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Original poster

To take a job working with year 9s

109 replies

Surelyitstimenow · 26/03/2026 13:08

For secondary school teachers out there and parents of year 9s.
I'm interested in applying for a job working with year 9s to support teaching staff in the classroom. Some of it will be supporting behaviour management.
By this age, have the kids settled down in their behaviour and are more grown up and mature? Will they be a calm, well developed age group to work with?
I get that year 7 and even year 8 they are still young, but by year 9 has the immature behaviour all stopped? Has all the chattering in class, physical horseplay, silly behaviour and chat back stopped by the time they hey to year 9?
I'm thinking about the behaviour of year 9 boys more specifically, based on the assumption that girls have generally matured in their behaviour at a younger age than boys (stereotype I know)!

OP posts:
VintedVintage · 26/03/2026 19:58

There is a reason that they are known as the "naughty nines"!

BethBynnag86 · 26/03/2026 19:56

Don't do it OP!😯

MasterBeth · 26/03/2026 19:56

EarthlyNightshade · 26/03/2026 14:22

I thought the post was going to be about not wanting to take a job with Y9 because they are the worst.
Quite surprised to see any other point of view.

I think that's why so many start boarding school in Year 9! I certainly wanted to send mine!

Most Mumsnet post ever.

"So many" start boarding school!? Do they?

(1% of UK kids go to boarding school. So many!)

MasterBeth · 26/03/2026 19:55

14 year old boys are notoriously studious, responsible and calm.

Needlenardlenoo · 26/03/2026 14:55

OMG, I'd say quite a few boys are well into year 12 before they become reasonable human beings. And like it or not, 95% of your time will be spent dealing with the ones who aren't!

canuckup · 26/03/2026 14:52

I'd say that's the worst year

Absolute hormonal he'll for teens

TheSandgroper · 26/03/2026 14:47

Forty years ago, a teacher in a rural Western Australia's school said year nine should be single sex.

Year 8, 10, 11, 12 are ok being mixed but year 9’s - nope.

In this house, school mostly went along ok but the friendship ructions were in year 4 and year 9. I drank gin getting through year 9.

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 26/03/2026 14:37

God no! I have over 20 years’ experience of teaching them.

VividDeer · 26/03/2026 14:22

Haha, second thread this week about the hell of year 9..
Signed, worried mum of year 8

EarthlyNightshade · 26/03/2026 14:22

I thought the post was going to be about not wanting to take a job with Y9 because they are the worst.
Quite surprised to see any other point of view.

I think that's why so many start boarding school in Year 9! I certainly wanted to send mine!

Ormally · 26/03/2026 14:21

RS1987 · 26/03/2026 13:42

Year 9 are the worst. By middle of Year 10 they are alright. Keen to please in Y7 and starting to fall off by the end of Y8.

Hard agree.
I have been an assistant in other places in Europe and Y9 seemed a retrograde step from most of the yr 7 and 8 classes. Almost no eye contact and as little interaction as they could possibly manage, as if someone pulled a blind down between you, in contrast to a mostly interested yr 8 group.

Coffeeisnecessary · 26/03/2026 14:20

Year 9 is the worst as both a teacher and a mother. My second son is approaching year 9 and I'm scared already!! 😂

dizzydizzydizzy · 26/03/2026 14:20

all the secondary school teachers I know say y9 are the worst - very cocky and immature but not yet worried about GCSEs

ilovesooty · 26/03/2026 14:17

RNApolymerase · 26/03/2026 13:14

Will they be a calm, well developed age group to work with?
Short answer, No.

No. Definitely not.

Cosyblankets · 26/03/2026 14:16

CallingOnTheMegaphone · 26/03/2026 13:27

If you have to ask, it doesn't sound like it's the job for you! Grin

I came on to say exactly the same thing.

Anyone who has ever worked with teens would know the answer.
OP what is your background?

PoliteSquid · 26/03/2026 13:44

Year 9s are aged 13-14…. Not generally known for being particularly mature in their outlook! Varies wildly of course, but they’re still very young teenagers.

Pricelessadvice · 26/03/2026 13:43

Year 9 are the worst. They are no longer the ‘young’ ones in the school, but they don’t have exam pressure yet. Plus they know they'll be dropping some subjects so their effort in those often skydives.

Ex-secondary school teacher.

RS1987 · 26/03/2026 13:43

The fact the job is specifically for behaviour support in y9 tells you what you need to know - budgets are very tight, they’re not going to employ someone to watch some well behaved kids work quietly

RS1987 · 26/03/2026 13:42

Year 9 are the worst. By middle of Year 10 they are alright. Keen to please in Y7 and starting to fall off by the end of Y8.

Myswweetchild · 26/03/2026 13:40

@Surelyitstimenow do you have any experience of working in a school ?
I was a primary school teacher for 25 years, and I wouldn't even contemplate this. And I know primary is different to secondary ( though the main problem - behaviour, attitude , lack of parental support - the same, I should think).
What's the school like ?
Could you visit ?

youalright · 26/03/2026 13:32

Year 9 girls are the worst. My dd is y9 and what a pain in the arse. The drama its like they feed off it. Falling out with friends, boy drama, spreading rumours about each other and just general nastiness. And you will hear all about it in great detail.

justintimeforxmas · 26/03/2026 13:28

Er no! Year 9 usually the worst year. They tend to settle about half way thorough year 10

CallingOnTheMegaphone · 26/03/2026 13:27

If you have to ask, it doesn't sound like it's the job for you! Grin

Favouritefruits · 26/03/2026 13:24

Omg! Year 9 is the worst year for behaviour, hormones ranging, not the youngest in the school but not the oldest and worrying over GCSEs they are a nightmare.

Lauders · 26/03/2026 13:24

God no! Year 9 is the worst year for this! They strike a strange balance between completely obnoxious whilst also being really silly and juvenile. They’re really ‘stupid’ at this year group. The girls are broadly no better either. They have no real responsibilities in the sense of the GCSE years so they’re not stressed or under the weight of that but settled in the school enough to be completely secure.

I absolutely love year 9, they’re often absolutely hilarious, drive me to madness and usually big hearted, but they’re not easy by any measure! Also, depending on the catchment of your school/make up of children you usually get a few pregnancy scares in year 9 as well.