Hi all.
I have been a primary school teacher for 6 years now. I absolutely adore working with children and enjoyed my first four years. Thereafter, with funding cuts and very high expectations, teaching and workload felt difficult, combined with personal reasons I go on to explain shortly...
So four years in, I decided to move school as I moved home with my (now ex) boyfriend. I didn’t enjoy the new school I was in, and started dog grooming as a side hustle. I set up a groom room in the back garden and was ready to become self employed. Sadly it wasn’t to be- my ex was unfaithful so I left. I moved back in with my parents and luckily my previous school took me back on a temporary contract to cover maternity leave.
This contract was due to end at the end of May, but they have verbally asked me to stay on until next April, of which I verbally accepted at the time as I felt I needed more security. I had also been continuously asking about a permanent position for this security.
I have had a stressful time in my personal life with losing my 8 year relationship, a painful and nasty house sale and moving back in with my parents. I have had to suppress anxiety, and I personally feel that teaching has gotten so much worse due to funding cuts and high expectations.
A couple of weeks ago, a permanent position became available. They decided to do an internal advertisement, of which myself and a very good male teacher applied. I told the school that I didn’t want to apply as my self esteem wasn’t the best at that point and I thought I didn’t stand a chance against him.
That evening felt saddened and looked online for jobs. I found a great role which links to my degree and is linked to my specialised subject as a teacher. It’s an opportunity to go back to university to train, while working on the job and earning a salary. I applied.
The next day, the HT pulled me aside and encouraged me to apply for the position at school. Rightly or wrongly, I applied as I was anxious about ending up without any security.
Today I have found out that I now have an interview for both jobs (eeeek). School one on Friday and other one on Monday.
I plan to give each one my best shot and let the universe decide, but I am worried about the consequences if I am very lucky and get both.
if I got both, I know I would like to choose the job outside of teaching. However, I needed to give notice to leave the school by 31st May, to be able to start the job outside of teaching in September.
I don’t want to look sneaky and leave school on bad terms. I equally feel mean on the male applicant at my school who really wants the job. I just don’t want to be honest in fear that I won’t get the job I really want.
Does anybody have any advice please in this situation? Many thanks.