Anyone else working notice? It’s soo long!

[wonderstuff]

I’m not happy in my school, I’ve got a new job, offered just before Christmas, I’m super excited about it, but obviously it starts after Easter and this term is so long!

Im currently SENCO with some teaching, I’m already the second teacher my year 11 have had after a few months of supply so they are not going to be happy and I do feel bad for them. I don’t know when to tell the kids or parents. I’m trying to leave everything in good shape, but it’s so chaotic it’s going to be tough.

Teacher notice periods are just crazy no?

Last year I started at an awful school at Easter, knew I wanted to leave just after the May deadline and had to wait till Christmas to leave. It felt like forever! But I just kept a literal countdown of the days and watched the number get less and less. You'll get there ♥️ glad to hear you're moving on to bigger and better things!

PS don't feel too bad about Year 11. Yes it isn't ideal, but you've got to do what's right for you!

I’ll have done a year and a term and honestly I don’t think I could cope with longer without breaking. The head is lovely but it’s that awful situation where he can’t stabilise the staffing and it’s just so difficult to work with such high turnover. I hadn’t realised how difficult small schools were. 7.5 teaching weeks to go.. I’m taking a pay cut and increasing my commute, but I’m going to be so much happier I think.

I’ve just started a new role in Jan and feel like I want to leave already. I don’t know if I should ride it out till August or just go at the end of Easter. Both seem very far away right now!

It's impossible to work in that sort of environment when there's so much disruption in terms of teaching. The kids must be all over the place too. Good on you x

I'd say go with your gut. And it also depends on whether the things you're struggling with are likely to get better with time / are due to being new, or whether they're things that won't change. X

Yes! I am counting down the days! I handed my notice in in December and I can’t believe I could have waited until next week to still leave at the same time!
I think they need to change something.

Don’t worry about Year 11, as brutal as it is - they will have forgotten about you come next term.

yes they are long notice periods, but schools need the opportunity to recruit replacements especially if it is a specialist role. As a HT; my notice period is two terms but I’ve already told my line manager that I will be retiring in August 2026 so that they can plan ahead with succession across the trust.

Nearly at half term, I’m feeling exhausted and a bit broken. Feel like parents are using me as a punching bag, one of our kids was outrageous today and I cried a couple of times, which I don’t do often. I know it’s not really about me but a broken system I can’t make work, but it’s still so tough. Think I’m going to spend half term recovering!

So our head managed to resign last Monday and be out of the door by Friday. Obviously there were reasons, but feels so unfair. I’m not sleeping and feeling broken, not sure I’m going to make it to Easter, every week seems harder than the last.

@wonderstuff yeah that is not fair!
Shame the head couldn’t officially agree you could go before they left!

I’m just counting down the days. I’m still working my sock off with planning and teaching but I’ve had a huge list of things given to me for subject coordinator and I just don’t care and don’t want to do any of it!

@BraOffPjsOn you’d think right? I actually got sleep last night and feeling so much better. But gosh counting down the days. I’ve no handover plan, so I’m trying to keep notes but it’s inevitably a bit of limbo as I’m not planning transition or anything for next term. New head is part time as she has another school, we’re waiting on a bad Ofsted, no one knows how bad, moral is very, very low. They didn’t get any candidates applying for my job that they want to interview. 4 and a half weeks..

I ended up going with my gut @redsquirrel07 and handing in my notice so counting down and just can’t wait to be out. I’m so glad I did because the niggles I had in Jan have become real sticking points. Any suggestions that I have had (for the benefit of my own classroom and chn) have been swiftly met with a ‘this is how we do things here’ attitude so I know now that this is not the place for me. Everybody here is frustrated but I am only going to be frustrated for 4 more weeks. Then who knows? I have an interview for a basic job next week and the worst I have heard is that it can get boring and slow at times. My first thought was what a blessing to be bored and not drowning!

I’ve called in sick today. I didn’t sleep last night and I’m exhausted. Today is also anniversary of DH brothers death (unexpected heart attack last year) and SIL is coming down and we’re going out for dinner and honestly I can’t do both today.

I haven’t been sleeping well in weeks, I normally manage 4/5 hours though. I’m in bed and need to get up, can’t decide between a walk or some gardening, think I need some exercise and then I’m going to try a nap.

And obviously I’ve got marking although most of it is in school so I need to make it in tomorrow.

Good on you for going with your gut, it's scary in one way but I think there's a lot to be said for intuition!

I'm so pleased that you're glad you did it and that it was the right call.

I've also handed my notice in at my current school but have said I will leave in summer, mostly so I have time to work out what I want to do (not classroom teaching!)

I have friends who complain about being bored at work sometimes and I can't help but think what a luxury!! And this basic job could be a stepping stone towards something you really enjoy.

Good luck for your interview - keep us posted!

@redsquirrel07 I agree. I used to be a bit of a ditherer but I’m too old to waste another second of my life, so gut instinct it is! Wishing everyone the best of luck and better, sunnier and happier days as you take the leap.