. I only do a couple of days a week and job share. I'll be leaving in July as being there just feels horrible and I want to get out. I don't even know if I want to teach in mainstream now. Not because of the children but beause of other staff and management.

Any advice?

Anyone?

No advice but I would be counting the weeks down until July.

This sounds horrible- I've never been in a school like this, but I really couldn't cope with it. It sounds like a culture issue with the school.

Leaving in July sounds like the right course of action to take.
With that many people from different areas reporting you to management there would be two explanations either:
There's a really nasty bullying culture in the school with certain members of staff being widely scapegoated
Or
You're weaker and more problematic than you realise or are prepared to admit.

Either way, moving on and having a fresh start will help you to see if you want to carry on teaching or not.

Good luck with the rest of the term!

Sounds exactly like my school OP...toxic, backstabbing and unpleasant to be in.

Thank fuck I'm nearly retiring!! One more year...just one more sodding year!! (Please god, let me get through it! 😱😢🤞😔)

@DrHousecuredme I am my harshest critic and have really questioned myself on whether I am the problem. Perhaps I haven't always stuck 100% to the script and the script in this school is incredibly rigid. However, I know I haven't done anything awful. The things I've been picked up on have been quite minor.

I do think that being part time is really hard and I don't always get told things I need to know.

@SpringIntoChaos sounds stressful. Do you think it filters down from management or just unpleasant personalities in the school?

My only advice is to move on. Honestly if the environment is hellish your work life will be unbearable. Busy bodies are the worst colleagues.

@TiddlyToes21 in my school it's 'a bit of both'! An SLT who have an agenda and who simply don't care how their actions, and ever increasing demands, affect staff morale. Plus, a small (but 'effective') 'inner circle' of teachers who act as SLTs 'ears and eyes'. We are a big staff (3-form entry primary) and these 'eyes and ears' are honestly like the 'Eyes' in Gilead! We can't fart in the playground without SLT being informed 🤦‍♀️😔

Jeez sounds like such a joyless place for the children. You're absolutely better off out of it. When colleagues behave like that it's a sign of a toxic atmosphere, they are scared and deflecting attention away from themselves.

@winewolfhowls there is definitely an atmosphere of fear in the school.