I'm dreading going back in 2 weeks. I don't feel like I've had a rest at all, taking on all the child care all summer. There's nowhere I can really send him for a day. I'm finding it hard to enjoy anything. I don't feel relaxed. I'm so tired. All his friends have parents who are at work so playdates just aren't happening. It's just me and him and I am feeling so lonely.
Is anyone dreading results day tomorrow? I am so nervous. I think mainly because I was given some classes to “boost” their grades and there were some changes throughout the year because of that.
I’m worried that if they don’t do well it will look really bad on me.l I have tried everything I possible could.
Sorry I think I just needed to get this off my chest….
I’m a secondary school teacher who has experienced a few health problems. I can still work a full timetable, but sometimes the full timetable without adjustments is unbearable. Especially coming in September, I have 3 PPAs per week and I’ve been given an additional subject to teach so I have to move between buildings constantly. For example, I am awaiting a diagnosis for endometriosis. One day a month, I get severe pains all over my body for a few hours and don’t have the energy to give a full lesson standing up. Would the trade union support me in that I can make my lessons slightly lighter during this day?
And meetings are sometimes during Friday at lunch. I need to pray during then (all lunches but especially Friday) as I am Muslim. I have mentioned this a few times it was accounted for, but often gets overlooked.
At my school, teachers rarely ever take time off work for being sick, unless they are hospitalised. I have found that I get sick less often at this school, as it’s a grammar school, so not as stressful as less behaviour management. It’s also run quite well by SLT. I just don’t know how to combat the issue of severe pains once a month.
I also experienced trauma nearly a year ago and I’m dealing with PTSD-like symptoms whilst working, along with depression and anxiety, but you wouldn’t be able to tell. I had to carry on like nothing happened and never got closure or justice. My manager tried to extend my probation (right after I experienced the trauma and took 2.5 days off work and didn’t take another sick day again the whole year!) as she said I don’t spend enough time with the department during my PPAs and break and lunch. I tried to do it more and we had meetings during my PPAs so I spend time with them. I took time out of each time to check in on everyone. She couldn’t give a valid reason to not pass me so I passed. I need break and lunch to collect myself, regain energy so I can teach again.
I feel like teaching is almost like being in prison. I feel watched. Every thing I do must be accounted for. If I share a personal struggle to explain why I might be quieter, it’s used against me. Even my break and lunch times, I have to justify how I’m spending them. if I create a lesson from scratch, spend a long time on it, I get told to “delete” it, rather than edit it and make tweaks. my HoD has shouted at me before genuinely because she did something wrong and blamed me for her getting caught, and I just cried. I feel I am not an assertive person but I also don’t feel like I have anyone to back me. my HoD has been at the school for two decades. I’ve been there for one year.
Is it normal to feel this way? Are all careers like this? does anyone have any tips? Because I’m dreading September. I enjoy teaching, but I find dealing with management as quite challenging.
I’d really appreciate some advice from other teachers, especially single parents/teachers with young children.
I’m due to return to teaching in September after a few years out and have accepted a part-time primary role (2 days a week). I was really looking forward to returning, but my circumstances have suddenly changed and I’m questioning whether I should still go ahead.
I came out of a bad relationship and have been living in temporary accommodation with my two young children. Honestly, I expected us to be here for years, so I arranged everything around our current area — my 4-year-old is due to start Reception in September, my 18-month-old has a nursery place, and my new job is nearby.
I've now unexpectedly been offered permanent council housing in a completely different area. I'm incredibly grateful, but it means everything needs changing at the last minute — Reception place, nursery, childcare/breakfast club and travel to work. I also won't have a car because it’s a new build development and I won’t be able to park anywhere in the area. This means getting two children dropped off to different places and being at school myself for around 8am is worrying me.
To make it harder, I'm still waiting for the keys. I've been told it could be the end of August, but as it's a new build it could also be delayed, so I'm basically in limbo.
Part of me thinks it's only 2 days a week and I should try to make it work. Another part thinks moving, settling two young children, changing their school/nursery AND returning to teaching at the same time might just be too much.
I feel awful about potentially letting my new school down so close to September, but I'm also worried it would be worse to start and then realise the logistics aren't manageable.
What would you do — try to make the 2 days work, or withdraw now, get settled and return to teaching later? Is it worth being honest with the headteacher and seeing if I could start after half term?
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!
An unusual question but wanted to make sure!
I’m learning to drive and just passed my theory test today. However booking a practical test is looking horrific at the moment. Out of the centres I am allowed to book, the only availability is during the working day in January. And yes, the first appointment available is the end of January due to
major backlogs…
While I’m aware that most appointments should be booked outside of school time, it’s becoming fairly obvious that this will not be feasible for me. Would this be something you could request time off to complete?
School context - private school, members of staff have previously been given unpaid leave to attending sporting events they are participating in as competitors.
I do not mind having it unpaid if necessary but wanted to check this generally this is something you’d be able to request without raising eyebrows.
Have three classes who I’ve taught all the way through KS3 and KS4, would it be weird if I went in on results day?
I know the CEO and HT go in with some SLT but wasn’t sure on the approach for normal teachers.
What’s your thoughts and experience on this?
How do you manage your to do lists? Especially when you have more than one role in school. I see on social media teachers using one note to organise their to do lists and I’m wondering this more effective?
Also any tips on:
-how to keep records of things you’ve done in your to do lists (say a parent wants to fact check something 6 months later)
-delegating tasks and then remembering to follow up on it
Would love to know what you all have found to be the most effective and efficient way to manage your to do lists
I start at a new school in September after what felt like a very long ECT1 year, and honestly… I really needed these six weeks off.
I’ve actually managed to properly switch off and I’m enjoying the break, but now we’re getting towards the end of August I can feel that teacher guilt starting to creep in…
Should I be going into school? Should I be setting up my classroom? Should I be getting everything ready? Am I leaving it too late?
I know realistically I’ve still got two weeks until September and plenty of time. I’m planning on going in at some point over the next couple of weeks to start sorting the classroom out and getting myself organised… but part of me also just wants to squeeze every last bit out of the summer before the madness starts again 😅
I think after ECT1 I’m also trying to get better at accepting that the holidays are actually holidays. I don’t want to spend the final two weeks slowly drifting back into work mode when I could still be enjoying time with my family and doing things I won’t have nearly as much time for once September hits.
But then there’s that little voice saying everyone else has probably already been in and their classrooms are completely finished 😂
Anyone else in the same position? Have you been into school yet? When do you normally start going back in and getting your classroom ready?
Has anyone heard what their school is doing with the new SEND funding?
I’ve been reading about the new Inclusive Mainstream Fund and was trying to work out what it could actually mean day to day.
From the guidance, schools can use the funding for things like SEND training, adaptive teaching, interventions, and giving staff more time and support.
It sounds like there’s quite a bit of flexibility in how schools use it, so I’m curious what different schools are actually planning.
Has anyone heard anything yet? And if you had a say, where would you want the money to go?
I think how i'm feeling all started in university with awful placements and mentors telling me to rethink my decisions.
To shorten things, I am overthinking everything I do in work. (I'm in a SRB in Wales, 2nd year going into 3rd year teacher).
I plan for autistic children and overthinking everything, the areas of learning i'm linking too, the progression steps, how this reflects on every single learner. And I can't help but think I'm doing everything wrong.
My management are lovely and understanding, they've been supportive all the way through and saying the positive change on the children. I just don't feel like a 'teacher' if anybody understands. Am I thinking too much into the job? Should I just take a step back and take the day as it comes. I feel like i'm running my mind into the dirt.
I'll have 5 children next September and I'm already thinking about the skills they need to link to and how to make this work EXACTLY for all learners. I have a headache 🤕 Anything I do put in place seems to be thrown back at me (LITERALLY) by my children.
help!
I was stopped from marking by AQA, I won't give details as my post was removed before but basically I was stopped several times, then told I was doing well again but then completely stopped from marking this component ever again. At first it was my marking was too harsh, and I'm not entirely clear but what I am assuming has happened is that my marking may have gone from being too harsh to too generous, or just continued to be too harsh, all the letter said was that I am not consistently meeting the standard. It was very frustrating because I was told I was doing well at other checks.
I am disappointed I was stopped permanently because the only reason I did this was for the CPD as myself and colleagues always find this paper difficult to mark, and yet I learnt nothing from the training other than you have to make a judgement call, but seems that often my judgement is wrong. How can I know now how to prepare my students for this exam after being essentially banned from marking it? I feel like I can't teach it now, because if I can't mark it I clearly still don't get it. I wish they would give more feedback because now I basically didn't learn anything from this experience other than confirming that I cannot mark it.
Also it said I would be paid at the end of the marking series, I still haven't been paid after results day, is this normal?
Exciting right.
We're on our second week back and no one seems entirely sure what the toilet situation is.
We have separate facilities now - girls only and boys only (we're Primary). Until last week these were mixed (our school is 2 years old so it was the "trend") However, nothing has changed for staff - we still have a communal toilet area. I think these too should also be separate, but our senior team are saying no (too much hassle? I don't know).
These toilets (for the adults) are also used by adult visitors to school - parents for assemblies/shows, contractors etc.
Maybe I've missed it, but when I look online it all seems a bit vague with no certain answer.
Can someone help me out please?
Hi everyone,
I'm wondering if any of you can share what good practice or strategies you have seen being used effectively in digital classrooms, I.E. classrooms with computers in as a majority, so I am thinking Graphic Design, Comp Sci, 3d design maybe, things like that.
Especially around behaviour management, but I am also interested in best practices around breaking up the lesson and acknowledging "yes, this is a computer room." "No, we're not gaming."
I want to do one of the NPQs offered to teachers ( pastoral/leadership etc) would I be able to do it while taking a break from teaching? Or do I need to be actively working in order for it to be funded?
Thanks!
Hi everyone!
Would love to know where you’re all getting your smart, comfy and inexpensive clothes for the classroom? I’m just starting out and need a whole new wardrobe and don’t want to break the bank before we start in 2-3 weeks!
I’m size 12-14 so something that works for a curvy girl too please! Thank youuu!
I am hired as a SEMH teacher within a small setting in a main stream school. I teach no mainstream. I exclusively teach SEMH/SEN students with ehcps. I manage the curriculum and do the timetabling etc on top.
I am currently on UPS2 with no Sen allowance. I have brought this up before but it kind of got swept under the carpet and I was non the wiser. However, I’ve now looked into it and although I work in an academy, they follow the teachers pay and conditions - stated in their pay policy. My initial contract didn’t outline a SEN allowance, but I was none the wiser then.
Are they pulling a fast one to save money? I have been there for 5 years now? What are my options? I feel as though I’m owed what should have been mine considering I’ve had to develop expertise in the area I work and had suffered physical violence form students too - I’m considering whether I’m better going back to mainstream to be honest.
Just finished my first year on teach first and I still don’t have my QTS certificate from DoE. I have sent them 7 emails so far.
Anyone else having this issue? If I don’t have it soon my school will be even later in increasing my salary to the appropriate level.
Hi everyone! I’m a secondary school teacher in the UK and was wondering if there are any useful discounts, memberships, or perks specifically for teachers.
I’m aware of Blue Light Card, but I’m wondering if there are any other teacher-specific discounts, memberships or schemes worth knowing about.
I’m thinking of things like shopping, travel, food, entertainment, subscriptions, professional memberships, or anything else that’s genuinely worthwhile.
What teacher discounts or memberships have you found useful? Would love to hear your recommendations!
For example, I went into my friend’s class and she was marking a pile of books that were stacked open at the page she wanted to mark, handed in that way by the pupils! I couldn’t believe that I wasn’t already doing that. It’s such a little thing, but it actually saves me time.
What are the little things save time?