Handing in my notice need Advice.

RosaBernicia

Hi Buffy :grouphug:

My thoughts, for what they're worth... you need to leave that job, but I also think you need to find a 'safe' way of doing it if at all possible. If you are down already then finding yourself short of work would be horrible and could make you more ill. How about giving yourself some time to research all your options before you do anything irreversible? I agree with other suggestions that taking some sick leave could give you some space to think, and even if you only took the 3 days self-cert you could use that time to job-hunt, call temp agencies, write your letter of resignation and see how it feels when you've finished it (if joy, more motivation with the job-hunting, if terror, give yourself some more time to adjust plans). You never know what you might find in the ads - a friend of mine has just left a school where she had a class of 30-odd regularly setting fire to things for one where she's teaching a dozen well-behaved and polite girls! Another friend left teaching only a year after qualifying because the stress made him so ill, but doesn't regret training as he now has a job he loves working on kids' textbooks.

I also agree that counselling could be a good idea, there should be a confidential service so it would not affect your record for job-hunting and it could help you untangle your feelings to find the best way forward. (I went before I left my last job, only because I thought if I had to bring a grievance against the bullying manager it would show that I had done everything I could to deal with the problem - but I actually found that talking through what had happened with someone outside the situation really helped clarify things. About 6 weeks later I found my current fabulous job and had the courage to apply for it because I'd got my groove back.)

Whatever you decide I hope it works out brilliantly for you

Rosa xx

Smithills

Hi Buffy
I'm sorry to hear you're so miserable at the moment. I like my job for the most part, and do love it from time to time- and I'm grateful to be in such a lucky situation.

I agree with most of the posters- your health is important. So maybe your plan of getting out of teaching is what you need to do. Is it possible to take a year's unpaid sabbatical? You can test the water and get some other jobs doing all the things you mention- including supply maybe (?) and then see how you feel. I would suggest that you might want a bit of a war chest, to tide you through the tough times that come your way. A few £££ to cover an extra month's rent/food/phone bill might just help you when you need it.

Good Luck with your decision

GeorgeUK

Hi Buffy

If you are not physically able to do the job then i don't think you will be able to stay. I would however urge caution. I had a few years as a temp and it was horrible. You never know how long some jobs will last and at times you will be employed for only 2 weeks then not get anything else for 2 to 4 weeks. During this time you need to sign on and try to get another job but alot of temp agencies don't look for full time positions if you are making them money by temping.

I would advise looking for a different full time job - supply teaching may just bring the same problems with it and you would be no better off. Also, i would check how much demand there is before burning your bridges. Is there something you are interested in doing or are you wanting more to just escape?

It sounds like the job is stressing you out way too much and while other jobs may be mundane or boring - your health is too important to just ignore. Were you unwell at all while on holiday?

I think you need to listen to your head, but also use your head. Look at this like a short term contract and you are looking for your next job. See what is out there and what may interest you. Is it the teachers, the children or the expectations of the bureaucracy that is making you ill?

Hope you're feeling better soon
Can't wait to hear you have a fab new job lined up

Bayblue

I have a similar dilemmma. I have a job that I work at for six days a week (most weeks) and no overtime and which is ridiculously stressful for the amount of money I get. I have no prspect of any holiday or extra time off for a long while and even get pestered on my day off! So I do know how you might be feeling a bit. I can't tell you what to do Buffy, I can only say what I would (will?) do.

It sounds like one way or another somethings gotta give and I suspect that that will mean that ultimately you will leave your job. However, and again I stress I'm speaking from my own perspective, I wouldn't hand in my resignation without having at least an idea of where my next job and paypacket might be coming from.

I too have debts (a bit less than yours but still) and although I don't want my life to be ruled by them I still have to be practical and make sure that I can pay them, partly because I can only imagine that defaulting on them would add even more stress to my life. Also, I wouldn't have any way of paying the rent so I'd probably be homeless.I know that you live with your Mum so I'm not sure whether that would be quite the same in your case, but it's still a consideration.

Everything WILL work out in the end, because without being crass, life's funny like that a~most things do... but I would make things a bit easier by doing a bit of forward planning. Take a bit of time to find out what's out there before taking the big step of resigning. Perhaps give yourself a deadline of week to check with the agencies and stuff. It WILL work out, whatever you decide, but if you can make preparations I think that would be to yor benefit.

I can't comment about counselling and things like that because it's not my bag (so to speak) but again it's certainly worth thinking about and looking into, anything that moves you forward rather than staying stuck can only be helpful.

Best of luck, and keep your chin up.

Buffythedebtslayer

what an amazing response.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. I was all set to print out my letter when I got home but have been thinking and rethinking and am frightened about not having a real job.

I am at a loss, so have printed out your replies and will give it some more thought.

one good thing, I know I could leave my job - a few year ago it would have been oo what about the children.

thank you again so much

off to bed now xxxxx

kizzykizzywizzy

Hi Buffy,
I've just seen your thread, after all the help & advise you've given me, I'm at a loss as to what to advise you to do.
Do you think you would be happier at another school?? Full time still.
I know at my DS school the headteacher has "her" ideas of how to run the school, to be honest it's a lovely school, but it made quite a few good teachers IMO leave/retire - they were older, but I thought they were great, made a big deal about manners & speaking correctly as well as telling them about the good old days, DD was enthralled by it all, & really enjoyed her lessons with these teachers.
I think from what I was told by a teacher when I did a survey once, that you are not really given the freedom to teach in the way you would like to due to all the guidelines etc
I don't know, I'm probably talking a load of rubbish!
I don't know if being a supply teacher wouldn't put you under even more pressure because of the debt & there aren't many jobs out there that pay the same as you are getting.
Also, I know when I did my P/T job (catering asst in a school) I used to get really nervous when they asked me to go to other schools when they were short, you may not be like that, but I used to get really worried. I was fine once I was there though.
Sorry I sound really negative, what I'm trying to say is probably don't stay, but try to get another full time job in another school if possible, no idea how easy this would be?
Sorry I'm not as much help as you've been to me
Just don't rush into anything you might regret later;)

stebiz

Something that hasn't been touched on. If you are on anti depressants and you still feel stressed out why not go back to the docs and see if he will increase the dosage. You also sound unfit to work and time off sick sounds like something the doctor will consider.

This way you can decide, in your own time, without any stress on you, what you think your future holds. If you still think the same after being off for a couple of months, then so be it.

Stebiz

sammy115

Hi Buffy

Just wondered how you are? My friend is a a teacher and I know from her that it isn't easy. She spends most nights marking, lesson planning etc and the rules and regs make the job difficult and she is such a free spirit. You may get weeks off but from what I can see you need them to recharge your batteries.

Could you not just take sick leave for a couple of weeks while you think about your decision or are you putting off the inevitable.

I am not sure about your situation but I think you live at home and have no children. If that is the case go temping. You have the freedom to say yes or no to jobs and sometimes just that gives you the freedom to just enjoy the job. Despite the economy my husband went self employed at the start of this year and its the best thing he ever did.

Good luck with whatever you decide....

moo2moo

You sound stressed to the eyeballs. Thats not a good place to be.

Ask your head if you can temporarily reduce your hours. You should have a mamber of straff available to do PPA. Can they cover your class allowing you to float round school doing PPA at least short term to give you chance to recharge. Can you try another age group within school? I know my head will try anything to keep good teachers. You haven't done any planning over the hols. Thats not the end of the world. You should still have your planning from last year or if you're anything like the hoarders at my place going back the last decade. The kids won't know any different if you use lesson plans from 2003.

The idea of supply teaching for an agency is good but there are so many crappy supply teachers out there that once schools find a good one they tend to call them direct rather than via the agency (naughty I know) as they arrange their own workload. We still pay them through the agency but it means we don't get the really attrocious teachers, also means we very rarely use anyone new.

There are lots and lots and lots of people out of work at the moment. Most agencies are heaving. There will be lots of work in the run up to Christmas but January and February could well be very very bleak indeed.

Don't do something you'll regret. Reduce your hours or take some time off, paid, on sick leave. Get off the antidepresents as they don't help you to think clearly and find another job before you hand in your notice.

Hope you find yourself in a happier place soon!

georgiasmum

Buffy, I am a teacher too and have been sued and harassed to the point of a nervous breakdown. I would say do not quit until you are thinking clearer. What you must do is is insist upon an occupational health interview. It is the school's responsibility to look after you and if your stress is predominately school related then they must address it. I too am on antidepressants and see a counsellor weekly (at the school's expense) because the case was terrible. I am an NUT rep and can advise you. Please PM me or I will PM you. Education is tough and the pressure to be OUTSTANDING is enormous. The kids and their parents can be pretty crappy too but please pursue all avenues before you resign, the debt stress will make it worse. I teach in Wilts and in light of your plight I don't care if someone reads this and works out who I am, it is important that you get some advice before you do leave. This post is probably a bit rambling but I feel quite empassioned (if there is such a word) about this job and I really would like to help you. Chin up chook.