Two weeks after I started my NQT year, the school was put into special measures. I am unable to control and manage the behaviour of my Year 3 class. I have reached the stage where I hate going into school. I feel that if I continue my health will suffer and I will become disillusioned with teaching. I have always worked in “difficult” schools during my PGCE and as a teaching assistant with SEN children in a mainstream and special primary schools. I’ve enjoyed the challenge and done well. The head of my present school doesn’t want me to leave. She is supportive and I feel awful about abandoning a sinking ship. But I only get one chance with my NQT year and I feel I am already becoming a failing teacher at this school. What should I do? Can I leave and restart my NQT year at another school? What are the regulations?

What a dreadful start to a career. If things are as bad as you say, it’ll be difficult to remedy the situation, so you should resign and start again at another school. This is acceptable as far as the induction regulations go. In fact, you can do induction in three separate schools as long as you spend at least a term in each.

Schools in special measures aren’t allowed to have NQTs without the permission of HMI because they are rightly deemed unsuitable places for beginning teachers. Don’t feel you’re leaving a sinking ship, or succumb to emotional blackmail. You’ll be doing the children a favour if your resignation means they’ll get an experienced teacher who can control them. Being put into special measures can be positive because it means something will be done to improve the school - and that can only help the children and the teachers.

Resign by the end of October to leave at the end of term - or maybe your head will waive the notice period. Then get a job in a supportive, well-managed school. The LEA should help with this. If you leave before the end of December, this term won’t count and you’ll start your three terms of induction when you’ve got a contract at another school. If you stay, you risk having “not making satisfactory progress” written on your assessment form, and a reference of a similar nature - which isn’t the end of the world but is to be avoided.

While you’re still there, the LEA and head must ensure that you’re well supported, monitored and assessed. They may buy in a consultant to act as an additional induction tutor.

Are you a student or NQT? Email your questions to: susan.young@newsint.co.uk. Sara Bubb’s A Newly Qualified Teacher’s Manual:how to meet the induction standards is published by David Fulton, pound;16