The term ‘toxic school’ will mean different things for different people. Most people experience day to day workplace ‘gripes’ but when does this turn into toxicity? It may be that just one person is finding a school toxic because of their individual circumstances or the majority of the staff may share this opinion. Use the 10 key indicators in this article to support you when reflecting on your work environment.

I’ve always maintained that if you’re not enjoying your job, you should change it and although there are often other variables at play (such as job security and salary), I have found myself on one occasion, biting the bullet and having to take my own advice! Although, always being one to put a positive spin on things:

1. The weight loss was very useful.
2. I know exactly what sort of schools I don’t want to work in.
3. I’ve met some amazing people along the way.
4. My opinion of RI schools and those who work tirelessly in them, has radically changed (for the better – see point 3!).

How do we avoid these situations? Sometimes we can’t. They are either a result of a new SLT appointment, academy take over or a result of a school being sold well when you view it for job potential.

I’ve enlisted the help of some anonymous teachers who have also had negative experiences in a variety of settings to support readers in their quest for settings which are a little more benign.

1. Positivity – even when it’s tough going, a school with a neutral PH score would still be encouraging an ethos of pulling together and supporting each other. Not in this teacher’s setting. Stating that, ‘For months, I did not get a single positive or encouraging comment regarding my teaching, classroom or pupil engagement.’  If this is you, you are probably at this point, rather paranoid about your ability to teach a class, even though you have had zero issues in previous settings. Another teacher reflected, ‘negativity breeds negativity – in a toxic school you have to work so hard to stay positive and rise above it’.

2.  24/7 availability – You never seem to have the opportunity to switch off. There are endless emails, scrutinies and learning walks. You spend your evenings/weekends/holidays thinking about work. Furthermore, no one in SLT is encouraging you to work less. When my work anxiety over shadowed my son’s birthday party as well as a wedding the weekend before, I decided to plan my exit.

3. Sense of humour malfunction – your work place has little time for humour or fun. Even though we are tasked to after small humans, who would like to enjoy their childhood. Reflect on the experience that they are getting. Is it too regimented and dry? If as a staff, you are resorting to black or ironic humour, impressions of disliked members of staff or if you spend time crying in your cupboard (if you are lucky enough to have a large enough one), then it is highly likely you are enveloped in a toxic environment.

4. Being told you’re not good enough to progress. This could be accompanied by having to take on roles that you are not comfortable with for very little/zero extra pay. One example I have seen is a teacher at the start of his/her career being given a Year Group Leader title by default with no remuneration and then being hauled over the coals when it came to accountability. Another example is a teacher being regularly told they are not ready for leadership because they had not completed a task in a way that their line manager would have.

5. Bully tactics – the sort of behaviour that you would not role model to your pupils, being modelled by members of the leadership team. For example, a public dressing down in a staff meeting, passive aggressive emails. Also, the feeling you need to ‘watch your back’. You don’t know who knows what about who. An SLT member with limited professionalism gossips about a colleagues ‘dodgy’ lesson or another colleagues ‘alleged mental health issue’. You feel like you are getting a good insight of things not to do when you are a leader.

6. You are not treated like a person – people have complicated lives. Sometimes home lives overspill into work. It’s unavoidable. Perhaps your leadership is not caring and compassionate and they are more interested in when you are returning to work rather than how you are. They may suggest that you cannot attend a funeral as the school policy says family members only. If this has happened to you then it may be time for a change of scene.

7. No one will hear you scream – the difference between careers going well to a career practically ending is faster than I ever could have imagined (having witnessed it happen) and the frightening thing was, it was based on one person’s opinion. Do you jump or wait till you are pushed? These are questions not just affecting the small minority of teachers who need to leave the profession because the bottom line is that this is not the career for them, but also increasingly excellent teachers who have had enough of trying to conform to a ridiculous workload or a rigid way of teaching. No one wants to be looking for jobs with unfounded capability targets hanging over them. 

8. Morals vs doing what you are told – If your school is making questionable moral decisions it may be time to consider its level of toxicity. For example, BBC’s Panorama episode involving teachers who are speaking out about issues such as cheating in SATs (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-47670746). This would make the majority of teachers blood boil but it happens and it leads me reflect upon my own standards in that impossible situation if I feared for my job and career. I’ve read only this week of a colleague in a school having a terrible time as they are being ostracised for whistleblowing and now need their union to negotiate an exit strategy out of a job they previously loved.

9. The toll on your mental health – The Educational Support charity cited an article on social media highlighting one person’s preference of crashing their car rather than going to work. If this is you, please consider your options and contact this organisation for support. One teacher has suggested, ‘Get out before it’s too late – the long term mental health effects are not worth it!’ I would second this after attempting to visit ex colleagues at previous school. I thought nothing of it until I couldn’t physically walk up the drive. I would never have considered that this would be a side effect of my experience.

10. Sometimes the toxicity is gradual – ‘My whole outlook on life has become more positive since moving schools – my life was good before leaving the toxic environment but it had pervaded my very core. It had such a detrimental effect on every aspect of my being. I just couldn’t see it. My husband has told me it’s good to hear me laugh again. Sadly, I wasn’t aware I’d stopped.’  Regularly reflect and compare work places with friends to see if yours is displaying high toxicity levels. especially if you are new to teaching. it can be easy to make an assumption about other schools based on limited experiences. Do your other NQT friends get more support than you? Does your mentor support you well in school? I’ve spoken to many staff to reiterate that there is a whole world of other schools out there that are friendly and supportive. If you have only worked in one place, you may just think that your situation is normal.

Despite all this negativity, there is light at the end of the tunnel and I would implore you not to give up on a career you once loved because of one experience. When ending your relationship with your toxic workplace, there are a few similarities with ending a toxic marriage. The line ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ does not work. It is not you. It is totally them. I have some happy endings to illustrate the point:

‘I am relieved to have been given the gift of reasonable self-esteem. Had I not had it, I would have broken and given up on a career that I loved. I have had nothing but positive feedback since starting my new job. Thank goodness I took the plunge and resigned!’

‘For the first time in years I don’t feel sick the evening before returning to work. I have also noticed a huge difference in my confidence of my teaching ability. I knew I was a good teacher but totally doubted myself and lost all my confidence. I had decided that if my new school didn’t relight my teaching fire then it was time for a new career but I didn’t need to worry.  I am trusted as a professional to get on with my job. I make decisions about the learning journey of my class. I am able to adapt and change my plans. Because, unlike before, I am able to plan my own lessons, their content and how they are delivered. I am empowered to do my job well.’

‘At last I don’t dread the drive to school. I am happy that I am a good teacher doing a good job. At my new school, children are at the heart of everything we do and staff are valued and supported. What a contrast to my last school which was run like a business.’

Finally, assuming you don’t need a reasonable reference anymore from your ex workplace, remember to tell it like it is in your exit interview. If you can’t do this, wait until you really don’t need their reference and write to the governing body or board of trustees – if nothing else it will help if you need closure. 

It is a very unfortunate educational climate many of us currently find ourselves in. I can’t help considering that government agendas have fueled the toxic school movement. Extreme pressure and accountability in the upper echelons of leadership has made many toxic leaders forget their roots and forget the quality first education that every child in their care should receive. Even post lockdown, I’ve heard reports of schools going back to their old ways of conducting too many observations and over scrutinising teachers when we need to put wellbeing at the heart more than ever before.

For more on curriculum reform to help everyone please refer to: https://positiveyoungmind.com/the-seeds-of-change-the-perfect-time-for-curriculum-reform-from-an-semh-perspective/ and to check that you are putting your wellbeing first, see: https://positiveyoungmind.com/a-teacher-wellbeing-oath-2020-edition/

 My parting piece of advice for everyone is that you don’t know what’s around the corner (I wrote these words in 2019 and couldn’t have predicted this year!). If possible, have enough money put away to get you by for a few months and have a think about what you would do if you suddenly found yourself out of work so if you have to resign spectacularly, you don’t need to panic.

And finally, please don’t give up on education if you do resign. Take some time to reflect and rest before being very picky when choosing your next school.

Thanks for reading and feel free to share your experiences in the comments below.

Lynn

Fungi photography by Sandra Mate

Further reading: Dr Helen Woodley – https://www.tes.com/news/no-teacher-should-have-work-toxic-school.