Quitting during my NQT year

[Gaspodethe1derdog]

Hello!
Apologies for a very rambly, Sunday night panic sort of post.

I am an NQT who qualified through a well known “leadership programme” (two year grad scheme. I also did a year as an unqualified teacher - this means I started teaching in Sept ‘15, got my PGCE in August ‘17. I’m not fresh out of uni, prior to April ‘15 I worked in marketing.

I’m signed off at the moment with stress and the job has broken me. I’m constantly being told I’m failing my children, I can’t keep up with the marking and I have normalised 60 hour weeks (7-7 at my desk, working through lunch) and additional work at weekends. The SLT are not remotely supportive and my training providers are mostly interested in keeping me on the programme. I’ve realised the job is completely unsustainable for me and my lifestyle...I don’t have a lifestyle because I don’t have a life!

My question goes out to anyone working in teaching or who has quit already and found pastures new...

Should I stick this year out (I am quite certain I have already failed this term, FYI) and quit in July, never to return, or quit in April? I am 100% certain that I do not want to teach and will go back to working in marketing, but I’m really worried about quitting without completing my NQT year. On the other hand, I’m not sure it’s possiblr in my current unsupportive and very difficult workplace. I would love to hear advice from those who have made the jump, work in teaching or just feel they can help switch off my anxiety brain and get me more than two hours sleep tonight!

Post on the staff room board-you are not alone!!

If you soldier on you probably will pass because that's what usually happens. If you can bear it then it's probably better to see the year out. Certainly no point in quitting in April IMHO. What a shame the job has become so awful for so many people.

But having said that if you can quit and slot back into your old line of work then it's certainly worth considering. See what others think.-

Thankyou (I hope I’m replying viviennemary, I’m new here!). My worry is that by waiting until July, I am going to end up competing with lots of smiley graduates, fresh out of uni or their own grad schemes! I’ve got the skills, but they might have more recent and relevant experience in the field.

Agree that you should post in the staffroom, OP. So sorry to hear that you are in this situation, but it is good that you could return to your former career.

The NQT year is brutal, and for me, unsupportive leadership is a deal breaker. I'd rather have no teaching job than one where the students know they can run rings around you and no one will have your back.

This is the worst term. I am struggling with a heavy cold and spent 7 hours in school today writing reports and prepping the week's lessons. 4-5 hours of sleep a night too, I'm only just surviving. But I have a great boss and supportive teachers around me. It makes a MASSIVE difference.

If you will never be a teacher then perhaps the NQT year isn't worth slogging it out for. Do you have exam classes this year? It does get better after Christmas, but I don't think you truly get to switch off until the summer. Hugs for you.

Schools are crying out for teachers!

Some schools are far more relaxed and supportive

Each school varies - so you may need to look for one that better suits your experience

Try and see the year out - are you in senior school by any chance?

I am 9 years in.

I would leave if I could!

I’ve found the staff room and plonked my thread there! So sorry everyone, I didn’t see the education bit.

Also, context - I teach Primary. I don’t have exam classes, just 35 children with wildly differing needs who all require more differentiation than I can cope with and endlessly personalised resources. I’m trying so hard to keep on top of it but I just can’t make it happen. Thankyou for all your kind words so far, if I knew how to reply on mobile so that it tagged you, I would.

It never gets easier.

Some schools can be very nasty microcosms with some NQTs and other staff treated poorly to the extent of bullying, whereas some favoured staff appear untouchable and thrive. I have heard of failing NQTs going on to do very well in another school with a different leadership climate. Having said that, if you are 100% sure you don't want to teach any more (and I completely understand having left after a long teaching career which became a millstone rather than a pleasure) then why stay any longer than you need to, particularly when you can return to marketing.

I disagree brap it does get easier!

@twillow thankyou for your post (I think I’m learning to tag now!). So, you’d guess that an unfinished nqt year wouldn’t necessarily mean that much to recruiters in another sector? I’ve now got just over a year “more” experience in teaching than I had in marketing, despite still being an nqt! Ugh.