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Original poster

Help! Should I quit and do supply? Or am I mad to risk it?

56 replies

Hulababy · 23/02/2004 15:36

I know this isn't going back to work but it is work-related.

As many of you know I am teacher of ICT at a secondary school. I teach part time (60%) 3 days a week. I have been teaching now for 7.5 years, and I am at the top of the main pay scale. The school I work at is not a good school and may infact finally fail its OFSTED this half term - it is currently in serious weaknesses.

I used to love teaching but now I feel so fed up, stressed and upset with it all and don't know what to do. I go back tomorrow after half term and can already feel myself getting worked up about it. The children on the whole are poorly behaved (in all classes, not just mine), there seems little respect from children and parents for education, senior management feedback/support seems limited at times, discpline policies are no longer working and since being in serious weaknesses things seem to be getting worse again (they did improve briefly at the start). So what should I do?

DD is at a great nursery near school and loves it. She is 22 months and not due to start school (near home) until September 2006. I had hoped that I could stick this school out until then and then come and do either part time (not many pt jobs about though) or supply teaching in and around Sheffield. But now I don't think I can stick it out. To make matters worse my very supportive HoD has told nme that he has no intention of staying beyond this year as he is so demorialised with it and he is looking elsewhere all the time.

Dh is a well paid solicitor, and we are financial well off. But I don't want to not work - I want to be able to maintain our currennt life style and we need to keep saving for DD's school fees.

Should I risk it all and quit this summer, and start supply early? My friend does primary supply near here and is never short of jobs, and certainly there seems to be no shortage of supply jobs from speaking to other people.

But is it too much of a risk? Is it worth moving DD to a new nursery? Would she settle okay? Would I get her into a nursery which was good? What happens if people aren't telling me the truth and I get less than 3 days work lots of times? Oh, what should I do?

This has gotten quite long and I am starting to feel horrible again about it all, so going to stop now. Not sure what to do or what I expect anyone to be able to do or help. I just need to sort this out in my head I guess.

What would you do?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hulababy · 23/02/2004 19:14

Codandchips _ I have worked at 2 types of schools - one top of the league and this one. I loved teaching at my last school but no jobs like that are very hard to come by. I left my good one because of the travel sadly. Unfortunately no jobs around there at the moment, and certainly not PT.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hulababy · 23/02/2004 19:17

Thank you Moomin; that was really good info there and I will certainly try that route of contacting other schools. I know my health has to be dealt with too. My heart condition isn't actually caused by stress but stress makes it worse, and it certainly has been worse recently I do try and do things to help it but until I have a clear diagnosis it is hard. Hopefully the appointment mid March will go towards doing that.

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Codandchips · 23/02/2004 19:34

no hula bet they need supply tho

(its coddy btw)

Nome · 23/02/2004 19:40

Take your time researching supply. While it is kind to your current school to give them as much time as possible to find a replacement for you, you don't have to make your resignation final/written until the summer half term (three months until beginning of Sept).

Original poster
Hulababy · 23/02/2004 19:49

Codandchips - I am dense and didn't pick up on your name - doh!

Nome - I have no worries about doing lots of research first don't worry. I will do lots and lots, probably to much. And I don't owe my current school much anyway. They are aware most staff are unhappy so it will come as little suprise I guess. I need to find out that exact date though.

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Codandchips · 23/02/2004 19:52

god yes - I wouldnt worry about them...

still dont see why you dont try sahm!!

theres a whole world out heere!

Original poster
Hulababy · 23/02/2004 19:55

Part of me would love it coddy, but I just can't really. We would have to give up too much of our current life style to do so. And I wouldn't have the spare cash to do all the things I want to do with DD, which I can do in my days off currently. Maybe shallow reasons to some but it is hard to give things up when you are used to them. And DD's schooling is an important factor too - we have to start saving for that now.

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fisil · 23/02/2004 21:01

Hi Hula, just thought I'd say I'm sorry I wasn't around earlier to offer you any advice. As usual you've had loads of good advice.

I reckon that supply is what you want to do. I'd go for cultivating a relationship with a couple of schools. We have a teacher who resigned once she became a Mum, but has an arrangement that she will do supply on Wednesdays if it is required - so it makes childcare easier for her to sort out, the school saves money (and she gets paid more), and we know we are getting someone good to cover our classes.

I know you won't want to do this at your current school, (although I'm sure my school is fairly similar to yours) but your HoD might be able to "take you with him", and you must have other links with teachers/schools. We would love it if we heard from someone like you!

Lots of luck!

Original poster
Hulababy · 23/02/2004 21:34

Thanks fisil - more helpful advice again; knew MN would help me get my head sorted on this!

I'd love to keep working with HoD but unfortunately he is moving back to work near him home and his family - opposite direction to me

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Original poster
Hulababy · 24/02/2004 14:38

Thank you guys. I am having a chat with Dh tonight about it all. Just being back at school for a day was enough to reinforce my thoughts on this, and today was a good day And my HoD is definitely going - even has an interview on Thursday. Thanks for the advice and I will keep you posted.

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hercules · 24/02/2004 15:55

what puts me off doing supply is that if you go through an agency and want to keep your pension going rather than freezing it you have to pay employers contribution as well which with your own would work out at about 16-17 % !

Original poster
Hulababy · 08/03/2004 18:00

hercules - if you do supply through the LEA's supply agency, most pay your salary for you as normal. Agencies, as you say, don't but I will deal with that as and when. DH is pretty good and that type of thing.

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Original poster
Hulababy · 08/03/2004 18:04

Quick update too.

Been to see a lovely nursery for Dd today and pretty sure that we will be sending application form off for it this week. They couldn't do one of my first choice days but can my second choices. MIL is happy to change 'her day' and to be flexible to have DD on one of the other 3 days as and when we need her. She is just happy to hear that we still want her to look after DD still even though we are moving her nursery.

Once DD is sorted I can hand my notice in. It has got to happen. School is getting worse with each week. Despite me always getting good lesson obs feedback the overall school is still failing, and discipline is terrible at times now.

I have also applied for a local job., It is a FT job byut asked them to consider it as PT. Maybe they won't get the response they want - ICT is still a big shortgae area. So they maybe able to consider it, you never know.

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Original poster
Hulababy · 15/03/2004 13:19

Another update for anyone who is interested...

I have had confirmation back for the new nursery for DD so that is sorted.

So I am going to write my notice later today and get it handed in this week.

I have also looked into things work wise more and feel I should be fine. I have just sent for further dt=etails for a local school which might be worth considering. And also for details for lecturing at a local prison - in my subject area and mabe also about parenting. I have worked there before ages ago and really enjoyed it.

So, it is really happening

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hercules · 15/03/2004 13:52

Glad to see things are working out for you.

My union have approached me and asked me to take my head to a tribrunal apart my request to go parttime. He has refused others the same thing. He wont let me know until the end of the Summer Term which will mean I will have missed the resignation date and wont be able to do the 13 weeks I owe them due to maternity pay.

Original poster
Hulababy · 15/03/2004 13:55

hercules; that is just not on. Does he have any grounds do this? What will you do?

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hercules · 15/03/2004 14:01

His reasons are the timetable and not knowing who is going to resign end of May. Trouble is I cant afford childcare for 2 kids so dh has taken a night job he dislikes so we can share it between us. If they say no to parttime I'm in trouble. There havent been any test cases around here like mine and the other teacher at my school and the unionn is keen to get my head as he's so awkward on most matters. He's already broken the rules by not replying to my first written request in writing, he just read the letter and said no!!

Original poster
Hulababy · 15/03/2004 14:05

He sounds a nightmare hercules. I was lucky in that sense, the head agreed to me doing PT before I even left for maternity leave. Surely the timetabling isn't an isuue really though? My school managed to sort it out no problem.

Are you going to do the tribunal?

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hercules · 15/03/2004 14:24

I'm not sure I have any choice as the union are really keen on doing it and if I don't do it and then my head says no in July it puts me in a difficult position re seeing my union for help as there's not much they can do then.
otoh my head might agree to it anyway in July and everyone's happy.

hercules · 15/03/2004 14:24

apart from the union.

Original poster
Hulababy · 15/03/2004 14:26

Fingers crossed then. And good luck in what you decide to do.

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hercules · 15/03/2004 14:30

Thanks. i'm sure I'll be on mumsnet about it. If things dont work out then as my school broke the contract first i might be let off the maternity pay as the contract is void iyswim. If this happens then I will do supply 2-3 days a week.

Original poster
Hulababy · 15/03/2004 14:37

Well I hope it all goes well for you. Apparantly there is a lot of supply out there at the moment at least. Best be now anyway

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jinna · 15/03/2004 14:39

hi there - i am also looking to do supply work - i have been a SAHM for the last 5 years and would now like to return to work on a part time basis - i would prefer to do primarily in the infant age group as this is the one i have the most experience in - any advise - what should i prepare myself for and what sort of things should i take with me - also where do i found out about local agencies - lots of questions!!!!!!!!- thanks for any help

jinna · 15/03/2004 17:38

where have all the teachers gone !!!!!!!

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