Any TEACHERS with that back to school feeling??

[noonar]

I have been teaching primary for 10 years, 4 of which have been p/t , since the arrival of dd 1 and 2 (now aged 2 and 4). At this time of year I always dread going back and really resent the time I have to spend planning and sorting out the classroom. I think it could be time for a change. I love my job, but the 'out of hours' workload is disproportionately high compared to the 2 days I'm paid for. I've got to carry on working p/t, for sanity's sake, rather than financial reasons. I also think that if I left teaching I'd regret it, longterm.

Hhmm, what should I do?

Anyone else with similar experiences?

Right with you PJSmum! Also I'll be so busy I won't get time to fritter away my time on MN! Best of luck! If it's any consolation (prob not!) my first 2 years of teaching were in Y6 and I really enjoyed it. Sounds like your commute's a real pain!

The class I'll have are lovely and ive done year 6 before so its not like i dont know the curriculum. I had it a bit easy when i went back to work in Jan. I was covering the other teachers for their PPA so had no reports, displays, parents evenings etc to do. And now i'll have to do it all!

As an interested parent, can I ask teachers how are classes covered during 12.5 hours per week non pupil contact time teachers get per week. Question more aimed at primary teacher as it moves away from one class/one teacher setup.

You mean 2.5 hrs, seb1? Depends on the school, but likely to include at least one or two of the following: PE specialist, music specialist, perhaps an art specialist, ICT specialist.

It depends on the school & how much money they've got. There was a big debate about it when the PPA thing started as the government said that TAs could cover classes. Our school employs 3 part time teachers to cover the various 'non-contact time' that teachers get; this includes the 10% planning time, subject co-ordinator time, management time & courses. One of these just covers the staff in our asd resource, the other 2 do the mainstream - I one is 2 days, I think the others are 3 days. It means that the classes get the same replacement teacher(s) every week - last year one of the cover staff was a musician and she did all the music lessons for all years.

Ah, I don't know what's happening in England. Obviously no TAs teaching up here!

seb1, I'm in scotland so it might be alittle different. In our schools all teachers get 2.5 hours of non class contact time each week. This is covered by teachers who go into class and take responsibility for certain areas of the curriculum. This means that the teacher doesn't have to plan for this time it's up to the teacher that covers. I chose to do this for two years and when the class teacher had their time out, I took the class for art or ICT which I planned, assessed and reported to parents on. This was my full time job moving round classes and letting teachers out to do what they had to do. i really liked it and got to know every child in the school. teachers are always pleased to see you and so are the pupils!

Aaaargh. Have done NO work, having promised to write 2 schemes of work...ds (2) & dd (4 months) seem to have kiboshed all my good intentions!

I work from 7.45, work through break, take lunch, aim to do nothing after school except meetings & leave about 5.

I try to get marking done in school, but I do planning etc at home - usually 2 nights/week for a couple of hours, & a few hours on Sunday.

(I teach secondary English & Latin).

Ah get it, now teachers are salaried to work 35 hours and only have 22.5 hours contact with kids therefore I assume 12.5 hours non-contact but then kids aren't in 35 hours (only 25 hours duh [thick icon])

Oh, I see where you're coming from seb. Yep, kids only away from "their" teacher for 2.5hrs.

35 hours comes from "A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century:
Agreement reached following recommendations made in the McCrone Report" McCrone

CAT64, I guess though contracted hours and actual hours in teaching are a bit like hours in industry, a myth? I worked in industry and was contracted to work 42.5 hours per week often did many many more (unpaid), and our system use to often log working time violations i.e you should be away from your desk for at least 11 hours a day, kind of hard with video calls at 3am.

He he. Don't get too excited, cat. Having it in black and white doesn't make any difference. 35 hours spent in the school, maybe, but still the usual hours and hours working out of it.

In response to the OP, God yes! I have been on maternity leave for a year, so missed an entire academic year. Went into work on Monday to collect some prep- 3 huge files to sift through and collate. No idea when am going to do it. Dropped from 3.5 days to 2 after having dd, but also finishing PGCE this year. Seriously have no idea how I am going to fit work in!

Several people did tell me to enjoy the rest of my time off, but they were dealt with by a hard stare

Am off to start a new thread about my "character" strategy. Was far too nice to my last AS class, and they ran rings around me.

We have 4 terms from Feb - Dec here and so I am in the "when will the winter term ever end?" zone. I've had a new cold every other week for 4 months now and I'm just hanging out for my holiday in 4 weeks time.

And I don't even have very much prep. because I am a piano, flute and preschool music teacher and so I do my marking during the lesson mostly. My tax return is the biggest waster of my time.

Calling all mumsnet net teachers, need some advice really.

Am a teacher, SAHM, wanted to know if any teachers/schools would be interested in me making up their display headings/letters and posting to them for a nominal charge, do you think it is a good idea for me or not to try ???

email me at [email protected], like some advice.

Can't speak for everyone but, in my school, this job is delegated to TAs, as teachers are not supposed to make displays any more. Good luck, though.