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 ?

Forgot today that my teaching Jo was in a deprived area and it was so hard to engage children who had totally switched off due to many factors, generally a rubbish start in life. Addiction, domestic abuse, violence, parents in prison, real poverty eg hungry all the time, no heating, no books in the house. Looking after these children was a huge job which was incredibly rewarding but the mental and emotional cost to me took its toll.

Have you looked at other jobs more local to you? I now work at my DC's school which is the holy grail as I don't need childcare. Being able to walk home or whizz home in the car in bad weather is a huge novelty still.

Thanks for the replies !
I do think having to mark all the (9) sets of books is unreasonable. Because it is not my job as a Cover Supervisor, and also because I am not given much time to do it in, as I'm put on cover elsewhere in the school.
The school have taken on NQTs this year, so they are still allowed to hire them.
There is an online book which the scheme of work, but it's not as simple as just printing out the next worksheet for every lesson.
Initially I was doing general cover and only working my paid hours, but a teacher suddenly left and they decided to ask me.
They probably are rubbing their hands in glee, i'm just angry they are taking advantage.
I literally emailed HR with the words, no cover work is being set. And no reply.

Look for teaching jobs in other schools.

In the mean time go worksheet mad. Fill in the blanks, word searches, comprehension, sketch the message of x, create a logo to show x, write new definitions for five words, label this, then an extended writing piece to tie it all together.

Basically make the lessons the children working at their own pace on their own and you just focus on getting them under control.

I can't afford to live in even a 1 bed flat, have a car, book nice holidays etc.. I have to be quite frugal. I've studied hard and I deserve better, I don't know why I allow myself to settle for this. I work for them some Saturdays too to earn some extra money.

As you are not responsible for the outcomes you need to take a step back.

Request a meeting with your head. Have your job description as a hard copy on the desk. Explain that you have the children's best interests at heart but you are not employed as a teacher in this post.

Be assertive! In my experience you get more respect this way.

Going on supply would be better because right now 100% of your time is spent in a crap school who have employed you as a cover supervisor because they're legally not allowed to let NQTs work there (or that's how it always used to be) and want cheap labour. I'm not trying to be mean, but you are enabling your exploitation by accepting this job and you are undermining the cause of all the other qualified teachers who are currently unable to get jobs because schools are cost-cutting by getting cover supervisors to teach. This is why teachers have a union and a set rate of pay and working conditions. If you worked on supply, you wouldn't just be sent to schools in special measures (and you can refuse placements if you have a bad day somewhere). If you're getting 9k less than NQT (22k), you're getting 13k, which is roughly £60 a day. You will get more money on supply and have less stress because you can turn down bad schools. If you really hate teaching though then quit, but it seems a bit hasty when you took that teacher training place from someone else who might have stuck it out, and took all the government funding, extra student loan etc.

Thank you. I was told by a middle leader that I need to produce starter activities based on previous learning, she showed me some progress sheets, and also the marking policy. Another teacher emailed me the assessment and said that they need to be at X point by Easter, so they are expecting me to do more than just supervise.

You are right, being assertive will work ! Since my email to HR was ignored, i'm hoping my meeting today will help.

Is there a clearly defined behaviour system at the school?
Do you have a Focus 5 / 10 activity that the class could do to settle them?
Sorry to ask the questions, but if it's yes to either or both of them, I have some suggestions for you.

Fuck that shit! What a nonsense - if they want you to act as a teacher, they need to pay you as a teacher. If you hate it, leave. There's a huge recruitment crisis in teaching and you will get other work. A different school might well be an entirely different experience, and you'll be able to see whether it's the job or the school that's the issue.

Do you have young children OP?

Is supply an option? I know a few supply teachers who are now known by a handful of schools and get enough work.

Personally it wouldn't work for me as I need to do drop off and pick up for my own kids but it could be good for you. You could earn double what you earn now.

I had a very similar situation (near enough exactly the same) to you, OP. Working as a Cover Supervisor but started to be given a regular IT class as the actual teacher had left and he was no replaced. I was told I would be teaching them for a a few weeks which turned into a few months and it was dire. I did my best with them, they were a challenging group. The head of department did provide work or some lessons, sometimes not. It is tough I really feel for you! Some kids were lovely, others quite unpleasant! I did have sympathy for them though as they'd been messed around by teachers leaving and various supply coming and going before I started there.
In my opinion, look for another school. I doubt very much that you aren't good at your job. You just need to find the one that's right for you.

Sorry for typos

Online book? If it’s Pearson Studio, then there are powerpoints galore on the TES. I started using it at my school so minimised planning. You shouldn’t be planning or marking as a cover supervisor.

Now is new job season, I’ve just got a new one cos I am fed up of the poor behaviour in the school. Numbers are dropping hugely. Everyone complains and management aren’t listening so I’ve resigned. Got my new contract today. Do you not fancy an MFL post in a nice school? The behaviour at my new school is amazing. I promise it would make all the difference. You could get a cracking job, MFL is very sought after. Then promotion to HoD.

Do not mark or prepare lessons. Threaten to leave and they will fall over themselves to keep you happy. I am LT in a similar school and would never expect a cover supervisor to do what you are doing. We would be begging to keep you if you turn up every day and have some semblance of order in the classroom.

Don't know why someone has given me a lecture about taking the opportunity away from other teachers or trainees and taking goverment funding. I qualified 5 years ago. Do you know how many teachers drop out after qualifying ?

It is Pearson, thank you for that I will have a look !
A colleague of mine had a similar situation last year, she complained and they ended up paying her more. So not sure why they can't do the same for me.

@Beebumble2 Thank you - I got out. Went from one of the bottom in the country to a top 100.

It still doesn't feel quite 'real' where I am now - DP admitted afterwards that he spent every day wondering whether I'd make it home in one piece. I've never told him that there were multiple occasions where I wasn't that sure of it myself - there are many incidents that he has absolutely no idea about where SLT dismissed as me being hysterical. By the end of my time there, I never went anywhere without ensuring I was in sight of CCTV.

As others have said already you might have to look for another school if they don't appreciate you or pay you for the xtra work you do. It's not fair that you have to actually plan lessons and mark when you're supposed to be on "cover".

In regards to the classroom behaviour the TA needs to support you more in lessons with behaviour etc.

I would also observe the kids in lessons with the other teachers to see why they're listening to those teachers and use similar strategies.

You sound like a very good teacher. I don't think you should stop teaching, maybe you should stop teaching at this school.. If they don't change the way they treat you, you might have to just start planning your exit route...

Resign then do supply and then get a new job. Your current one is shit! Do not stay

But supply is not easy either. In all the schools I've worked the kids behave so badly for the supply teacher. They can literally run riot..I don't know how supply teachers do it.. I have to give them credit.

You def need support here tho.. Its no wonder you feel like you do.. So these kids think your not serious or don't look angry enough when your sanctioning them.. Give them more detentions and let's see their face the next time their in your lesson.. I bet you if they know thyre likely to get a detention they'll soon stop playing up in your lessons... And don't forget to reward those who are well behaved.. In my experience when the kids see the behaviour system up on the whiteboard it chsnges their perspective somewhat..

Ah OP, I left teaching for similar reasons.

You should not be prepping and assessing lessons on cover supervisor role. It is not in your jd. Speak to your union rep for advice. Try a union rep in another school in the Borough. Your current head is taking the piss.
The kids won't respect you because they only see you as a cover supervisor and not a real teacher. It's a nightmare. I worked out when I was in a similar role that the hours I was working (including out of school) meant I was earning less than half of minimum wage and I had to have a second job because I wasn't earning during the holidays. This alongside daily Team Teach incidents involving weapons, drugs, isolating children from the rest of the class because they were hell bent on destruction.

Don't write the job off - assuming if you've been teaching for 5 years you must have had actual teaching contracts to achieve nqt status - surely an agency could put you in long term supply positions.
Failing that, join the hoards leaving the profession - it's fun here and we don't need to drink gallons of gin to get through the working week.

This is nonsense. Teaching in an inadequate school is horrendous at the best of times. Doing it with random cover work, no frees and the kids seeing you as the cover is virtually impossible unless you're in a movie. You might find things marginally better in a proper teaching role in a better school but teaching these days is an awful job imo so I'd try and get out if you can. Don't let it destroy your self esteem

The problem isn’t you, it’s your horrendous piss-taking school for paying you the salary of a cover supervisor and expecting you to do the prep you would do if you were a teacher and then ignoring your concerns. Get out of there! It’s inadequate because the leadership is inadequate, as is evident from the way they treat their cover supervisors as general dogsbodies.

It’s not you. I repeat: it’s not you. It’s the school. Get out immediately. Try somewhere else before quitting as you sound like a lovely teacher that I would want to work with/teach my kids

Get a different job! Covering is not teaching. You're not doing the real job because you don't know the children. Some schools are great and will support you properly but as cover supervisor your role is to keep control not necessarily teach because you can't build a series of lessons.
Your motivation is all wrong.