Story 33

Age: 39

Teaching Experience: 12+ years

Contract Type: Unemployed due to no jobs

I trained as a teacher 16 years ago and worked for 15 continuous years, including 5 years in a promoted post.

I had been living up North and working in a school I loved where I was really valued and part of an excellent team. However, my parents are getting older. When my dad had a stroke I decided I would move home to Glasgow to be on hand to help out.

Little did I know that choice would bring the end of my primary teaching career…

After over a year of searching and applying for jobs my savings have been decimated, I’m so embarrassed every time a friend asks about my job situation. I know I’m good a teacher deep down but it’s hard to believe that when you face so much rejection and disinterest from the profession.Last week I hit a wall and I’ve been crying every day. I’m planning to speak to my GP but I definitely can’t afford counselling and expect their waiting list for support will be huge… I’m so exhausted from piecing together enough other work to cover my mortgage/bills while continuing a job search which feels like a maze – constant dead ends and routes that lead nowhere. I decided to give up.I’ve managed to be added to 2 supply lists over the last year. One has not offered even a single day over 7 months.

The other sends occasional texts but I know I’m up against hundreds of others replying… I’ve applied for 2 jobs since August which are the only 2 I’ve seen advertised. Both required me to get my headteacher up north to fill out and email a report.

One was then withdrawn and the other I wasn’t shortlisted for despite it being an application which has secured me interviews previously. There’s literally nothing more I can do.

Nothing is in my control and it’s all because the Scottish government has engineered a crisis in education which teachers have been warning about for YEARS. It’s so so frustrating, I feel completely devalued and the longer I go without teaching the less likely I’ll ever make it back.