I won’t go into great details but basically I got offered a job at interview even though I had no experience and knew nothing about the subject, I think they were just glad to have someone, I’m really struggling with it, it’s stressful and soul destroying, I think they need to have someone who’s been trained with experience, they have offered to send me on a half day course, what I’m trained to do has taken years so I don’t think a half day course will make any difference. I think I need to find a position where I’m working in the area I’m trained for so have decided to leave, I’ve not signed any contract yet. How can I do this? I intend to speak to the personnel people and line managers explaining the situation, can I literally just say I don’t want to continue and go or is it a bit more complicated than that?

Drop your kecks and take a dump in the middle of the floor.

They’ll sort the rest of the “details” out for you. 😆

Technically you’re probably on a months notice to leave, if you went “nuts to this, I’m not coming back” I’m not sure they could do much apart from not pay you and not give you any references – for 2 weeks work that’s a price you might want to consider….

you can just jack if you want, you may or may not get paid for all of your time.
but having a pleasant but frank conservation wouldn’t hurt. plus have you got something to go to?
a wage is a wage at the end of the day

😆 @ sss

Just tell them the truth. They might help with extra training.

Or just tell them you have had a job offer which suits you better with more money.

As a serious answer.

I took a job then after a couple of weeks decided I didn’t like it.
I’d already been offered something else so just told them that i didn’t like it there and was leaving.

They said that they weren’t going to pay me as they’d not yet sorted my contract out.
After a few metions of seeking legal advice they suddenly changed their mind and paid me.

Give it a couple of months and see how you feel.
Sometimes you just need to crack on with it.

Don’t see how you can make a reasoned judgement after just a fortnight.

Sometimes things will just suddenly ‘gel’ once you’ve adapted to the stresses and strains of a new environment.

Good luck btw.
If it doesn’t get better after a couple of months just be honest with them and yourself.
At least you’ll know you gave it your best shot.

I did one job for 8 weeks, including notice.

1) got made redundant. 21 Aug 2000
2) found new job on less pay than job #1. Started 01 Sep 2000. found there wasn’t enough work, 40 mile each way commute to sit on my hands was not fun.
3) never turned off the ‘jobsearch programme’
4) got an interview at another place 15 miles nearer home. Got offered the job mid October 2000. more money than job #1 never mind job #2. shorter commute by 30 miles on the round trip. no brainer.
5) handed in notice mid October. told I could leave at the end of the month.
6) started new job 30 Oct 2000. I’m still here now 🙂

I haven’t got anything to go to but that doesn’t matter, no mortgage to worry about and some savings, originally I decided to look around Christmas/New Year for work but this came up so thought I’d give it a go, could be good interview experience, I was surprised they offered it to me! They know I’m struggling, one of the other staff members said to me last thing on Friday ‘please turn up on Monday’, I think after the few days that I have had the look on my face must have said it all. It’s a teaching job, I’m trained to teach DT resistant materials/product design, I’ve worked in this area for about 5 years and have a degree in 3D design, they want me to teach food tech, I’m an NQT, no experience with food and I’ve got 2 GCSE groups, pulling my hair out at the moment, that’s why I feel I need to find a position to teach the area I know.

I did wonder about sticking it out, but I’m concerned about subject knowledge and teaching is stressful enough without trying to get your head around a subject I do not know that I’m expected to teach to GCSE level. 2 experienced food teachers left at the same time, I have a mentor that teaches ICT, so no one to guide me. They would be better to get an experienced food teacher or supply teacher, but from what they say nobody trains in this anymore. I just keep thinking, well I’ve given it a bit of a go but feel like I’ll be struggling all the time which won’t be good for my health or the pupils.

2 experienced food teachers left at the same time, I have a mentor that teaches ICT, so no one to guide me. They would be better to get an experienced food teacher or supply teacher, but from what they say nobody trains in this anymore. I just keep thinking, well I’ve given it a bit of a go but feel like I’ll be struggling all the time which won’t be good for my health or the pupils.

Ms S was in pretty much the same position a couple of years ago when she started teaching.
She managed to contact the previous teacher (just retired) who really helped her out.
Any chance?

I would hate to think my kids were being taught by someone that didn’t like or know the subject they were learning, but having said that don’t we all feel overwhelmed and out of depth when doing a new job that is slightly more taxing than ,say, packing boxes. Is it possible a DT position may come up at the same school? Once you’re in the door and all that…

Unlikely that another position will come up, food tech comes under DT, they already have teachers that do RM. Unfortunately being a practical subject there’s so much subject knowledge to learn myself as it’s not as simple as just cook some pasta, there’s all the therory, H&S, nutrition info, as well as try to keep up with all the usual teacher stuff like marking and admin, I’m spending so much time trying to get to know the subject and what I’m supposed to be teaching that I have no time to organise my lessons properly. I’m having to demonstrate a recipe that the pupils then have to do next as a practical, it’s been quite funny at times but the kids know more than me! I would know what I am doing if it was in the area of RM or Product Design …. some serious thinking to do this weekend I think

Wait until payday, check the money has entered your account, then don’t bother turning up?!

To counter the ‘don’t turn up’ advice…

NQT, applying for a second job within a month of the start of the academic year with potentially no, or a bad, reference from that first job. Might not look so great for future applications?

In my experience of my partner’s teaching career, constantly playing catchup with the planning and subject knowledge is pretty standard, as are MANY hours of extra work to try to keep up… If you can find some helpful input for subject knowledge (teachers at other schools? Or is there a forum for food tech teachers on the TES website?) you may find you can stick it out for the rest of this half term, by which time you may want to continue, or you’d at least be able to leave on good terms by giving your notice then? (It’s possible that your contract will require you to give that notice and stay until after Christmas – Having started the job have you not accepted the verbal contract and so this may apply despite having not signed a piece of paper?)

Good luck whatever you decide to do…

Chris.

I would advise against just not turning up or leaving under a cloud – its surprising how many connections schools have with eachother – don’t be surprised if you obtain yourself an unshakable reputation if you just fail to turn up. I would have a meeting with the head of the department first and explain your position – its not practical to teach a subject you don’t know – the school should not have offered you the position. I’d advise you to get out, but do it in a manner that’s open and honest.

What they said above tbh s if you are new to teaching this is the norm to some degree and they should cut you some slack but they may be asking for too much – it is fairly common to be asked to teach stuff you are not an expert in but dont tell the parents.

Leaving your first job as a NQT could well be equivalent to leaving teaching as you have to admit you could not hack it [ though you have a very good reason as it is not your subject but what an interviewer will hear is you left after 2 weeks because you ould not hack it
You also wont have your QT status as you are expecte to work for a year afterwards to be considered a proper teacher

It is a hard call but you need to give it at least a term and see how much catch up you can do in the half term and term breaks

Good luck whatever you do

OP – I imagine you’re on a ‘probation’ for the first few weeks/months.

This applies to both employer and employee you know…

Maybe it’s just you?

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/pgce-am-i-doing-the-right-thing-or-not-for-me

Mmm, maybe it is just me? I’m in my mid 40s so do find it difficult to adjust to a career where I seem to have to work til 11pm, miss my breaks and don’t eat lunch as there isn’t time, have no resources (we don’t even have notebooks for the kids just loose sheets of paper), feel stressed and tired all the time and have to teach something I don’t know. I have to say that this is the worst way of working I’ve ever experienced, maybe I should just put it down to experience and find a job I can enjoy. Since starting all this, PGCE etc, I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have a life, to go out on the bike without feeling stressed as I should be doing a lesson plan/power point/finding resources etc and enjoy time with friends. Yes, maybe this career is just not for me! I think it would be different if I was teaching my subject, so that’s why I thought leave and look for a position to teach RM Product Design, it’s an area I know in depth and have a lot of enthusiasm for.

Some people thrive on that sort of pressure and can turn it into boundless energy and satisfaction, doesn’t sound like it’s the sort of thing that floats your boat though.

I’ve certainly been through a couple of phases in my life where it looked like the stress and pressure would never end. It does of course, either naturally or because I made it go away by changing things.

It’s a tough call when your options are limited

If you enjoy the teaching and being in the classroom stick at it. I’ve struggled with nqt year and been mentor for others who have struggled. Everyone struggles at first, some just hide it better. Speak to your head of department ask for help with planning, set some short term goals. If the head of department doesnt respond well is there a senior person in charge of nqt’s? Speak to them. Oh and take the amount of marking they say your supposed to do with a large pinch of salt. If i did the supposed min. our school expects it would take me 20 hours a week!
Dont suffer in silence but at least see out the term if you want to keep teaching. All would not be rosy even teaching your specialism.

don’t hang about, get your paycheque and have your ‘i resign as of payday’ letter ready and go. your head isn’t in it, you’re on the back foot with the kids and you’ll never be satisfied teaching someone elses speciality.

I wouldn’t worry too much about CV, just put it down as a square peg in round hole if anyone asks. first job you wouldn’t expect to be in long term anyway

chr15 – Member

applying for a second job within a month of the start of the academic year with potentially no, or a bad, reference from that first job. Might not look so great for future applications?

Does the industry have that much information sharing? For me, the original job would just mysteriously vanish from my CV and they’d certainly not be getting asked for a reference.

Not that I’d do the “don’t turn up” either, that’s just plain rude.

From the other side of the fence – If you are going to leave anyway its way WAY better if someone opts out after 2 days or 2 weeks rather than 2 months down the line.

Be honest – the employer appreciates it – and ends up better off in the medium / long term (they / we may even learn from the experience / job description). My 2p’s worth.

2 weeks on your CV are irrelevant, dont even mention it.

Sometimes what you want to be doing and what you need to be doing are two different things.

Good teachers can teach anything.

Good teachers can teach anything.

not in their nqt year they cant. You clearly have little clue what your talking about so it may be best if you didnt bother.

Ooooooeeeee.

Come on chap. Flapjacks. Quiche. Design me an energy bar. Difference between carbs, fats and protein. Shed loads of crappy marking and planning that’s par for the course for a modern teacher. No ‘huge’ pressure as no one ever really got turned down by Oxbridge because of a D in home economics… Take a breath, enjoy the kids and build a relationship with them. Teaching is hard, no matter what the subject, but you can do it. Don’t be a quitter. Good luck!

Your post above about working every hour in the day with no lunch breaks till 11 at night sounds just like mu wife, she’s been teaching IT for 4 years abd us trained in English primary. The role does get easier as long as the stupid schools don’t change syllabuses! Its been 2 weeks, if U had a mortgage, you wouldn’t even be thinking of leaving…

blaaa blaa blaa. leave the job you dont like it! but leave in a way so the school has plenty of time to find a replacement. everyone happy. you will be an ace cook by the end of your notice anyway

Get your first months money, treat yourself to a lap of honour around the workplace whooping in celebration, and then high 5 your bosses face, should ease your transition.

From an HR / legal standpoint if you resign you are ending the ‘contract’ you have entered into and could walk away. Better to do this than just walk out as at least you will have the opportunity to explain how you are feeling and it’s the right / professional thing to do.

As with other posters would agree that you have to think about the potential damage to your reputation if you just walk.

You will get paid for what you have worked no more no less.

On the employer side if they decided you weren’t working out after two weeks they would legally have to give you four weeks notice. While you are obliged to do the same it’s unlikely that they would try and enforce it as notice periods are there for the employees protection rather than the companies..

Good luck with your decision making

Thanks for the replies.

Still undecided, do I struggle on doing something I’m not interested in or enjoying or not? I don’t intend to not just turn up as I’ll speak to all involved to see what they suggest. There’s no HoD at the moment, it’s a shared responsibility, but I think the other members of the department would be understanding as they are aware of the situation.

They didn’t find anyone suitable in previous interviews and I think they just needed to have someone in place at the start of the new term. Speaking to the tech he was saying the interviewees had catering backgrounds but no teaching experience but we both agreed that they would probably have been more suitable to teach food than myself. I’m quite happy to wait for the right position to come along teaching my specialism, why would I train to teach something and then do something completely different, I might as well go and collect glasses in my local club … mmm, tempting. I decided to give it a go, I enjoy cooking but trying to teach it to a large disruptive class especially during practical lessons is chaos only compounded by the fact I don’t know the subject. It’s very different from teaching RM or Product Design. They need to employ someone experienced, the tech said if I wasn’t there they would just get supply teachers in.

This is not something that I would put on my CV and I wouldn’t need references from them, although as mentioned schools might keep in contact but if that’s the way it is then so be it. Although, I think the staff will understand my decision.

I’m concerned that the pupils won’t be taught properly, they deserve better than this, an NQT trying to teach a subject they have no experience of, a bit crazy!

Please don’t walk.

Make it clear to management that you need on-the-job support, and further training.

I know plenty of teachers that have learnt their subject on the fly. Unfortunate, but it happens.

From your posts, sounds like a pretty crap school. No support for an NQT, take an unsuitable teacher just ‘cos they rocked up to the interview, poor resources etc. etc.
You should be talking to the head, (in the absence of a head of year) and telling him of your woes, give him a chance to sort it out then leave in a controlled manner if it doesn’t improve. That’d be my approach in your position.

Double post error.

I don’t know why schools have such a broad range of Tech teachers – seems like a lot of effort for 1 GCSE where they could concentrate on doing a couple of ares properly and just fudge the rest.

Instead of teching them how to cook – teach them to make things out of food.

NQT is a bloody hard year. I did mine in a rough school in inner london and regularly wondered if I’d made the right decision. I finished the year and left that school for a better one to regain a bit of confidence and work on skills. I’m now teaching here in Aus and love it, although there is still lots of work. It is well worth sticking at, you get lots of variety (I teach different a new subjects each year)but there is lots of after hours work (marking and planning). You also get long holidays and depending on the school you can walk out at 4 pm, go for a ride or whatever and do your marking/planning later at night.