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

[Hulababy]

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?

[Hulababy]

Gather as many resources as you can and try and keep up to date with new initiatives - via the teaching press and websites.

Local agencies - I did an internet search and found some, also many are listed in the back of TES's job pages.

The local LEAs normally have their own agencies too which pay best rates as they include your pension as well.

You can write to local schools you would be interested in working at on supply too, including a CV and letter to support it, saying when you will be available. Some schools like to do it this way as they don't have to pay commission to agencies then.

My friend does supply in primary. She is infant trained but has also been doing junior age too on supply. She has had no problem getting supply 3 days a week, and foten turns work down. She always has a pack of resources in her car just in case the teacher she is covering hasn't left enough work. She is gradually building this up.

Also, some agencies (esp. LEA ones) will pay for you to do some (3 here) training days each year at full daily rate.

Good luck and let me know how you get on. I am about to start putting all of this in action over the next few weeks.

BTW, where are you based?

[jinna]

I'm based in the reading area - thanks for all the info -i am going to find some agencies and see how much work is around - i feel a bit apprehensive - i've been a SAHM for a while and going back into the work place seems a bit daunting. I've kept updated with changes in the curriculum and teaching but still get butterflies - oh well i suppose the only way to get over them is to just go and do it - wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope i don't lose my bottle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hulababy]

Some agencies also do short back to teaching courses for SAHM,, etc. Might be worth checking out.

Well, mine is real now - letter of resignation went in the head's pigeon hole this morning.

[jinna]

good luck -let us know how you get along

[Roo23]

Hi sorry I am new here, I was just wondering about this thread and if you did lease etc? This is something I am considering, I am a single mum, working 2 days a week and I dread going to work to the point where it is making me poorly. I am just scared with me being the only financial income. Much appreciated if anyone replies x

[Freckles81]

Hey Roo, and OP, did supply work out for you both? I am in the same boat- hate mainstream tecahing, makes me stressed and sick all the time, so switched to supply. Wishing you the best x