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 ?

I have been in your position, two things that worked:

1. Supply, as other have suggested. Sounds like you live in a city so won’t be a problem getting work. Yes I had horrendous schools but just didn’t go back, also had places I loved and got offered permanent jobs through. It’s also a good way to try working in SEN which I prefer.
2. international teaching. I just went on the TES international jobs page, applied to the one that paid the most and got it. Worked there for three years, bought a house back home while out there and actually got to teach. If I didn’t have commitments at home I’d be back on the international scene either in Singapore, Vietnam, or Hong Kong (know people teaching in all three who love it). Apart from the money and nice kids I also liked the fact if you wanted it there were lots of opportunities for promotion as they wanted to retain staff and did seem to recognise the hard workers.

I’m now about to start a support role in a special needs department. This came about from doing SEN support supply in a primary and really liking it. Sadly they didn’t have enough hours for it to be a viable option to live off but I’m hoping this new job won’t kill me like teaching secondary in the uk did.

Oh also South Korea looks great to teach in!

Are you free to move?
Friends went to teach in the Middle East for 2 years. Worked well for them. Accommodation provided and decent pay.

Hi OP.
I am sorry to hear you're having a bad time. I taught in high schools in Australia for ten years so can really relate. Eek, I still get shivers down my spine when I think about some of the situations I was thrown into.

Perhaps my story can help. In my final year of teaching in 2017, ten years into a career I was never quite sure about, I worked in a Year Coordinator role. It just about broke me. I had to manage the absolute worse cohort of incoming students into our secondary school that I'd ever seen. The pressure of trying to manage them through initiatives, extra teacher training and support, constant communication with parents, saw me lose about 12 pounds from stress; I couldn't sleep, neglected my relationships and was basically really, really unhappy.

So at the beginning of 2018, I decided to quit, and embark on a PhD.

Fast forward three years and I am thrilled with the decision.

Let me tell you OP: Undertaking a PhD is an absolute piece of piss compared to dealing with challenging classes in an unstable and unsupportive environment. Allow me to repeat:

Undertaking a PhD is an absolute piece of piss compared to dealing with challenging classes in an unstable and unsupportive environment.

Best decision I ever made was to get out. In the end, I concluded that the application of a 19th century education system to 21st century kids - particularly kids who experience enormous challenges at home - is an anachronistic clusterfuck and is only going to get worse. There are lots of ways you can use your skills, knowledge and commitment to social justice (if that's what drives you), in other, more enjoyable ways! I've picked up tutoring at uni with wonderful international masters students, deliver ed programs at a local cultural centre and volunteer homework help sessions with local refugee kids. I am SO happy I took the risk.

Good luck:)

If you want to teach, but don’t want to spend most of your teaching time trying and failing to impose order on an unruly class, my suggestion would be to try to move to a teaching role in a museum, gallery or heritage site. You still get to teach children, but the children tend to be better behaved than they would be in school because they are visiting you on your territory as opposed to you being on theirs; school groups visiting museums bring teachers with them, and it is their job to control their pupils, not yours, so as a learning officer you can just get on with teaching. Also, the novelty of being out of school can mean that children tend to be more engaged and more I inclined to listen.

I have a real problem with inexperienced teachers being allowed to fo cover or supply, it is no way to practice teaching.
You are not getting a fair deal where you are so a different school may help. However, teaching is not for everyone and if you are going to get out do so before the salary rises and you are trapped.

Also, there is no setting or marking homework when teaching in a museum or gallery. No work to take home with you in the evening.

I apologize for not reading the whole post. Just to say I have been teaching for 25 years all over the world and the UK is the worst ever to teach in.
Kids are so badly behaved where I am (SE) and quite frankly when my eldest does her GCSEs I am so out of here!

It is so easy to have your self confidence undermined by a difficult situation. I would look for a school nearer your home and apply for a teacher’s post. It’s worth another shot before throwing the towel in. Also, the teachers who are more successful at managing your classes have probably been at the school longer, they are more established in the pupils eyes. You may be struggling because they see a chance to exploit the situation. Good luck. Continue to believe in yourself.

Thank you very much, i've been having a look at jobs :)