AIBU to consider giving up teaching?

[PenguinBear]

AIBU to think that maybe I don't want to be a teacher anymore?

I have been teaching for a number of years and for the first time this year I am really not enjoying it. I have a difficult class (one child in particular who is making things very hard work).
There is massive pressure to achieve a good OFSTED grade and it's a whirlwind of constant book scrutinises, planning analysis and book comparisons, pupil progress meetings etc.

I love working with children and enjoy helping them to learn but the pressures for everything else are getting too much and ruining the enjoyment of the job.

I think I'd like to be an HLTA or something (definitely went to remain in a school).

Dp thinks I am mad to even consider it due to the drop in money but if I went for a HLTA position/ supply teaching it might be okay.

I just want to work in the classroom without the responsibility and pressure. I watch my TA breeze out the door at 3.30 with a smile and I'm stuck there till 6.30 every night. There's always so much to do and I feel like I'm constantly on a treadmill with no exit!

Anyone done similar? AIBU? Dp doesn't want me to do it at all and is being off with me for even considering it.

Some independent schools have jobs on their websites. So you can look at those close to you. Otherwise the TES. I have worked in 2 independent schools. One was lovely and I was very happy. The other started off well, but a change of head caused people to leave.. (I left both due to house moves..)

Application to an independent school. There are still pressures but not these silly, react-to-every-government-and-OFSTED-whim, administrative hoops.

Look in the TES.

Just coming back to say that I always read MN teaching threads like this because I literally do not recognise the job I do every day in the terrible pressure and stress most state school teachers have to face every day. I love my job so much, it is hugely demanding of time, energy etc but so rewarding. The school isn't perfect and there are definitely still politics etc in staff room but in general I spend the vast majority of my time teaching or preparing lessons and doing extra curricular stuff with kids, not worrying about inspections or ofsted criteria.
We get fantastic results, too (I teach a compulsory GCSE subject, so not all kids are "good" at it or even want to do it and the vast majority come away with A or A* with a tiny handful of B-E grades, maybe less than 4 or 5 kids out of a year group of 100.) the govt really need to rethink ofsted's role, they aren't fostering success for kids and are burning teachers out and driving good, committed staff out of the profession.

I don't want to be a teacher anymore. I fear for my health and sanity. Hard work and dedication are not enough; you have to give blood and bone on a daily basis! I know that by staying in the profession I am probably shortening my life expectancy and I know that the strain shows in my face, I see the horror on friends' faces when we meet infrequently!
Over the last two years I know of teachers who have left/retired and died shortly afterwards, coincidence...? Who is prepared to take that risk?

I agree that the HT makes a huge difference to the workload of the staff. There is no need necessarily for the demands that some are quoting here.

I wouldn't say it's competitive martyrdom. A bit harsh. I know there is some of this in the profession, and you always get people on courses who claim it's so so much worse for them but, having taught for 25 years, I can see the immense stress that teachers are under. I have been in the same school, with the same head, for the past 15 years and have had the same role for the past six years. Over the last couple of years my work load and levels of stress have increased considerably and I am a reasonable, calm and non dramatic type of person! I would consider it to be a profession in crisis, with good, experienced teachers leaving in their droves, and a situation whereby it is becoming harder and harder to recruit.

'I work on an outstanding state school and I don't recognise a lot of this either. We have three book scrutinies a year, one per Key stage, and we know exactly when they will be. Same for learning walks. Fair enough IMO. One obs a year for pm. '

That sounds reasonable.
My last ft job in a state primary school:
Three book scrutinies a term; maths English and either science or humanities.
Observed three times a year, linked to pm
Learning walks once a fortnight.
Copious planning every week submitted on Monday and the annotated plans from the previous week.
Too much variation between schools and individual heads IMO, rather than an excess of competitive martyrdom.

'Also, Osfted. We had it last year, 2 crazy days but then an outstanding outcome means we won't get seen for another 5 yrs.'

Aren't they planning on changing that, or is it only primary?

Too much variation between schools and individual heads IMO, rather than an excess of competitive martyrdom.

That is exactly it. The heads are all terrified of being criticised for not doing enough so insist on way too much.

I've encountered you on other threads susannah, and I truly hope that everything continues to work in your favour and you are happy in another five years. Not weary and battered like so many of us.
I'm developing a theory about what teaching will look like in a decade. You haven't done 10 years in the classroom yet, have you? I hope you will be the anomaly in my anecdotal evidence.

I'm developing a theory about what teaching will look like in a decade.

Dare I ask?! Would be interested to know what you envisage?

Nearly 20 years as a secondary teacher. It ended up affecting my physical, mental and emotional health. Quit at the end of last academic year. Feel sooooo much better.
I love teaching and love my subjects. The vast majority of students are lovely.
I hated the relentless pressure. The constant new initiatives. The stupid idea that every student can get an A* if only I did my job properly. The mad marking. The senior leadership team putting new ideas in place with no idea of how (if) they would make things better and if they were actually workable. The expectation we would be in on days off, holidays and weekends. The stupid school rules we were told to implement and then not supported with. The lack of support for the tiny percentage of students who behaved bloody dreadfully and fucked up lesson after lesson.
Phew! Better now.

'Dare I ask?! Would be interested to know what you envisage?'

I've been waffling about it on various threads to the point of being tedious rollon.

For those who were happy but are considering leaving now -when did it start to change?

According to OH (ex headteacher) the rot set it with the introduction of the national curriculum in 1987. Proper structure has always been vital, but at that point it stopped being about the children and focused instead of targets for the sake of targets, and all that goes with it

A PP asked whether future teachers would just be a bunch of NQTs and TAs ... the answer's probably yes, and then the moaning will start from those who didn't appreciate what they'd got when they had it

I was born in 1982.

Most of my teachers were absolutely shocking.

I wrote a thread a few months ago as I have always worked with children and young people, had just finished a degree (based around young people) with the aim of doing a PGCE but after spending a few weeks in a primary school I had decided it wasn't for me. I was lost as I felt like I had wasted my time with my degree and couldn't do anything else.

I adapted my C.V a bit and sent off for lots of administration jobs. I got offered a job the first administration interview I went for.

I have been in my new administrator and hr position for two weeks now and I am shocked that I can actually do my work, have a laugh, drink cappuccinos and go home at 5 with no stress. I don't have to deal with parents, fights or 'sexting' like I used to.

I had no admin experience eccept for your basic school office stuff but I picked up systems etc in a few days.

I get paid more then what I would starting off as nqt, I can get experience and apply for better paid jobs in the city if I want.

I would NEVER work with children and young people again.

I've missed it riverside-fill me in!

Since moving to supply teaching I have never looked back! I have my life back and am so much happier!

OK rollon, the basics of my theory are that teaching will become a relatively short-term career, with peope managing no more than a dozen years maximum in the classroom ft and without breaks. Most of those managing more than 5 years without a break will be childless or male.
The rest of the posts in classrooms, at the chalkface will be jobshares and supply teachers.
The initiatives to get bright young things and ex-forces into the classroom will not alter this, they will be short term too.
People like me who did around 30 years in the classroom, FT and with maternity breaks of less than a year altogether, will be as elusive as unicorns.
Not sure if it will be good or bad, I'll have to ait and see.

i agree riverside. the usa is like this i think

I agree to Riverside. I've left and although I'm still involved in education, I no longer work for a school. I did 13 years in a secondary school and couldn't do anymore. I'm now trusted to do my job, I can work from home, organise my hours to suit myself and I don't have to spend evenings marking. I do have to spend a fair time e.mailing but that's because I manage a remote workforce. I look back to what I was doing in school and can't imagine going back. Unannounced observations, book trawls, expecting to get pupils results when they weren't prepared to put any effort in. I now sleep at night and no longer have that dreaded Monday morning feeling.
I don't think teaching is a long term career anymore either unless you end up in a good school with a very supportive head/SLT.