Need some advice - Leaving teaching

[Sambkh]

Hi all,

I have been out of teaching for 2 years (been at home with my son who started nursery in September). I found a part time teacher position. I knew the workload was crazy when I left (after getting pregnant thought I would leave teaching). I came back because I thought with a part time position I could cope. My timetable is so packed on the days I am in plus I am running a club on Tuesday ( we have to) plus there are meetings on Mondays. I cannot cope with this and having a little one. It’s breaking me and I’m only a month in.

I don’t know if I should leave or stick it out?? What other things could I go in to? I feel so lost but I’ve suffered with mental health problems for 10 years on and off and I just feel at breaking point. I don’t feel like the SLT will listen they are already not liking I’m a part timer and more expensive.

please any advice would be appreciated!

Have you considered supply? Less stability but far less responsibilities and commitment. No planning, meetings, subject leadership, clubs etc, minimal marking. Plus if you get regular work in a school you like it can be a foot in when a position comes up in the future, if and when you feel you want to go back to a permanent role (once your children are older maybe).

How many days do you work? Because if you are doing 100% of staff meetings and 100% of running a club, yet you work 40% or 60% (2 or 3 days), then that's wrong.

Hi there thank you for your responses. I work 3 days. I have a departmental meeting on Monday and Tuesday I run a club after school. On a Monday I teach 5 out of 6 periods, Tuesday - 5 out of 6 and Wednesday 5 out of 6.

Well that's part of your answer. You teach 60% so you should be doing 60% of the extras which, in simple terms, means you only need to run a club and attend meetings for 2 terms out of 3. A secondary person would need to comment on whether your PPA is correct - from my primary perspective, depending on the length of your periods, it looks as if it's about right or even slightly generous, but is it equivalent to 10% of your teaching time?

As a rule, PPA = 30mins per day worked so for 60% contract 90mins a week

I don’t know if it might be me but I just feel super anxious and extreme stress when I go in to the school I’m working at. I don’t know if I can carry on this way.

As you work 3 days a week, you should only be doing 60% of the meetings.
There are various ways this can work. When I had p/t team members as a HoD, I tried to fit with what suited them.

One didn't want to be 'out of the loop' so she chose to attend all meetings but leave after one hour (meeting was 1.5 hours). I used to do the agenda so she didn't miss anything vital. For example, if she didn't teach Y7, we did anything Y7 related last.

Another preferred to do whole meetings so would do say 4/6 in the half term - we would agree together which were best for her to attend.

Can you speak to your HoD? A good HoD should be able to help.

Why do you have to do a club? Is it a co curricular situation? My school has this so all staff run 2 sessions per week but a p/t staff member should only run perhaps 1. Is there someone you could double up with? Say, an ECT, to share the load?

Honestly my hod is absolutely useless I think he looks like he is about to have a nervous breakdown and he has been off quite a bit.

I feel your pain, I really do, but remember it is always a baptism of fire starting at a new school. The first term is always really difficult. I would put your foot down and say that you are only contracted to do 60% of meetings, clubs and duties. Make sure you belong to a union. Choose an easy club that requires no preparation or planning. Then try to breathe and take each day as it comes - you don't have to decide right now.
One thing I will say is that I found part time work to be the worst of all worlds - the pay was disproportionate to the amount of time that was expected of me. I was paid for 2 days and did at least 3.5 days worth of work/duties/clubs/meetings and planning. I am thinking about going back full time next Sep for this reason.

To be honest with you the workload you mention is completely reasonable and normal for a part time teacher. If you feel you need support then you should reach out to your line manager.

If it was me, I’d stay where you are - supply teaching is awful nowadays- it is not a guaranteed income at all.
Most schools cover internally due to the increasing costs - one of my old staff members left teaching for a career break and became a supply teacher two years later - they’re having to work a second part time job in Tesco to top up their income - it’s not worth it at all unless you’re incredibly incredibly desperate or you don’t need the money and you just want some pocket money… it’s also crap having to get up early waiting for the phone to ring and then sometimes it doesn’t and it is a day wasted then……

I think a lot of the usual suggestions of things like tutoring etc can be tricky when you have a young child, unless you have a partner who can provide childcare.

How much would you need to earn each week/month to replace your wage as a teacher?

Is the club optional or compulsory?

Hi OP
The struggle is real and everyone tells me it will get better? But does it really? I am an ECT. I did my PGCE last year and I had a recent catch up with my PGCE mates who are now ECTs working in different schools.
I was absolutely shocked to hear how disheartened and bad everything is going for them.
I have to say I am quite lucky as my school is very conscious of workload but the hours are still extreme- and I have good SLT and good school culture.
all the extra duties, clubs, meetings in addition to the teaching we need to do. So I really empathise with you- the pay is nowhere near as good for the work we do- otherwise we would not have a teacher shortage.
I would consider an alternative career 🙏