Working as SLT. What to do. Stuck.

First of all, what's an SLT?

Second. You sound like a complete legend.

Describe the unraveling please. You mention all the things causing it but how is it manifesting and be honest. You do mention physical aspects like hand shaking and sleep issues but you are asking this question as there is undoubtedly more.

P.s. 3rd thing... You sound like a complete legend. 😂

Sorry to hear you're having a bad time of it.

My best mate was in a similar position until he developed depression, sought help, got out of the career, and after several years and a few stumbles became a social worker. He's really happy now.

My stock response to career stuff is always to have a look at What colo(u)r is your parachute. It's kind of a self-help career change book. My approach was to read it cover to cover and then go back through a second time in detail. I used it years ago and it was incredibly helpful to me. There are a lot of practical exercises included that helped me work through my skills and interests. (One of the tasks was to visualise a life goal and draw it. I know it sounds terrible, but it worked).

Years after i'd done it, my wife did the same thing. And it worked for her too.

You have an abundance of transferable skills, when you work through the book it will help you identify how you most enjoy using the skills, and work out where you can apply them. One of my favourite parts is that it taught me how to actually get a job I wanted without actually applying for one.

Of 10 hour days, no lunch break and an hour commute each way.

So, what happens if you just can't fit all the work into the time you're being paid for? I've said it many times on these threads... the most important word in your work vocabulary is "no". You do what can be done in the time allotted, If it can't be done then you've either a slacker or there is more than one person can do. Which is it?

Sounds like stress tipping into depression to me.

You have two choices - remove the stressors ie change jobs ( unless its not the job its something outside of work) or learn techniques to cope with the stress. CBT works for some

there is also stuff you can do to reduce the effect of the stress. time spent outdoors and exercise. The best thing for workplace stress is to commute by bike as the ride home burns of the stress hormones. Or go for a run after work every day.

to me no job is worth making you ill. I'll take a bet that if you went to the GP and accurately described the symptoms you have you would be signed off sick for a minimum of a month. That would give you breathing space to decide on what next

Mrs Pondo refused to fail too, for 17 years, but there's a limit to how much stretch people have - she's reached hers. Remember to take care of yourself.

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ex-teachers-assemble/

The only deputy head I know became much happier when they stopped being a deputy head and went back to the classroom.  I'm not sure if financially that is viable for you?  I also know a teacher who quit to just do tutoring and found it both better paid (per hour) and less stressful.  She works kind of weird hours - basically late afternoon / evenings and weekends and does some stuff in the holidays when normal teachers don't - but whilst the rest of us are working she's out doing what she wants.

Of course you could quit education all together.  Lots of people looking for the sort of soft management skills you probably have as a Dep Head, and plenty of training places that would use your teaching skills (some subjects may be more relevant than others - but lots of commercial training is not really delivered by subject matter experts just people who are engaging).  Of course, those might be al the bits of the current job you hate.

Wot scotroutes says as well. Not taking a lunch break is actively bad for you - not only for your mental health but also for your productivity. a half hour walk at lunchtime will mean you can achieve more later in the day

I taught from 1979, moved around for promotions and did a year in Aus, ended up as HoF. Wrote a few bits, got commended in inspections, was an examiner and an exam reviser and was on the exec of a professional assocation. I worked kin long hours and that was the only way to stay on top of it. Exam results in my area were very good, one subject was used as exemplar for grade setting by the exam board. THEN Gove came along and destroyed one of my subjects, I then was moaned at for getting to work too early after a long commute (a PFI school can be charged extra), then tons of box ticking to show your were doing your job (as if there weren't enough other indicators). I hadn't minded working hard under my own steam but was furious with the infantilising micromanagement and that was quite enough. I checked my pension position, fortunately had no mortgage and my kids were independent, and that was it, I packed it in after 35 yrs. I did get pulled in to do a 6 months maternity cover in a lovely 6th form college after that but since then I never regretted walking away from it. I imagine you're younger but those demands are next to impossible and the impact on health and life expectancy is a serious consideration.
Donkeys years ago the Manchester Medical School did a study on teachers' blood and found that they'd regained their health in the summer holidays three days before they went back (and that was under a healthier regime). **** that, sling your hook.

Of 10 hour days, no lunch break

Isn't that illegal? Or can you opt out of it under Working Time Directive? (Key word there, "opt")

no you cannot opt out of it under those circumstance. Legal requirement to take breaks and in a 10 hour day you must have 2 breaks

I remember lunch as all of us sitting in front of laptops dropping crumbs as we worked.

I am lucky,

You don't sound it. It sounds awful. Only you have the power to affect a change.

I've got to admit op, that sounds pretty appalling to me. It actually reminded me of a conversion I had with a good friend some years back when we was weighing up the "need" to stay in a frankly abusive relationship with his partner. It was obviously damaging him emotionally but there were also some understandable reasons why he felt it so hard to leave her.

Change a few words/phrases in your post and it's a very similar situation in some ways.

I'm sure there are satisfying elements to the role but it sounds like you are paying a huge personal price at the same time.

I can't help but think that anyone who you would consider you are "letting down" would be hard pushed to judge you negatively if they were somehow to read what you typed above. Re read it on a day or two, that's some gut wrenching stuff you are expressing there.

I really wish you all the best, whether you choose to try and stick it out or to look for a better balance in your life.

Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
Teaching for 30 years, good luck OP. Been there in spades. NCSl - use them.

Isn’t that illegal? Or can you opt out of it under Working Time Directive? (Key word there, “opt”)

I think the thing being missed here is that not everyone has the luxury of having the time to take a break, and being told to take the legally mandated breaks doesn't help. It sounds like OP has A LOT on their plate and is stressed about the workload as it is. How does shortening the workday by up to an hour help with that workload?

Thanks everyone. Reading these this morning has made some dust fly into my eyes. Need to do some thinking this weekend.

Isn’t that illegal? Or can you opt out of it under Working Time Directive?

Unfortunately some workplaces have a culture of working yourself to exhaustion, my wife would just reply 'working time what? I have to get this done'.

Even in my industry where all hours are meant to be logged and paid and automatic systems are in place to prevent breaching either the standard or opted out limits (as there are still limits after opting out) people will still try and work around them for OT or in desperation.

I was in a similar position about 4 years ago. Successful Deputy Head in a secondary school, spinning lots of plates, and I had a very supportive head. But I wasn't coping. The day I found myself hiding in the toilets I knew I had to make a change. I was lucky, I effectively was allowed the job I asked for, non-teaching safeguarding lead but on a very good wage. Then a MAT took over and I managed to get a safeguarding role with local NHS trust - I was privileged to do this, fist non-health professional. However, I missed the kids and I'm now an Assistant Head in local Pupil Referral Unit, 10 minutes cycle away. I've been hit, punched, spat at and work 11/12 hour days with no breaks, but I do no work when I get home or at the weekend.

What am I saying? It's not you it's the expectations of the job, which are insurmountable. You are not failing, the education system is. Plus there are always the options - you have massive experience and a wide skill set. I hope it works out ok for you. Happy to chat if it might help.

I am lucky

Doesn't sound it. I've been teaching about 15 years too, climbed the pole a bit, thought **** that that and slid back down. I like teaching, it's tough but far more manageable than all the other shit. You'd need to take quite a big pay cut to get back to what I am which is a bog standard class teacher, but, honestly, its far better and money is not everything in life.

As a ordinary teacher (ex-HoD) SLT are pared to the bone and overworked and as such not doing a great job. Not for want of trying, which makes them work and fail harder. It's a vicious circle. For your own sanity and health. Go in today fill in the stress paperwork tell the HT what you've written here and if nothing happens go home with a doctor's line. You are no good to yourself or those you love if you have breakdown. Your managers have a duty of care, when was the last time one sat you down and asked how you were? If it's like here, never.
You can't help the kids if you are falling apart. (We have an experienced and we'll respected teacher been suspended for smashing a phone against a desk and properly losing it. All stress related.)

Reading your post and having had some serious stress related issues through work myself my thoughts are.

1. Senior positions are stressful, doesn't generally matter what your role is, part of it is dealing with problems which you don't gave answers for, juggling resources you don't have and be the person everyone else looks to for leadership. You need to decide if it's too much for you. In my case the stress mainly came from a bullying manager but I'm also self aware enough to realise it's partly me putting pressure on myself. I now work in the most supportive environment of my career and I still stress myself from time to time.

2. Sounds like your personal circumstances aren't helping, being in a senior position impacts home life if you have other responsibilities. If you change jobs you may be able to reduce the commute or even work from home, but they need to be drivers in choosing a new role.

3. Moving out of a senior teaching role into another senior and well paid role wont be easy, although you have transferable skills many employers are still very parochial about experience.

4. Holidays - yes I know many teachers, especially SLT work in the holidays but 2 points. Even if you work 5 weeks straight out of your holidays you're still on 8 weeks which is more than most other roles. I would kill to have time in my year when the other pressures drop away and I can catch up, I get 5 weeks holiday, that's it and the business carries on so I have to catch up, the rest of the year is just full on.

5. Culture is very different outside of teaching, your use of the SLT acronym shows you are fully in that culture, I know what it means because my wife works in a school many wouldn't. If you want to get out you need to start thinking about the outside world, education is a bit of a bubble.

In your position I'd go see my doctor, they can help, sounds like it's more than just the job causing the issues. Beyond that I'd look at stepping down the seniority scale to reduce pressure. Many teachers do it. Finally don't under estimate the culture shock and stress of moving into another profession, it can also be very debilitating. Above all get help, a straight career change is usually the full answer unless it's a significant drop in pay and responsibility.

Use all of your expertise & experience to work in the same field but as a bank worker.

University / College lecturer.

Waitrose.

I think the thing being missed here is that not everyone has the luxury of having the time to take a break, and being told to take the legally mandated breaks doesn’t help. I

Its not a luxury its both legally mandated and essential for your mental and physical health

As Scotroute says - if you cannot complete your workload in the time available then the workload is too high and you are being abused by your employer. the workplace culture is probably one of "presenteeism"

Its not acceptable not to take breaks

Part of me sticks with it because I refuse to fail.

I was like the op in my previous role, moved to a new company with an exciting but challenging role and set my stall out to better manage my time etc from the start to set the correct expectation. I’ve fallen back into old habits during an especially busy final quarter to achieve my goals.

Use the advice above. Yesterday I went for a walk to a chemist just to force a lunchtime break into my day. Looking after your physical and mental health is not failure.

I think the thing being missed here is that not everyone has the luxury of having the time to take a break, and being told to take the legally mandated breaks doesn’t help

unless its an emergency situation I fail to see why. Taking a break is not a luxury, you are legally allowed to take it. If you choose not to take that's another matter

would kill to have time in my year when the other pressures drop away and I can catch up

Literally thousands of teaching jobs available.

if you cannot complete your workload in the time available then the workload is too high and you are being abused by your employer. the workplace culture is probably one of “presenteeism”

No help if it is an industry wide issue. Teachers do not have hours of work

Again a couple missing the point re: breaks. I understand the whole legally mandated thing, and yes a job should be able to be managed so taking those breaks never has to be questioned, but if things are as stressful as they appear for OP do we think that telling them to cut the number of hours they have available to do all the work they must do is a constructive suggestion that OP can act on and will reduce the stress being experienced?

This isn't an abstract conversation about time management in the workplace in general, it's a specific situation.

AA the holiday comment was not a dig, just pointing out the pressure levels vary across the year, you dont get that in other roles. As for teaching, no thanks I couldn't work with kids or teachers (both my parents were teachers) but on the flip many people wouldn't want my job because of the industry and what it entails, works for me though, horses for courses.

You are not failing, the education system is.

This needs to be a focus. You might be struggling to keep all the plates spinning, but it's because there is an unreasonable expectation of how many plates is acceptable. You are being bloody amazing.

Some good advice there, but I'd suggest a chat with a GP in the short term, these things can spiral. Union may be able to offer support as well.

SLT means Speech and Language Therapist of which my wife is/was one. Thought this was an (understandable) rail against that profession when I read the heading. My wife stuck it for 10 years and hated it so much has pushed herself upwards out of SLT and now looks after all paediatric services. None of this relevant…

To the OP. Change profession. Now. Before it breaks you (permanently.) Never understood why people become teachers. The ‘giving back’ bit seems completely non-sensicle stacked against all the BS you have to put up with, especially with Academy schools. From what I’ve seen they epitomise the worst of private industry. I know quite a few teachers. Some are rubbish at managing time, some are just clueless yes men/women, and some love the ‘busy Olympics’ aspect of their job. but most are ‘normal’, good, reasonable people being taken for a ride by the system. F. that.

BTW I work in private industry. I have a bloody stressful job at times. But also I can sack my employer off and move elsewhere if it doesn’t work for me.
Also, sorry for the slightly sweary email. Half-cut on a train in Japan. (Work!)

but if things are as stressful as they appear for OP do we think that telling them to cut the number of hours they have available to do all the work they must do is a constructive suggestion

Yes because it makes the impossibility of the situation clear and shows that its not the person failing its the system

I worked in a profession ( nursing) with a culture of "presenteeism". I refused to join in even when in senior roles. In one senior role I was in I was told I had to complete a task which if done to the mandated standards would have added at least 10% to my workload. In writing I asked the manager above me which of my other tasks I should drop in order to complete this one. funnily enough I never received a reply and thus I never completed the useless task they wanted me to do.

Its obvious the workload in this case is too great to complete in the hours available. Make that senior managements issue not yours. Set the priorities and do not do the lowest priority tasks and tell the next tier of management above what you have done and why and / or ask them to set your priorities

its does no one any good to either skimp and perform all tasks poorly or to work yourself into a state of stress

I'll bet my house a significant % of his time is taken up with tasks that have no bearing on the education of the children. Useless data gathering is often done for example

Its obvious the workload in this case is too great to complete in the hours available. Make that senior managements issue not yours. Set the priorities and do not do the lowest priority tasks and tell the next tier of management above what you have done and why and / or ask them to set your priorities

That's a useful suggestion. "Take more breaks" isn't.

FWIW, I would be similar. Make a list of what is absolutely critical and what is unnecessary fluff. Speak to line manager and explain the situation, notify which tasks will be dropped and why, and ask for a meeting/discussion where the issues can be brought to light. In OP's case, I'd probably also use the lighter workload to focus on taking stock of where I am in terms of life/career/happiness and figuring out what I want the rest of my life to look like.

AA the holiday comment was not a dig,

I didn't take it as such, just pointing out that if you wanted it so much you could very likely have it

Make that senior managements issue not yours. Set the priorities and do not do the lowest priority tasks and tell the next tier of management above what you have done and why and / or ask them to set your priorities

Back to saying "no" then.

Ah, but, teachers are special, teachers are over-worked, nobody understands the pressure they are under, no other profession has to put up with this. Bollocks! These are all lies, probably started by teachers to boost their perceived importance but they've all, apparently, come to believe it themselves. There are millions of folk working under similar pressures. Stop with the exceptionalism and things will actually improve.

No help if it is an industry wide issue.

That, if I may point out, is a wood from the trees issue. Those who are currently teaching are too close to the issue and it's not helping. Those advocating not taking breaks are not helping the OP, he's starting to breakdown and the reply is the equivalent of telling a suicidal person to just go outside. Not helpful chaps, not helpful at all.

The only deputy head I know became much happier when they stopped being a deputy head and went back to the classroom

A friend who was head took the same decision.

For those saying he should tell management, say no etc., this is very hard when you are management - the expectation is that people at this level just deliver, dont complain and those who do are somehow weak or not suited to the role. Some management teams are better than others at breaking this approach, but most are not. The Head is probably also under a similar or greater level of stress, as are the other SLT members. Some people can hide it, some seem to just live for work and not have outside interests, dependents etc.

My advice would be to look at all your options seriously, work through the financials and see what is open to you. As I see options range from 'suck it up', to going part time, moving job in the same field/level. taking a lower paid job in the same field, looking at related fields such as university lecturer etc, taking early retirement if this is an option etc.

Speaking as someone who threw over a 6 figure salary in part due to the stress, and now earns very little, you m ight be surpsrised how little you need to live on once the stress is reduced - a lot of my purchases were seeking a dopamine hit to counteract the stress (shiny things, alcohol, take aways etc) or countering guilt (expensive presents for kids/wife, holidays etc to make up for not being around much). I don't underestimate how hard and scary such a decsion can be - talk to some trusted friends and see what they say.

In the short term set aside some time to look for other opportunites, and see what can be trimmed at work to ease the stress - for example do you need to be present for all 40 minutes of all the assemblies? even shaving 5 minutes off each could return some decompression time, or allow you to fit some of the email management in there and take a break later.

Good luck whatever you decide

I assumed in this case it referred to Senior Leadership Team.

I assumed in this case it referred to Senior Leadership Team.

+1

I just want to add some flesh to my previous post. First things first - it's not you. As far as I can see, education has changed out of all proportion over the last decade or so - Mrs Pondo was a Director of Faculty (which was already higher than she wanted to be) at the start of this year, and the pressures and shoddy way the school was run were more than she was prepared to put up with, evenings, weekends and holidays all taken up with work or thinking about work. She thought just going back to teaching would be the way forward, so moved in September, but on 10% PPA, and it took six days in the classroom in September to finally break her. It's not teaching, it's not the school, it wasn't even the kids (although some of them sounded pretty crap) - it's the sector, she can't "just" teach any more, there are so many completely pointless boxes to tick that there's no time left to do the interesting, fun and ultimately useful bit that actually gets children thinking and puts information into their heads. And she had all the same pull factors you had - "I can't fail, I can't let the kids down, I can't let my colleagues down", etc etc etc - it's a nonsense, the system is now depending on you grinding yourself into the floor just to carry on. Don't stand for it!

She's still trying to work out what comes next - the biggest problem is that teaching is still what she wants to do, but that's not what the job is any more. She's thought about going part-time, but that just means spending, say. three days in school and two days doing all the bumpf at home for three day's pay. What seems clear is that the sector is suffering a massive drain of experienced staff as people either can't or won't put up with it any longer - she found some useful facebook groups, I'll see if I can dig them out and share them. So for her it's about working out what she wants to do next - loads of transferable skills, but nothing leaps out as anything she wants to do, she hasn't left because there's something else she wants to do, she just can't be a teacher in the UK in 2022. That might change, but for now - that door's shut for her.

Lots of helpful folk on here -

https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/LifeAfterTeachingExitTheClassroomAndThrive/

Would be interesting to see what if any Management / Leadership qualifications / experience / training has been done in the SLT.
The irony around the lack of ongoing education/training for people in those roles is deafening.

Ah, but, teachers are special, teachers are over-worked, nobody understands the pressure they are under, no other profession has to put up with this. Bollocks! These are all lies, probably started by teachers to boost their perceived importance but they’ve all, apparently, come to believe it themselves. There are millions of folk working under similar pressures.

How many people are ultimately judged by and working for the current crazy conservative government? There's the NHS too, how's that going at the moment?

Teachers, NHS, police, civil service, I imagine it's much the same across them all, multiple cheeks of the same putrid, Tory arse - workload goes relebtlessly up and resource falls further and further short, while the party faithful get ever richer.

Go back to a class teacher. School I'm currently in has someone who quit being an SLT and returned to the classroom. They couldn't be happier.

Have another SLT friend that has gone from full time to part time. They are doing much better.