Any teachers on here?

[Isteachingalwaysthisbad]

This isn't AIBU but hoping for opinions on my little sister's primary teaching job. My heart breaks for her. Sorry it's long.

She is in her 2nd year of teaching (ect) and is planning to give it all up and change career which is sad because she loves the job but feels it's the only option for her mental health. She always wanted to teach.

In her current class she has three SEN pupils but only has a teaching assistant a couple of hours per day. Also a large number of pupils are working years behind, plus also various behavior issues amongst the class.There is little support from SLT and they cannot offer any further support (staff shortages etc).

On top of this there are aggressive parents who shout and swear in the playground and also to the teachers. They also fight with other parents. My sister feels very threatened by some of them.

Parents complain to SLT with minor issues such as child had toy taken from them in class, ( shouldn't be playing with in any case), child wasn't selected for something etc

The children do like her and are always writing her little notes and telling her she is their favorite teacher.

Do other teachers out there have to deal with the same, is this what teaching is about nowadays?

All of that sounds pretty much like what it is now.

Teaching in the UK is REALLY hard.

Workload
Expectations
SLT (usually crap)
Behaviour
Extra duties
Evidencing
Parents

The first few years will have you on your knees. You do get better at managing it. But it's always going to be a 50/60 hour a week job, minimum.

The kids are the only thing that make it worth it.

It’s awful. I’ve been teaching for nearly 20 years and I’m seriously considering my options now as I don’t think I can do it for much longer :(

Could she try another school? I’ve recently changed schools after decades in a rough school, and my life is very different.

It’s what some schools are like. There are other schools with largely reasonable parents and supportive SLTs. I think your sister has been unlucky. There are better primary teaching jobs out there.

Teaching is hard. I taught secondary for three decades, Head of English and safeguarding lead. Regularly worked 60 plus hours a week, in school. Another 15 hours at home marking and planning. It’s a baptism of fire for nqts, it will make or break them. In my experience, it’s 30% about teaching and 70% about jumping through impossible SLT hoops, trying to meet unrealistic targets. The only thing I missed after quitting was the students. Which is why I wanted to teach in the first place.

Yeah that's pretty much the vibe in teaching at the moment. I had a cry this afternoon.
I actually teach at one of the good schools, so I'm told.

Sorry but that sounds fairly standard for teaching nowadays. I retired 3 years ago and don't regret it at all.
I don't know why anyone would consider teaching as a career unless there are vast changes to the current situation.

I’m a teacher in Australia- the students with additional needs sound the same but no my school wouldn’t allow a teacher to be scared of parents that’s not on my SLT would intervene here. So she either needs to find a different school, SLT. ….. or country

Education is broken everywhere and all you need to do is read a thread like the one where a student is skipping classes to see how teachers and schools are treated

It's a really tough career.

For secondary teaching it's about 10 to 11 hours per 1 day you work. I do an 80% timetable over 5 days and it's 40 to 45 hours a week. I just couldn't do 5 days a week but LOVE my job, so the 20% pay cut makes the job feasible without burn out.

What's important is a supportive SLT. Without that, the job is awful. I left my previous school due to horrendous management who were just weak and pathetic.

Whinging parents is normal. She just needs to learn not to take it personally. When you have a child that takes no accountability for their own behaviour then you only usually have to look to the parents to see why.

She should speak to the SLT to let them know how she is feeling and ask for support. As an ECT her mentor should also be supporting her.

This is what it’s like now.

I moved to secondary. Much better workload. Fewer swearing parents but much more aggressive pupils.

the private sector is nicer but equally hard.

Yes, it’s awful.

I do supply now. Today I went in to the staff room and the teacher I was covering for was crying because her books had been hauled over the coals by SLT. There was a child in her class who had no TA but who absolutely should have had a one to one or been in a special school.

They are not all wonderful but I would strongly she suggests she looks at independent schools.

If she can find a lovely school, with supportive parents, small class sizes and academically able children she might enjoy it.
Whereabouts in the country is she? If North West I can suggest a few.

I've been a teacher for about 9 years now. I think the first few years (probably until about 4 years in) are the biggest learning curve. She's still new and she should absolutely be receiving support from the SLT. Yes, schools are busy, but it's unacceptable to leave a new, inexperienced teacher with little to no support.
I had a really challenging school and class for my first year. I left in the summer, and went into an office job. I missed teaching so much and went supply teaching for a bit. It was the best thing I did. You get to see which schools are good, which are toxic. I used to accept every single job, just to get my name out as someone who was willing and capable. I know the NQT period has changed since so check before doing anything. I found this to be an invaluable experience and was offered a job in a school I worked for regularly.
I think her next opportunity to leave will be Easter now, but, if she's passionate about teaching and doesn't want to leave, it sounds like she's just in a bad school.
Move around, try supply or another school, not all schools are like hers, there are some lovely ones to work in. And persevere, it definitely gets easier!
I hope she finds her perfect job which helps her grow into a great teacher and makes her happier.

Id encourage her to qualify and either seek jobs in private schools here or abroad. Dubai or Australia

In response to some comments received, she could try looking for another teaching job but she has friends from uni who have already moved careers and they say most schools are the same.

She has asked SLT for support but none has been given. They are also aware of the behavior of some parents.

Her mentor is no use and has changed three times. Her ECT training time in school is always interrupted to deal with problems in class (cover teacher can't handle the class). She rarely has lunch due to again, problems with pupils fighting.

Basically hearing from everyone else's experiences she is probably doing the right thing and changing careers.

Sadly yes! It's often a case of being squished in a narrow space with relentless, ludicrous and impossible expectations from above on one side and over reacting parents and poor behaviour on the other.

It's the vocation and those lovely kids that keep you going until one day you feel like you're suffocating!

Sounds exactly like my teaching job but you forgot to mention working 7:30am till 5:30pm then 8:00pm to 11:00pm ish every fucking day plus at least half a day at the weekend. Mainly trying to plan 6 lessons per day that I could deliver alone to year 6 pupils some of whom couldn't read or write, one who would smash stuff up, and several who were allowed to leave the classroom or play with lego in the corner whenever they wanted. Literally in the middle of a lesson. This is a bog standard mainstream school. The kids were so fragile it was scary.

You wouldn't believe how ridiculous it is. I quit and have never been happier.

Thank you for your advice. She did start her career as a supply teacher but only for a short time, she was so happy to get a permanent role.

Sadly this sounds fairly standard these days.

Yes she does work endless hours and also spends her own money to purchase school supplies.

She does also have children who are allowed to leave the classroom and some who have kicked and bitten her.

If she’s qualified, get her on to Australia. She’ll be so much happier

I live with a teacher and he never has to do these hours. 60 hours a week in school is madness. When do you arrive and leave each day? He in at 7.45 and left by 6 most days. What are you doing? Its not sustainable.

This is why I left teaching. I have always maintained that the children are (generally) lovely, but it is the adults around them (SLT and sometimes the screaming/aggressive/hard work parents) that are the problem. I have discussed this with current teachers and, frighteningly, they agree...

I changed careers completely. Life has been much better since, though I do still sometimes wonder about the children that I used to teach, and how they are getting on (e.g. one was being adopted when I left, so I hope that she and her sibling found stability and happiness with their new family).

This sounds mild to be honest. She should get out now if she’s struggling as it won’t get better.