Can I ask about how to survive as a teacher?

[Myboilerisbroken456]

I completed my PGCE but never did my ECT year, I taught in other capacities such as teaching adults and short-term supply.

I'd love a permanent teaching role, but it seems teachers are leaving in droves. Even if a school seems nice at interview, I'm afraid of it being toxic, bullying, put on support plans, managed out, atrocious behaviour from pupils.

I don't want to end up in a school I am unhappy in that is rife with the above issues I hear so much about. Just looking for advice really?
I'd love to progress financially and professionally, but I'll likely never do that on supply forever. I'd be prepared for hard work and extra hours of course, but I'm afraid of ending up in a toxic environment.

Schools encourage visits prior to application too, however I can't use endless annual leave to go on various visits as well as needing to use leave for interviews.

Depending on your subject, can’t you look for a vacancy in a school you’ve taught supply in? IME, most supply teachers know the schools in their local areas very well-and know which ones they don’t want to teach in. Alternatively, take on a longer term supply contract like maternity leave. That way, if you hate it you have an excuse to leave.

Private is the only way I survived. I'm now homeschooling my own, because I couldn't afford private for them all, and it seemed unfair to send them into an environment I wouldn't want to go to every day...

Private schools aren't perfect, and have their own challenges, but it depends what you can cope with. I coped far better with the high expectations of parents, because it came with, generally, far better behaviour from the kids (who were also feeling the expectations of their parents - for better or worse). I found the relentless behaviour issues and aggression from state school parents much worse.

And also Private schools can bypass some, not all, of the ridiculous amount of hoop jumping and paperwork involved in state school teaching. I found there to be a greater element of trust, rather than having to constantly prove yourself.

I think work out what you can cope with best and go from there - nowhere will be perfect, but some places can be more bearable, and even, dare I say, enjoyable!

Sorry, I should add, the vast majority of state school parents and kids are fantastic, so it's not that state schools are horrific in their entirety! But in the ones I was in, there were a handful of parents and kids in each school who were hellbent on taking no responsibility, and it was enough to wear me down. I remember doing a topic on personal hygiene, and we did a homework of sending a pack of stickers and a chart home with each kid so they could put a sticker in every time they brushed their teeth in the morning and evening (they weren't even expected to bring the chart back in to be inspected!), and a parent went absolutely ape shit, screaming about how we should be making time for toothbrushing in school because "parents have enough to do" and we as teachers are "meant to be the ones teaching the kids things" - you honestly couldn't make it up.

And those were the families that I ran away from.

If I could, I'd reform state schools and happily teach state - I somewhat dislike the elitist attitude of some private school families - but if push comes to shove, I can deal better with that than the ugly side of state schools.

So it's just a personal thing, as certainly not an "all state school kids are thugs" things.

Every school is different so I don’t think you would know until you accepted a job and worked there! If you know staff there or someone has done supply you might get an idea of the school’s reputation or what the head is like but as I say you wouldn’t really know.

Also even in the same school it varies from year to year eg which classes you have or what your timetable is like on a Friday afternoon or if your HoD is on the sick.

I would say, start applying for jobs and go along to the interviews and find out as much as you can before you go.

I think you should be open-minded. I was a teacher for a long time and loved it although my former colleagues who are still working are finding it very challenging for various reasons but then it always was.

Thank you for your replies, it's always a risk I guess.. I'm thinking of applying to SEND teaching roles instead.

Completing job applications is a full-time job in itself!

As is interviewing should you be selected! I had 9 interviews last summer while teaching full time and it was exhausting.

I completed ECT 2 last year having stayed in the same school for my final placement/ECT 1 years. I loved it there and was really happy teaching UKS2. Then we had a change in SLT followed by joining a huge academy chain (We were a small MAT previously).

I could manage all the extra hours and all the little things on top of teaching I was required to do. I am a single parent with 3 children (2 with SEND) and suddenly my job was much harder, staff morale was suffering and people were leaving in droves.

i moved to what I thought was a lovely school in September teaching in KS1 but very soon realised all was not how it had seemed at interview and on visits. I ended up injured and needing surgery and decided to hand in my resignation.

I decided that I need a break from the classroom and start a job in a college next week teaching and supporting maths to students with EHCP’s. It looks like a good role which will utilise my specialisms and skill set (I was a SEN TA for 11 years prior to my PGCE). Though I’m taking a huge pay cut it’ll be worth it in terms of working the hours I’m paid for, work life balance and being present for my children.

Good luck whatever you decide. Teaching is amazing, it’s everything else that has pushed me out for now - the same can be said for most of my PGCE cohort sadly.

I would look for jobs in schools you have done supply in, and don't feel like you're missing out doing supply, it's a great way to get a real insight into lots of different schools whilst you work out what you want from a permanent teaching job. You may find that the more supply you do, the more contacts you make, and a job might come up. Also, don't believe everything you read about teaching. It can be really fulfilling honestly!

I concur with others who recommend taking a long-term view of what schools are like when you go in on supply, and if you cross paths with another supply teacher, compare notes. Visits may be recommended, but the school is probably putting its best foot forward as well; a few "normal" days can show their true colours.
In my last teaching post, there were three of us who had come in initially on supply, who were asked to leave contact details and given the heads up when permanent posts became available.

You have to have a REALLY thick skin. You won’t be able to do right for doing wrong. It’s absolutely mentally exhausting. I honestly wouldn’t go into teaching now.

Wine.

I'm going to go against the majority here. Is teaching easy? No. Is it rewarding and worthwhile? Yes. Are all schools toxic? No. People are right when they're saying you need to find the right school. In my experience, that is non academy schools where there is enough autonomy for LT to make decisions based on what is right for their staff and students. I've been in it for 25 years and can honestly say I wouldn't do anything else. I do get more tired these days though! I try not to listen to what the media say about teaching and focus instead on the students, staff and parents who we work with. Don't let people's scaremongering put you off hard work but with such rewards.