School direct

[hms14]

Hi.

This had been long time coming for me but I finally got into school direct training.

I love teaching but I have no personal life. My mentor is s--.

Iv already completed half of the placement but its taking a toll on my health. I cant see myself doing this very long.
Anyone in the same boat. I feel so demotivated even though I am passionate about the children.

I basically collect evidence each week and my mento looks thro it and grades me. But each week she will find the smallest detail in my work that is has absolute no relevance to my folder and magnify it until i feel crap about myself.

This week i have taken on alot of her responsibilities as she was off sick. My phase leader recognised this in front of her but she couldn't care less. Because i has such a busy week my evidence was as on point as it would normally be. She sat there scribbling all over each piece writing silly things that even my lecturer doesn't bother with because it is of no relevance.

My mentor just enjoys coming across as a tough teacher who everyone should be scared of. I tried explaining to her that she left me with it all and I didn't get much time plus i am planning everything without guidance and shes not around for me to ask any questions. But she doesn't see any of this and made me feel so low on Friday.

I'm hating this so much that I want to leave right now. Btw this is the second time i have felt this low working with her. The last time it came down with a huge migraine because of all the stress. The only reason i stayed on was because i was in the process of remortgaging. Otherwise would have left.

Sorry im just ranting but i cant get thro to her. Shes impossible. I know i am a great teacher but its so unfair when someone drains you enough that you loose all the passion.

You might want to post this on in the staffroom or one of the education pages as you will get more teachers there.

As an ex HOD in secondary who jumped ship to go FE/HE..I would say that unfortunately what you are experiencing is common place in secondary education and drips down through the management chain.

It could be that you just have a poor manager in a poor placement and if you can grit your teeth and find a better school starting in Sept you could find teaching is a rewarding career.

I would recommend the TES (Times Educational Supplement) forums for some moral support and to see what other trainees and experiences staff are going through.

Thank you very much. I will move this post.

I would say that unfortunately what you are experiencing is common place in secondary education and drips down through the management chain.
Sadly, I agree completely with what kstudent says (I'm a secondary teacher). Teaching, like many jobs, involves nodding and jumping through enough hoops to keep your managers happy and show you're on board with their latest fad.

I am a subject mentor. I think they sound over the top. My mentees (I have 4 this year) all work really hard and I appreciate that they are still training. I get that some weeks paperwork will not be great but it does have to be a certain standard. I set targets weekly based on what they have done that week - is it their deliver maybe? Are there any other trainees in the school?

There are other trainees in the school and after speaking to them, I realised that I had been putting up with alot of unprofessionalism and it's making me feel low now.

I do want to solider on but it just seems to unfair that mentors get away with treating mentees like this.

Have you spoken to the University tutor or mentor at the lead school?