secondary - do you have a favourite age group?

[PumpkinPie2016]

We were discussing this at work as a have been asked for our timetable preferences.

I like the two extremes as it were - love teaching Y7/8 and love teaching A-level. Although I obviously do my best for every class I teach, I definitely feel most at home at KS3/5!

What's your favourite at group?

[QueenofCBA]

Oh, I wish we were asked about timetable preferences!

I think I would go for Y7 and A level, too. I love the enthusiasm and curiosity of the Y7s, such fun!
My A level students keep me on my toes and you can have proper adult conversations with them. I already miss my wonderful Y13s who has their last lessons today

[SabineSchmetterling]

I’m going to be a a Head of Sixth Form in September so should probably say A Level. I do love teaching A Level but my favourite year to teach is actually year 11. I think that’s a lot to do with the curriculum though. I really love the history GCSE topics. The topic I teach at A Level is good, but wouldn’t have been my first choice of unit to teach.

[Dermymc]

Controversial but year 10.

Year 7 too needy, year 8 full of immature boys, year 9 need to go home and get over themselves, year 11 have too much pressure (on the kids).

[astuz]

I'm with you OP - 6th form, closely followed by Y7, for exactly the reasons that Queen mentions.

My worst is Y9...

[superram]

10 and 11 then 9 in my current school. I love my a level groups but hate teaching a level.

[Bobbiepin]

A level. Got so sick of teaching the younger years I moved to a college.

[Singleandproud]

My school doesn’t go up to A level but I agree with Dermymc. Year 10 have started to settle down, year 9 are awful.

[roisinagusniamh]

Year 7 because of enthusiasm in general.
Glad Der doesn't work at our school due to her sweeping generalisation on Y 8 boys !!

[Cottonwoolmouth]

I preferred year 7. Hated Y9

[AppleKatie]

Year 12. Especially since we ditched AS levels, it’s fun again!

[astuz]

year 9 need to go home and get over themselves

^^ This!

I have a middle ability Y9 class with about 5 very loud, cocky, bitchy girls, and as for the boys, I have no idea what's going on in their heads, I suspect they don't either, but it's definitely not school work.

I have to keep reminding myself that loads of them are actually lovely.

[Dumplingfan]

Definitely year 10. But I do quite like year 7 as well.

[Dumplingfan]

Year 9 are definitely the worst for me

[Dermymc]

@roisinagusniamh it is a very sweeping generalisation but typifies my current year 8 group! There are some lovely students but the boys seem very "silly" compared to the maturing girls. Apologies if that caused offence.

[cricketballs3]

Another vote for year 9 being my least favourite - I love yr 11, 12 & 13

[Still18atheart]

Controversial but yr 10 & yr 8. Yr 7 needy, yr 8. They’ve settled into the swing of things and are just normal human beings. Yr 9 just eugh. Yr 10 have got through the drama of yr 9. And this is the year that I tend to have a lot to do with so start to know them a bit better. Yr 11 all of the pressures. Yr 13 unrecognisable from yr 11. Yr 13 are fab

[PumpkinPie2016]

Haha Y9 are my worst as well! Had a top set last year - full of really bright kids by oh my - the drama!! Endless drama!

Out of KS4, I think Y10 would be my choice - most seem to be morphing in to reasonable human beings again by then.

I will miss my Y13 group when they go they have been a really amazing group and at such lovely people. I'm hugely proud of them though and I know they will go on to great things.

[Fallulah]

Anything from 9 upwards. I struggle with the neediness of year 7.

[EvilTwins]

6th Form. I only teach 6th form now. My own DTDs are year 8 and sometimes their conversation over dinner is enough to make me remember why I hated teaching KS3.

[BelulahBlanca]

7 and 8. So much freedom on what you can do. Yr9 are hard work but last year I had a group I only saw once every 2 weeks and we could do so many interesting things.

[Clarabellawilliamson]

Ha, it's reassuring that year 9 are the same the world over! I'm similar to lots of others, year 7 or year 13. BUT only if I have a year 7 class to myself (science) or I am their main teacher so I can 'shape' them from the start. I came back from maternity after Easter this year and all year groups have had lots of short term supply- they are feral!!!

[BelulahBlanca]

I always feel Yr9 suffer from middle child syndrome

[BelindasGleeTeam]

God Yr9. Ugh.

It's not so much middle child syndrome as peak shitty teenage years. It is hideous being 13/14. Feel for the kids, but only occasionally because half the time my year 9 are vile.

Like Yr7 and some A level, though my current yr12 need a rocket up them.

[likeafishneedsabike]

Is anyone going to come along and say Year 9? It’s not going to be me!

[Rosieposy4]

For me it’s not about specific year groups but much more influenced by the particular classes I have in that year group. I teach all 7 year groups and last year had appalling ks3 classes, so much so I kicked off about it, this year i have much better groups there. At KS4 the general rule per year is one decent group, one ropey one, KS5 should always be great, last years y13s I loved to bits, this years not so much.