Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think vice principal had unrealistic expectations?

131 replies

Supermummy88 · 10/12/2024 23:53

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!!!

OP posts:
GretchenWienersHair · 17/12/2024 18:00

noblegiraffe · 17/12/2024 17:59

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 😭

Show quote history

My apologies! I got defensive too quickly 😄

TicklishMintDuck · 25/12/2024 20:56

PicturePlace · 16/12/2024 06:46

Ah, I see the mistake here, and it is common from teachers. Work hours do not include breaks (e.g. lunch breaks, tea breaks), so when I say I work 9-5, that counts as 7.5 hours, not 8, to account for the 30 mins of the day when I am nipping to the loo, grabbing a snack, etc.

I assume you grab a snack and nip to the loo during your days - you may even grab a 20 min lunch break and take a tea break as well. This time isn't included in your work hours, so you likely work less than 40 hours a week (prob closer to 35), which is entirely reasonable and comparable to most other jobs.

This whole "I work 50 hours a week" from teachers, when they are including all breaks (and sometimes even their commute 😂) is ridiculous - no one else does that. I have heard a teacher on here say "I leave the house at 7am and get home at 6pm, therefore I work 11 hours a day, or 55 hours a week"...where that just describes a normal 37-40 hours a week of actual work, like the rest of us.

Show quote history

Just to add that they mean they have to work after dinner in the evening and at weekends too.

PicturePlace · 26/12/2024 15:29

I guess all the teachers I know must be the odd ones out, I suppose. Plenty of time for weekend outings, and happy to meet up for dinner or drinks mid-week. They work a few evenings during the week, like most people in professional roles.

Lewiscapaldiscat · 26/12/2024 15:36

I’m confused why the fact you have children has any bearing on doing the job you were employed to do?

mumsnet as a rule hates teachers. Head of department / id guess around £50k and 13 weeks off a year means you have to work hard during term time, that’s the deal.

fair enough to explain what you have done to date and want recognition for that but why are you annoyed at hearing how another teacher is doing well and suggestions for improvement?

not sure what people think when they suggest quitting. Imagine how chuffed they would be if their kids were in your class. Or how you pay the bills or what a notice period is.

Lewiscapaldiscat · 26/12/2024 15:37

PicturePlace · 26/12/2024 15:29

I guess all the teachers I know must be the odd ones out, I suppose. Plenty of time for weekend outings, and happy to meet up for dinner or drinks mid-week. They work a few evenings during the week, like most people in professional roles.

They must be terrible teachers doing things outside of work on weekends

PicturePlace · 26/12/2024 18:48

@Lewiscapaldiscat Are you serious?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread