AIBU to think vice principal had unrealistic expectations?

[Supermummy88]

Good evening all,

I’m a geography teacher and took on a new role as head of department last year in November at a fairly new school…this august were their first set of GCSE results. When I started there was a lack of resources, very poorly planned schemes of work and no GCSE lessons on their system. I had a lot of my own resources however I didn’t have any for the exam board that the school do for geography. I have worked extremely hard for the past year to get this department up and running. The other geography teacher is unqualified and new to this country and therefore I couldn’t really rely on him much. I have put in a lot of effort and I don’t think I can put in much more. I am doing intervention classes, lots of exam questions, creating lots of new GCSE content etc. I had a meeting with the VP and AH yesterday and they said that the year 11 mock grades were not good enough in comparison to the RE and history results and that I need to do something as a matter of urgency to ensure that the students reach their targets. They then started going on about how good the RE teacher is and how her grades are amazing. They have come up with a whole list of things I need to do. I just don’t have the time or energy as I have primary aged children on my own. AIBU to just tell them to find someone else for this role? I just can’t deal with the constant scrutiny!!!

you are clearly some kind of wind up merchant who has never been near a school but wants to derail a thread or you have got home - had a couple of gins and become a keyboard warrior.

Most people are not constantly on call during their unpaid time.

Mine too. He's a Director of Communications and can have as many wees as he wants. Is there a very specific middle-management role level where you don't have enough spine or good enough time management to take your earned lunch break, @PicturePlace ?

Maybe she doesn't know how to block out lunch on her calendar.

No offence, but once you get to a certain level, you don't "block out" lunch. I'm sure you'll understand working throughout the day, as you are a teacher.

@Suzuki76

A Director of Communications is not taking a lunch break every day...

Come join us in teaching @PicturePlace! Maybe you'll find it relaxing 😀

I fully understand that you do not block out your lunch, however I am aware of people working at a high level in various companies who can, and do, and who encourage those working under them to do so too. They can also go to the toilet.

So just so I can check your understanding, when someone says that their DP takes a lunch break, you don't believe that?

And also to check my understanding, you seem to be saying that you don't think people in professional positions should take a lunch break - you think they should eat something at their desk whilst continuing to work and to be available for calls, meetings etc?

And they're not allowed to go to the toilet 🤣

Yes he is... I'm working in the same house and I see it with my own two eyes... We went out for lunch on Friday for an hour, in fact...

It's not a should/shouldn't, it's a don't. Yes, I don't know professional people who block out and take a lunch break every day. The rest of the professional working world is just as busy as (busier than) teachers. Teachers moaning about only getting a 30 min lunch break makes you look silly.

Yes he is... I'm working in the same house and I see it with my own two eyes... We went out for lunch on Friday for an hour, in fact...

Does he work for a little SME or something? A Director taking a hour long lunch break every day is absolutely ripping the piss.

It seems that myself and other people do, so maybe you're not as big as an expert on this as you are making yourself out to be.

So your belief is that you don't know professional people who block out and take a lunch break every day?

How strongly do you believe that?

Anyone with an ounce of common sense would realise raising results will take a few years not months. The gcse classes have presumably had poor teaching in KS3 which needs rectifying.

So many teachers work themselves to exhaustion but by criticised for not doing enough. Is it just you and one other teacher?

I also have mostly just seen teachers stating facts. I don’t have a lunch break. I work while I eat. My choice of course, but the hours still have to be put in, and and as I have a young family,the 50-60 hours a week ( as identified as average for teacher ) I would rather have the extra time with my family.

I remember you from another thread about teachers and working hours. You seem hell bent on not believing the hours teachers put in and I don’t understand why. You can’t compare teaching to other fields because other jobs don’t have the responsibility, demands and time constraints that teaching has. They might have one or two of those factors, but I can’t think of a role that has all three (other than nursing on a busy hospital ward, which I would argue is probably much harder than teaching).

Probably a case of this person having been to school so therefore they think they know what goes on in teaching

You can’t compare teaching to other fields because other jobs don’t have the responsibility, demands and time constraints that teaching has.

Lol!

Can't go to the toilet, can post on MN.

At lunch today, I went out, got something to eat from Sainsburies and had a walk around. I was thinking of this thread whilst I got some fresh air, exercise and was refreshed for the afternoon.

There is a school of thought that senior leaders should be seen to take lunch, to alter their Teams status to say "At lunch" and even to queue with workers at lunch in a canteen.

Take Your Lunch Break!

It's not everyone else's fault you're too shit at time management to take your breaks. And no, he works in a 1000 person company but they have a very good work life balance culture.

Christmas holidays, darl. Or should we not have those?

I was talking to @PicturePlace who insists that they are extremely high-powered and in demand when working, yet posting on MN at 9:05am.

Lucky you for being on Christmas holidays, we don't break up till Friday 😭