To think it's not normal for over 35% of teachers to have cried at work this term?

[Postapocalypticcowgirl]

Whenever we talk about teacher working conditions, teacher strikes etc on here people always point out that lots of others have really stressful jobs. But this can't be normal in any job, surely? It's not even people who've cried about work- just people who've cried at work.

I think this is really indicative of the stress a lot of teachers are under, and the real reason a strike is on the cards. But it's hard to strike about workload/stress/behaviour/parental and SLT expectations- whereas striking over pay is legally straightforward.

Other than random memes on Facebook I've never seen teachers saying their job is harder than others. I certainly haven't said it. What I had said is that teaching is hard.

Not normal for my school, no- although there are some who are highly strung who do quite often (nothing new for them). I don’t think I’ve ever cried at work, I don’t understand those who do. If it’s stress then I just step back from it for a few minutes, get a coffee and prioritize anything immediate and the rest can wait. It always gets done eventually if it needs doing.

The only time I’d ever probably cry would be if something absolutely awful had happened to one of the students or my colleagues.

Maybe it's just my parents then 🤔

No it isnt insulting

ISI is an inspection by peers, it is nowhere near the rigour of a full Ofsted inspection. It is actually quite shocking that it is allowed to continue without challenge.

The safeguarding is laughable and indeed school recently inspected as good have has major historic issues revealed within months of an ISI inspection.

And I believe it was HMI themselves who coined the phrase! It is a 2 tier inspection system

@Sherrystrull

Its certainly heavily implied

People seem to be ignoring my post about behaviour. So I’m going to give you some examples just of things that have happened in my department this term. Remember that this is an outstanding school in a well off, desirable area.

‘Fuck off and die you cunt. I am going to kill you.’

’You fucking four eyed freak.’

’You’re an interfering bitch. Fuck off.’

‘Get fucked. You can’t make me.’

A child repeatedly interrupting the same teacher’s lesson to scream ‘you’re a twat’ at him
in front of his class.

That goes with all the doors on the boys toilets being ripped off during a lesson.

Some one drawing cocks all over- I mean hundreds of them- the girls cubicles in permanent markers and writing Mrs. Soandso is a CUNT.

Kids putting videos of teachers on TikTok. Numerous sexual assaults either on school ground or out of school by kids in other kids.

Teachers being knocked to the ground by kids.

Students attacking other students and hospitalising them.

And that is before you get to the lesson disruptions by groups of kids who resent being in school.

SLT are coming down on all of this and are very supportive but the pastoral and department teams are stretched to breaking point trying to cover all of it. We give detentions and support for the kids who need it but there is barely the ability to get CAHMS referrals anymore, never mind EdPsych and there aren’t enough PRU places for kids who need alternative provision.

So we have to keep taking student back into class that desperately need further professional intervention that we can’t get for them. Because they have a right to an education too- and they do. But mainstream is now the dumping ground for everyone and we barely get enough support or money to make it safe and successful for all kids.

ISI is an inspection by peers, it is nowhere near the rigour of a full Ofsted inspection. It is actually quite shocking that it is allowed to continue without challenge

Erm...ISI is monitored by Ofsted.

There is what is described as joint working- it is very light touch (and for most individual inspections non existent) Ofsted are not the regultor- the DfE are and they dont actively regulate- se the chart

ISI is appointed by the Department for Education to inspect association independent schools in England.

We are also approved by the Department for Education to inspect British schools overseas, and by the Home Office to inspect private further education colleges and language schools.

Our inspections report to the Department for Education on the extent to which the statutory Independent School Standards are met. This recognises strong practice and drives improvement across the schools we inspect.

@Legrandsophie

What would you like to see happen to tackle it?

I don't think it is. I think people read stupid memes on Facebook and decide when real life teachers say they're working hard that it means they think they work harder than anyone else.

I hate those Facebook memes. I honestly think they're created by anti teacher media like the Daily Mail!

I keep seeing people say "teachers are leaving in their drove"(what a weird sentence!)

Anyway, lots of teachers seem to be applying for the Marketing and Comms roles we have vacant at the moment.

If you want a career change then please bullet point your transferable skills at the top of your CV so it's quicker for us to see and figure it out.

And also, when you are offered the role please don't complain about the salary being as per advertised (high 20s). And please don't negotiate for extra holiday and part time hours.

We've offered two roles to ex teachers in recent months. The salary range was advertised and both of them said it was less than teaching and that the holiday allowance wasn't enough.

You can't apply for a career change role and expect to earn more than an experienced candidate.

😊 but yes, please please put transferable skills at the top of your CV! Thank you

@Topgub

Two thing.

1. Better funding for all the support services that used to support schools with students who needed complex intervention. So social services, CAHMS, Ed Psych (who basically don’t exist anymore), school counselling services and the schools health services. I would say this is all the final consequence of the original cuts to government services in 2009. Families and schools have almost no support.

2. something- anything to intervene with the amount of violent, hateful social media content viewed by teenagers.

@Sherrystrull

Its in the op and throughout the thread

Yeah you might work hard but do you have to.....

Or no one else has to....

(Its always some thing that other jobs routinely face)

If everyone on this thread has such a stressful and horrible job surely we should be making better use of the weekend than arguing the toss on here all the live long day.

@Legrandsophie

I'd add teachers being able to actually punish and deal with bad behaviour effectively and actual support from parents to do so.

Unfortunately I don't think any are likely to happen

This is what the op said

"Whenever we talk about teacher working conditions, teacher strikes etc on here people always point out that lots of others have really stressful jobs. But this can't be normal in any job, surely? It's not even people who've cried about work- just people who've cried at work.

I think this is really indicative of the stress a lot of teachers are under, and the real reason a strike is on the cards. But it's hard to strike about workload/stress/behaviour/parental and SLT expectations- whereas striking over pay is legally straightforward."

Where does it say that teaching is more stressful than other jobs?

It’s absolutely fine to negotiate conditions when you’re offered a new job. What a strange post.

@Sherrystrull

It doesn't say it. It implies it.

People always say teachers aren't worse off but look teachers cry at work.

I’m watching Star Wars. I love my job, but I think it’s important to point out how much your children are being failed by the current education setup. And it’s not changing.

@Topgub

All other jobs get sworn at, attacked, routinely deal with details of horrific child abuse?

Teaching is not the most difficult job. Of course it isn’t. But something is wrong if so many teachers are quitting or having break downs.

There are only so many people you can burn through before there is no one left. How do you suggest we attract new staff if working conditions are breaking people?

@Legrandsophie

I didnt say all other jobs.

But yes, lots of other jobs also routinely face physical and verbal abuse and distressing situations.

Lots of sectors are facing massive issues with burn out and recruitment and retention

I haven't said we shouldn't be trying to improve things.

We should

Scrapping ridiculous targets and improving SEN provision, improving discipline. Lots of things need improving

It isn't strange.

What is strange is unexperienced people negotiating beyond the advertised salary 🤣

But as you were. I was just trying to help.

I saw a post on Twitter about the infamous Mumsnet teacher crew and chose to ignore 😊 nevermind....that's my personal lesson learnt

You must be pretty new to the world of work if people negotiating salary is this alien to you!

You don't seem to have a good reading comprehension here.

inexperienced people negotiating salary is odd (teachers are inexperienced)

experienced people negotiating salary is normal (experienced people are experienced)

Blimey. How difficult is it for you to understand 🤣