Manager treats us like skivvy's, do I push back and who do I tell?

[Hesitationisfortheweak]

I work in an educational setting . All of my previous jobs have not been in education, and it's soooooo different. I don't know if I was just lucky previously but we would have monthly 1-2-1 with manager, can ask questions, they check your OK, mental health wellness , rest breaks encouraged etc.
In the educational setting, everyone is too busy for any of that. No check ins, no breaks encouraged, they are actively discouraged , and no encouragement or thanks for what you do, only more stuff piled on.
Our office manager seems to have a superiority complex and thinks that she is better than the other office staff. She barely talks to us unless to make a demand or accuse us of doing something wrong.
She leaves much earlier than everyone else and doesn't even say goodbye when leaving yet expexts us to work over for free on a regular basis.
Anything we need to speak to the higher ups about she wants to do it- even if it's nothing to do with her. And any important visitors she wants to greet. She has physically pushed past us to do this

Any appraisals that we rarely do have are with her so cannot bring up any issues. 3 members of office staff have left because of how she is and I won't be far behind them.

Is this normal in an education setting or is there anyone else I can go to when I need help or advice and bypass her? It makes for an uncomfortable working environment. She's nice as pie to other people

Farily normal in education. It’s a toxic environment in many schools.

Are you a union member?

You need to find details of the Staff Grievance Policy - usually the first point for complaints about staff behaviour is to the Head, although they may delegate an investigation to a Deputy or Assistant Head.

Very normal sadly. I stayed for 11 years in a school office until I had to leave due to stress. I never once even had a lunch break! It’s hard to explain to people unless they have experienced it themselves. I also should add I only stayed so long as my own children went to the same school and it was convenient for me due to childcare. That’s the only reason I stayed.

Not normal in our setting. “Told off” for answering emails during the summer, told to take time in lieu if work overtime & can’t claim it in pay ( office staff) work load is high but allowed to manage as we see fit. Always checked in by head /deputy. Pastrol check in on staff weekly.

“Superiority complex”…erm she is your superior

I’ve worked in schools, and it’s very clicky. Staff sharing outside hobbies, going to each others for dinner etc, great , I’m pleased for them. Crack on !
however; if not part of that group, your opinions aren’t heard, no support, and it’s toxic .
horribld place to work. No accountability, no responsibility and certainly don’t like being challenged on their views !!!

I'm trying to escape Education as its toxic. But it's been my life so far and hard to find the next role.

DH works in a school and has the same, cliquey groups, back biting, unnecessary competitiveness, it’s almost as if the teachers behave like the children themselves.