u/NewbieTeach22

Hi all,

I've been teaching for 15 years and been a HOY for 5 years now at a secondary independent school.

Right from the word go I had big worries about taking it on but my school asked if I would as one of the HOY at the time left. It was a temporary one year role initially and I thought the extra money would be useful and I also, crucially, didn't have any kids of my own then!

I had worries because I am an introverted and anxious person but mask it quite well at work to some extent. I don't think I have natural leadership skills at all.

Anyway, I managed to do an ok job (though I am at an independent school, so I have no doubt the role is more emotional at more challenging schools) for a few years alongside my core subject teaching role, though balancing both has always been tough.

However, I have never truly enjoyed the role and see it as a major stressor in my life. I don't get paid enough nor am I given anywhere near enough time in the timetable to do the role effectively or to the standards SLT seem to expect. I'm constantly battling with parents, battling with staff sometimes and looking foolish because I've tried my best to intervene with certain students but when it then gets pushed up to SLT nothing seems to happen sometimes and then teachers get frustrated with me.

We had our first kid a couple of years ago and that's added another dynamic which now means I feel totally overwhelmed trying to be a good dad, husband, teacher in a core subject and also a HOY.

I love the teaching side of things and I'd give anything to just be a teacher again.

I've mentioned all this to my wife who isn't hugely on board with me giving it up as we obviously have big bills to pay etc but I do think unless you're a teacher or a teacher who is also a middle leader, it's hard to convey the relentless mental drain of it.

I am seriously considering giving up my HOY role at the end of this year. Has anyone ever done this and how did it work out? Particularly the loss of money from a TLR or ML position. Were you still able to work at the school ok? Did your Head take it ok or were they difficult about it?

Thanks!

Hi all,

I'm an experienced teacher and a HOY. I've been a HOY for 8 years now but I'm finding it increasingly challenging.

I'm confident with the teaching side of things and my HOD has given me another glowing appraisal review this year.

But I am getting the sense that SLT are becoming a bit unhappy with aspects of my HOY performance.

I'm also really struggling with anxiety recently at work - in HOY meetings for example I don't say much, if anything and I feel my heart racing during them. I've lost some confidence in my ability to do the role as effectively as the school want me to while trying to teach a core subject and also balance being a dad to young kids at home.

I'm just worried that if things get worse next year they will go down some 'support plan' etc route. I love the school itself and love the teaching side of it, but feel like the HOY role is really making me dread the place at the moment.

Anyone ever experienced this?

Thanks!

Hi all,

I work at an independent school as a HOY and have been a HOY for 8 years now.

I've always received good comments in my appraisal from my line manager from the pastoral side of things and subject wise, that's always been strong.

The role of HOY in our school seems to be getting more complex as the Deputy Head wants more of the big safeguarding issues to be conducted by us and not always just by the DSL.

This year I have been HOY 11 and felt I did a good job, got them through their GCSEs well before they left.

On my appraisal form, my line manager, who manages the HOY team, has written that I continue to do the job to a 'satisfactory' level but with the role evolving they would expect someone of my experience to be more proactive in tackling some of the more complex safeguarding issues that arise.

There are some positives as well but the general tone seems to suggest I am not pulling my weight in comparison to the other HOYs who obviously have been a lot busier than me since my Year Group left and also the nature of a Y9 HOY compared to Y11 is very different.

My Line Manager isn't always the easiest person to deal with.

I'm deciding whether to just leave it as it doesn't really affect much or challenge it. But I do fear if I challenge it then it might lead to something more messy and at this stage I just want to get to the summer. I am burnt out and in need of a recharge.

Any advice?

Hi all,

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I don't want to identify myself so will change parts of this around whilst sticking to the true story! It's a slightly long read but I'd welcome advice.

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I'm a HOY at an independent school. I teach a core subject and have been HOY for 8 years now.

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The structure of our school is that the HOYs are line managed by a head of section so year 7 and 8 HOY have their own head of section line manager and year 9-11 have another HOS.

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I have been HOY11 this year and after taking them through I've had lots of challenging moments in recent years but this year hasn't been too bad as behaviour etc tends to get slightly better in Yr 11 and obviously once they begin their study leave you do gain a bit of time back.

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I've had a very heavy timetable this year and it's been difficult to manage my teaching and pastoral role but I feel like I've done a good job and haven't done anything different to my other years in the role.

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The Head of Sections have their line manager as the deputy head.

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Last week, my line manager, HOS for 9-11 came to see me.

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She said she wanted an honest conversation as she'd heard from other HOY that I've found things challenging at times and have said the timetable I have doesn't allow enough time to properly get the pastoral job done as well as I would want. She also said looking at my body language at times she's felt I've been a bit deflated.

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I was a bit blindsided but said that I am teaching a core subject, teach every year group and was teaching 41/50 periods in the week (this figure isn't accurate to try and disgusise the post a bit, but the percentage is) and that at times I had felt a bit overwhelmed but did my best.

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My line manager then said she had spoken to the deputy head and that the deputy head was a bit nervous as the role is apparently going to get even more challenging next year as we up our safeguarding expertise and some of the SLT are being restructured so we wont always have the HOS to lean on as much.

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My line manager asked if I was still enjoying the role. I said I was but again said I had felt overwhelmed because of the demands of my subject, marking and heavy teaching load.

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They also said they felt I had done a job that was fine for what the role had always been but with the changing landscape and challenges they just want to make sure I'm delivering to the standards expected going forward and then she spoke about the other Heads of Year that are snowed under with all sorts of pastoral matters currently and how hard they're working. She said she'll have a think how best to support me next year.

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It was all a bit strange and left me feeling very deflated. I felt in a round about way she was saying they don't think I've worked as hard as other HOY (although my cohort have been on study leave so it's not really a fair comparison) and that the deputy head is nervous that I'm not up to the task of working even harder next year.

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They ended by saying they'll think of some good targets to set in my performance management for next year but will check with me first that I'm happy with them.

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I've been ruminating on this for a week now. Am I overthinking it? Was it just an informal welfare check on me or does it sound like they no longer think I'm a good HOY?

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Thanks !

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Hi all,

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I've been a HOY for 8 years now but without going into too much detail, I feel I can no longer do this role effectively as well as my teaching of a core subject and I don't enjoy the role any more either.

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I'm seriously thinking of stepping down next year if things don't improve.

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But financially it's a big hit when I have children as well. I'd stand to lose around 450 quid a month if I did stand down.

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My wife is totally against the idea but doesn't understand the level of stress it's causing me most weeks.

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Did anyone ever do this, why did you do it and do you feel you made the right decision?