the way back - nervous breakdown and all that

The current head of my previous school was employed in the summer of 2018 – their tenure started in September 2018. One particularly perspicacious class teacher saw straight through them after a one-to-one with the head that summer. She handed in her notice shortly thereafter. And then: o    By the end of 2018-2019, 4 more class teachers had left (two halfway through the year): representing 24% of class teachers. At least 8 other members of staff also left. (12+) o    By the end of 2019-2020, 4 other class teachers left (including me) and 2 extremely well respected cover teachers: representing 25% of class teachers/ 33% of teachers. And a much loved TA. (7) o    By the end of 2020-2021, 3 more class teachers had left: representing 20% of class teachers. At least 5 other members of staff also left. (8+) There was also a restructure that year. Some allege that questions remain unanswered. I do not know how many others lost their jobs due to it. o ...

Allegedly it is quite normal for a large proportion of staff to leave a school when a new head takes over. I often heard this before I started writing this blog three years ago. There may be some truth in it.  But what if staff turnover stays high? What if this churn of staff keeps on going? Nine class teachers of 16 left my previous school throughout the 2022-2023 academic year – 60% of the teaching staff. Of the 6 who remain: 2 have become assistant heads. I guess, good for them! I do not know most of the others as they were not in situ when I was teaching there. Two other long-standing members of staff have also left - I do not have any details about their reasons. And it seems that many of the people who have left the school seem to have left under a cloud. This isn’t publicly available information as the figures above are, but you might have read a previous post in which one of those teaching staff who left the school detailed the awful experiences with the head that made...