Dear Sagacious,
I started working as an NQT in a challenging inner city comprehensive in July. My first term was tough, but I got through it with mostly satisfactory observations, and was told I was on track to pass my NQT year. However, since being back in January, I have had a very difficult half term in which I became very depressed. I found behaviour management in particular very difficult and actually walked out of some of my lessons as I was so upset.
Because of the difficulties I have been having, I was identified as being at risk for failing my NQT year, and was told to attend a meeting with the director for CPD (who is in charge of NQTs), my mentor and the NQT manager for the LEA. At this meeting I was told I was at risk of failing, that I should consider resigning to avoid failing my NQT, and that I should speak to my union rep. At the time I said that I really wanted to stay and pass my NQT, and was prepared to put in the work necessary in order to pass.The following week was half term, and I was paired up with a different mentor to focus on planning for the next half term in order to address the concerns and pass my NQT.
The planning work went well however as soon as I got back to school things went downhill again. I started having anxiety attacks and was unable to cope in the classroom. The Thursday after returning to school I basically went in and told my HOD that I couldn't do it anymore. He responded by telling me to make sure I had everything planned, and to stop "monopolising other teachers time." I went to see another colleague in a complete state, and she went and got my HOD. I don't know what was said, but he came and told me if I wasn't in a good state of mind I wouldn't be able to be in school, and sent me home.
My school's HR department referred me to a psychologist through Occupational Health. I saw him the day after I left school and will see him for a further five sessions. I also saw my GP who changed my antidepressant medication and signed me off with depression for two weeks. I am due to be returning to school on Monday. I don't really want to go back. Apart from my medication, which takes up to a month to kick in, nothing has really changed.
I have been looking for other jobs, but part of me feels it would be better if I just took a break, put my career on hold, and try again in a few years. I am only 22, so quite young for an NQT. I don't really know what my options are, is it too late to quit for Easter, could I get some kind of early release on medical grounds? Would this look bad to future employers? I know I definitely do want to teach in the future, I'm just not sure if I want to right now.
Answers
The first thing you must do is make sure that you are looking after your health and mental wellbeing. If necessary, go back to your GP and get signed off or some more time. Occupational Health should be independent of your employer and work for you to enable you to come back to your job. I see far too many people given the 'resign' advice and for me it is not always the best advice - perhaps if more time and effort went into supporting NQTs we would have fewer leaving the profession and a better healkthier workforce. The 'resign' advice can, in my view, simply let employers off the hook and rather than deal with the problems (which may well be school problems rather than teacher problems) they get shot of the person and simply replace that person That will not always solve the problem.
If you have not contacted your union, do. They should also work on your behalf to ensure that you are fairly treated. OH, your union, you and the school must work hard to have a return to work plan that takes into account and mnakes reasonable adjustments for your current health condition. |If that is done then there is a good chance that problems can be worked out.
The Sage