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Original poster

teachers - what aspect of going back are you dreading the most?

57 replies

minishiteboard · 26/08/2025 15:27

( even if you like your job)

I am dreading sitting in the chuffing hall all day where they tell us the latest shitnitiative they have come up with

OP posts:
Zippidydoodah · 28/08/2025 08:46

Rocknrollstar · 26/08/2025 21:23

One year, on the first day back, a colleague said to me ‘back to the real world’. I replied ‘this isn’t the real world’ and started making plans to escape.

👏 👏 👏

WonderingWanda · 28/08/2025 08:44

Loving "shitnishitive" as a phrase.

I can normally let all of that wash over me while I sip coffee and write in my planner.

I am another one not looking forward to the sheer pace and speed at which I am going to have to work, my perimenopausal brain hasn't quite recovered from last term yet.

Evvyjb · 28/08/2025 08:38

The interminable inset. The fact that timetables STILL aren't ready and I have no idea really who or what I am teaching from next week. The GCSE and A Level paper reviewing which I'm trying to stop stealing my last few days.

The stress dreams which started last week.

CoffeenWalnut · 27/08/2025 21:41

BeachedOff · 27/08/2025 19:12

I'm with you OP. It always amuses me when they do the obligatory INSET on different learning styles and adaptation. This is of course whilst literally talking at a group of people for hours on end using a boring PowerPoint. Apparently different learning styles stop after childhood.

Quite.
Not to mention the fact that we teach our pupils that when they do a presentation they must absolutely NOT read the content of the slides. They should look at their audience and illustrate the point they are making. Otherwise it would simply be more efficient for everyone to just hand around a print out of the presentation.
Unfortunately, the folk who do the staff training days don't seem to have got the memo.
I'm doing a presentation myself on Friday and I have run through it several times so I can explain what the slides illustrate without reading from them.... and finding ways to add a little humour into it to keep my audience interested.... you know, like we do in the classroom with our pupils.

Meredusoleil · 27/08/2025 19:24

Having to get up early in the morning when the alarm goes off.

Having to go to bed earlier at night, so as to try to get enough sleep to not be too tired before I've even set foot in the school building!

Making packed lunches.

BeachedOff · 27/08/2025 19:12

I'm with you OP. It always amuses me when they do the obligatory INSET on different learning styles and adaptation. This is of course whilst literally talking at a group of people for hours on end using a boring PowerPoint. Apparently different learning styles stop after childhood.

Nicedayatlibrary · 27/08/2025 18:56

Seeing a colleague who barely said 2 words to me all last year despite sharing a class together.
Hearing about how they are changing the key stage 3 curriculum for the 4th time since I started the job.
Having to teach a subject I don't want to teach because there aren't enough staff.
Working longer hours than last year.
Having to a million and one things before 9am when I haven't even had chance to drink my coffee.

ShowOfHands · 27/08/2025 18:51

My tutor group. I inherited them last year and 95% of them are lovely but they simply do not want to do the mandated pshe/expert learner/wellbeing/leadership/bonding/assembly/Newsround schedule in the first 20 minutes of every day. They want to chill out and chat with their friends. I can't lead them to the bloody stream, let alone interest them in drinking the enriching educational waters.

CoffeenWalnut · 27/08/2025 18:43

minishiteboard · 26/08/2025 15:27

( even if you like your job)

I am dreading sitting in the chuffing hall all day where they tell us the latest shitnitiative they have come up with

Exactly this. The endless morning of presentation by the head of statistics and other admin when all we want to do is to get on with sorting out our rooms, doing our photocopiuies and laising with our colleagues.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 27/08/2025 18:17

Not being able to go to the loo as and when I want to!

But overall pleased with my timetable for this year and happy to be going back!

MrsHamlet · 26/08/2025 22:13

TaborlinTheGreat · 26/08/2025 22:08

I'm abroad on holiday and I still can't escape! I have GCSE students asking me to look through papers they've requested. The main one is trying to get up from an 8 to a 9, even though she has her place in 6th form etc and is quite a lot of marks off a 9.

My school blocks access to any of our stuff when we're outside the UK. It's great!

mumwithallthebooks · 26/08/2025 22:10

FourTop · 26/08/2025 15:54

The relentless pace. Log on, get ready for six lessons in a row rush to briefing, try not to be late to tutor, battle the 'one way' system, try to have to starter ready on the board and be at the door to greet, take the register in the first two minutes, manage behaviour, distribute resources, explain, question, check, model, circulate, dismiss, try to have to starter on the board and also be at the door to greet and repeat until 3:15pm. Sort everything (behaviour / marking etc.) from that day, head to CPD and after that finally prepare everything (planning / resources etc. for the next day.

Do you work at my school?!

TaborlinTheGreat · 26/08/2025 22:08

I'm abroad on holiday and I still can't escape! I have GCSE students asking me to look through papers they've requested. The main one is trying to get up from an 8 to a 9, even though she has her place in 6th form etc and is quite a lot of marks off a 9.

TaborlinTheGreat · 26/08/2025 22:06

ProudCat · 26/08/2025 21:35

The mean girls club, who don't even realise they're such arseholes.

Kids or staff? Grin

ProudCat · 26/08/2025 21:35

The mean girls club, who don't even realise they're such arseholes.

seven201 · 26/08/2025 21:32

The pace. I have to drop my kids off at breakfast club and nursery so I always start the day feeling behind and rushing to form time etc.

The to-do list that just gets longer every day no matter how hard you work at it. Day one it will lengthen with all the online mandatory training.

thesnailandthewhale · 26/08/2025 21:31

The alarm clock
Needy parents

Rocknrollstar · 26/08/2025 21:23

One year, on the first day back, a colleague said to me ‘back to the real world’. I replied ‘this isn’t the real world’ and started making plans to escape.

Original poster
minishiteboard · 26/08/2025 21:17

Oh I never do lists for the first fortnight.

OP posts:
2025mustbebetter · 26/08/2025 19:43

Getting my class lists at the last minute cos there's a new system dontcha know so nothing can be done in a timely manner.

Then spending the evening after boring inset making all my seating plans and checking SEN, medical etc so I can do my job properly the next day.

On the plus side I have already got my new laptop so I don't have to deal with that taking four hours to log in for the first time!

peanutcookie · 26/08/2025 19:30

The marking

TwoBeeFrank · 26/08/2025 19:23

I’ve been back for two weeks already (SLT…sorry! 😆).

Miss the kids. Can’t say the same for all of the adults, though.

Psyching myself up to deal with the (minority of) staff who are more childish and needy than the kids and are just a massive fucking drain on my time and energy.

Pythag · 26/08/2025 19:10

I am looking forward to it, but know that the pace will be relentless soon !

TaborlinTheGreat · 26/08/2025 19:08

Weekmindedfool · 26/08/2025 18:59

The fucking kids.

School would be so much better without them..

Grin I'm lucky to have very nice ones, but I've certainly worked in schools where I felt a bit like that!
Weekmindedfool · 26/08/2025 18:59

The fucking kids.

School would be so much better without them..