To think i'm not cut out to be a teacher ?

[Comfyslippers28]

I've just realised I don't actually enjoy it that much, and it's not fair on the kids. I do like the kids themselves, but it's just too much.
I'm in an 'inaqeduate' school in a deprived area. The top sets are around 35 kids in most classes, it's just far too many.

I have a set 2 year 7 class and it's just horrific. They just will not behave for me. About 15% of them are lovely and hardworking, and it's just not fair on them at all because we don't get through anything.

Another teacher had them one lesson and they were absolutely fine for her. I've tried using the behaviour policy, positive language, phone calls, everything. They are just out of control, and I can't get the whole class to be quiet. I always have SLT walking past, seeing what's going on and having to come in to tell them off and it makes me feel like i'm rubbish at the job.

I just don't enjoy the having to be 'on' constantly, having to have a script. Never getting a proper break because there is always stuff to do.
Also have a 1h15 commute each way to school.
The other issue at the moment is that i'm cover but doing a teacher role without the salary. This is the 2nd time I have told them about this.
I really resent it and I feel like a fool, I don't want to be taken advantage of.
I just don't know if it's the career for me. I'm good at speaking to people and helping people, and I think with my qualifications, skills and experience I deserve a better standard of living.

Not sure if it would be better in other schools. Anyone else left teaching and gone into a new career ?

@smiley thank you !
I hope they will agree to give me some sort of allowance. I really resent doing this job for peanuts, knowing that all the other teachers are doing it for £9k more.

Can I ask what subject you teach?

To be honest from what you are saying you sound like you have potential to be a great teacher. You care about the children, you’ve realise it’s hard to make sure all children’s are met and you are worried about behaviour management.
All of the rubbish teachers I have worked with either let the kids run wild for an easy life or did no prep. You don’t do either of these things. When you are in a real teaching role and the children can see you have authority they will behave a little better but some won’t as some kids are just poorly behaved so then you need to make sure your school has good management so you
Can be backed up and not feel impotent.

Thank you, that's very kind of you !
It's MFL. That makes me feel better.
I have fun lesson ideas, it's just so hard because of the constant behaviour issues.
I don't like shouting but I really struggle to get and keep the big classes quiet.
Kids in and out, kids who need work to go in another room, and I just always worry about them not making progress.
You are right, they may still see me as supply and not think I have the authority.
Thanks for your words, you have helped me a lot !

How about moving to primary ?

I could apply for other schools, but sometimes I just don't know if i'm good enough at the job. I feel like you have to be a children's entertainer as well as a teacher, and I just find it so draining. The hardworking, quiet ones just get ignored, and it's not fair on them.

It's not you letting the kids down, it's the system.

Also, bad management and support can make you feel that you're shit at a job, when you might excel in a different culture/environment.

It just depresses me because I know that this is the type of school my ds is at.

Maybe, but not sure how much better it would be in terms of behaviour ?
I worked in a very prestigious private school in Paris once, and the behaviour was quite bad there. Just having to constantly repeat the same instructions and tell the children off.

Yes I agree, the system in England seems quite problematic compared to other countries. A lot of them also don't enjoy or see the point of languages, and will not be doing it for GCSE.
I just don't think the kids respect me. I can tell that some definitely like me, but on the whole there isn't a lot of respect from some and that's probably my fault.
I just don't have that authority that other teachers have. I have had a student tell me I 'don't even look angry' when i'm shouting and stuff like that. The way a lot of them speak to me is awful.

The school are taking advantage of you. Cheap cannon fodder.

It's not you fault.

Bless you, it really doesn't sound like you are wanting to continue. Maybe take a career break and explore something else. You'll still have teacher status so you can always return to the profession if the grass isn't greener.

Although the saying is, the grass is greener where it's been watered...

This happened to me when I worked as a ‘cover’ teacher and I was expected to plan etc. You need to say no and go back to cover, have some documentaries or something that the kids can watch but definitely STOP planning lessons until someone steps in and does cover work. Is there a HoD?

I found when doing cover just concentrate on the smaller behaviour things first. They line up outside in quiet and sit down still quiet. If they don’t do it, out they go and it repeats until they are quiet. If they aren’t quiet during explanations, you put minute markers on the board and keep them back either break/lunch/after school. Pick up on the small stuff (equipment, uniform, coats, politeness) and get them all perfect. Have a couple of lessons where you’re not bothered about the amount of work and just concentrate on behaviour management. Have very high standards and follow the behaviour policy to the letter, no exceptions. Hopefully it won’t take long, but the kids might have got used to being able to get away with certain things in your lessons and you need to pull it back now.

You may be a qualified teacher but the children don't regard you as one.

Find a teaching job

Do you want to teach your subject or would you enjoy primary?

Please don’t assume Primary is any easier......kids can still be really difficult (although generally not 6ft) and you will be planning and teaching all subjects.

Absolutely everything about your job sounds awful. They are taking advantage of you, and I think they first thing you need to do is look at other options to see if it is actually the career you don't like or just to position you are in. Good luck op.

The whole department has quit that I work in, we will be a brand new department as of September.
Sounds more like a school issue than a you issue.
If it makes you feel better we're having a terrible time with the teacher of our kids class, however it's really clear to see the teacher isn't being supported adequately by the school and that totally muddies things. I've been contemplating moving mine out more because that tells me more about the school than anything else.

How about moving to primary ?

because?

Because she may get on with younger children better?

The work won't be easier but you stay with the same children for virtually every lesson so the relationships are different.

Fewer free periods though...

Your school is taking advantage. I'm a teacher in a lovely secondary school. When I need someone to cover a lesson, I have to set all the work unless I'm off ill. I teach music so I always ask in advance if they are happy to cover practical work. If not, I find something else for the kids. I don't expect them to mark it either, that's what I'm paid for.

In short, your school is taking the proverbial. They want a teacher for a cover supervisor's wages. I would be contacting my union - you are in a union aren't you? If not, sign up immediately for your own protection. You can claim the fees against your tax bill/code.

Otherwise, I would bribe the kids. They can watch a cartoon in French/Spanish/Mandarin as long as they do the simple things right. Have a list of what you want on the board and give them one chance. Alternatively, let the 15% watch it on a couple of laptops/tablets so the others see what they are missing out on.

It is hard work, especially when you start part-way into the academic year. Try to praise as much as you criticise, even if it feels false: "well done for staying in your seat for 2 minutes" or "thank you for putting up your hand instead of shouting out". They normally respond well to praise.

Retired Assistant Principal here, I am appalled at the knife incident. It is a criminal offence and not up to the school to decide on the action. If the police had not been called I would have gone to them myself.
No wonder this school is failing!
Get out as soon as you can for your own health.

Not sure if this will make you feel worse or better but Mfl has been a hotbed of poor behaviour in every school I have worked in with even long serving heads of department struggling to keep control of difficult classes.
Most British children just don’t seem to value the subject. Perhaps a grammar Or private school may be better as languages are more likely to be compulsory at GCSE.

I'm in an almost identical situation, distance, one horrid class, school rating. I'm in my nqt and leaving in summer as pregnant though. I just want to teach and it's so frustrating when behaviour gets in the way of that. Mentor and hod really supportive though and taking worst in class out/providing a place for me to send them. However, I'm starting to think and mentor agrees that I might be better in a uni where I can use my subject knowledge and creativity without teaching to a GCSE and fighting behaviour. Could that work for you too? And yeah, commute is awful especially when you then have children to feed and put to bed before you can mark/plan.

So you accepted worl as a cover supervisor when you are actually a qualified teacher? I bet they bit your hand off and now you are probably working as a teacher on half their daily rate, something like £65 I expect.
Leave and if it is cover supervisor work that you want I am sure you could walk in to another role. Make sure this time that your role is agreed before you start.
Do not feel guilty, the school would have no hesitation in telling you not to come back tomorrow if they decided you suddenly did not fit. Actually if you are with an agency they would leave it up to them to break the news.

Ex teacher here who left the job after 12 years.

Number 1, they are totally taking the piss, because they can. Its unacceptable to treat you like this. Mayby don't give up just yet, I think you're just in a shitty situation.

Number 2, cover is the devil! Children often treat cover teachers like crap regardless of how good a teacher you are, they just see it as a jolly straight away! Maybe you'll enjoy not being a cover teacher a lot more.

Number 3, I did eventually quit, and now train the police. Ok so I took an 8k pay cut but my hours are 7.30-3.30 and i have ADMIN days! Like a whole day, to do my admin, basically a whole day of PPA, even though we share all the PPA and there is no marking. Which is amazing. I never have to teach a whole day and always team teach. I get so much CPD. Best thing I ever did. Now they're recruiting a lot of officers, they need more trainers, maybe you can check it out if you've really had enough.

If what you're doing is cover then you shouldn't have to plan lessons, either the teacher for whom you're covering should plan the work in detail or the Head of the Department should be setting it, I was that HOD and I used to detest having to set work for cover teachers but I did it. Asking you to mark the work isn't unreasonable especially if it's a long term cover.
Good luck, find another job teaching and don't be tempted to give up too quickly, we all struggled at the start.

It could be a technicality that your school can't pay you for being a teacher. Did you say that you are in the NQT year?

Ofsted used to ban inadequate schools from employing NQTs, because the failing school establishment could not support a new teacher adequately amongst the other issues they are dealing with.

This may explain your school's inability to pay you for what you're doing. Not morally right, but also nothing personal about your abilities.

Sounds like the worst of both worlds OP.

I'm an experienced primary teacher and currently work as a higher level teaching assistant, so comparable to your role. I turn up, teach using the planning done by the class teacher, using resources they have prepared. I mark minimally. I do one playground duty per week. I take no work home and work 8.15am to 4.30pm latest.

I think you should try another job before packing it in. It's easy to be taken advantage of as a teacher with QTS. Your school are taking the piss.

Or teach part time?

The commute is a killer too. I used to have a 1hr commute with nursery drop off in my teaching job and found it so exhausting. DH works away a lot so I would be out of the house for 11 plus hours and then cook dinner, do bedtime routine then mark/ plan for the next day. Some people thrive on this way of life but I couldn't hack it.

Wishing you well as I totally sympathise.