How can you tell if your school has gone beyond irritating and become truly toxic?
Most people experience day to day workplace ‘gripes’, but when does this turn into toxicity and does it make a difference if one person is finding a school toxic because of their individual circumstances?
In professional terms, I’ve been about a bit. My school tally is six. My length of service ranges from nine years to 8 months with nine headteachers who each brought their idiosyncrasies to the school. I left most of my schools due to promotion or relocation, but I left
Many symptoms you list above, I have experienced in recent school environment – and boy oh boy, you have nailed it down. I just did not know toxicity at the time – you tend to think it is just one individual, but if that individual has managerial responsibilities, it filters down below – and soon adapted as the standard.
I have to compare this to how Germany, responsible for so many influencial philosophers to western ideologies, became swept with Natzism and we now know its end results.
I have worked in a toxic environment in FE… thankfully had some money saved for my spectacular resignation but not before I crashed & burned. It took me 18 months to recover my health and a further 7 years to recover my senior position… but it was so worth it… I would t be here if I hadn’t left. Can’t shake the past, but can absolutely learn from it.
I also had to go down to go up again and I learnt a lot in that process and worked at a wonderful school which really got my confidence back. I’m also working back up to where I was. I realised how deeply I was affected when I went back to see a friend a few years later and couldn’t even walk up the driveway! That took me by surprise. I’m glad you are in a better place as well.
Do you mind me asking what you cited as your ‘reason for leaving’ on applications? I recently decided to leave my senior position due to issues mentioned above. I’m concerned how this looks to potential employers.
Hi JClaire – I have written on applications that I have stepped down to spend more time with my family or to improve work life balance. However, I was very transparent with one school I went to as the head had heard of my school and asked what it was like to work there at which point I told him my experience. That school was really amazing for me to get my teaching confidence back.
Hi James thanks for your comments – this culture has appeared to evolve over time in a minority of schools and although at the heart of it there are some individuals who are just not nice with others needing to tow the party line, I would consider that the pressures of OFSTED an d standards have also fueled the issue. At least unlike the Nazi regime, we as individuals have a choice to opt out of the circumstances without fear of our lives (although I also know that many are in fear of a lack of reasonable reference!). I hope your current situation is less toxic.
Hi JClaire – I have written on applications that I have stepped down to spend more time with my family or to improve work life balance. However, I was very transparent with one school I went to as the head had heard of my school and asked what it was like to work there at which point I told him my experience. That school was really amazing for me to get my teaching confidence back.
How can one deal with toxicity when you’re a qts trainee and it’s the head of a very small school who’s the problem? My life is totally miserable and I live under the threat of failing .
I’m sorry to hear this and that’s a tough one. I’d keep your head down and plot your escape route for the next term.
Agreed – this is a horrible situation to be in. Unless you can find another school who would be willing to take you on for the remainder if your training. This would have be done through word of mouth I expect. Hopefully it won’t be long before your situation is a distant memory.
I experienced something similar, I had a toxic HOD in my nqt year, keep your head down and tick all the boxes this year, but be applying for a new job and get out as soon as you can. My second school was such a contrast and I’ve worked in some lovely schools since too, I hope you find somewhere much happier to work.