Any other teachers???

[TwinkleMerrick]

Listening to the government update.....any other teachers worried about work load when we go back? I've been working my ass off from home, online lessons, making resources and supporting pastoral issues all while looking after my 2 year old alone (single mum). I'm exhausted! As a teacher if 12 years I can foresee the already crazy workload increasing, putting out fires around mental health and catch up. I can see that we will be expected to do extra after school catch up, as a single mum I'm not sure I'm going to cope. Anyone feel the same?

FYI I love my job and miss my strident terribly, did a online lesson today and lots of my students are looking so sad....it's really getting to me, I just wanted to cry.

What year group do you have? I expect there will be increased workload, perhaps they'll make allowances in other areas....doubtful though. Maybe they will get student teachers/TAs involved in certain aspects. It's just a nightmare overall really.

I teach 11-18, I will have 3 exam groups next year.

Can’t wait to get back!

I'm not a teacher but don't think teachers should be expected to do after school stuff beyond the after school stuff they already do, which in my DC's school is lots. Clubs, revision sessions, parents eve, detentions, curriculum meetings etc

Sorry i meant info meetings for parents not curriculum meetings

Does your school have a good pastoral care team in place, school counsellor? That would make all the difference!

We are going back next week (secondary)and will have 6 kids per class up to 60 kids per day. I also have to set and mark work online for the other children when I am in work. So I agree workload will be much higher.

@Aria20 we have a student support team of 2 people, they are really there to deal with safeguarding. No school counsellor, not many schools do these days with all the cuts we have had. More and more falling on the tutors/teachers to pick up. I actually can not wait to get back and see my form, I will deffo have a tear when I see their faces for the first time.

I teach 11-18 but have decided that I'm not increasing my workload at all. I already do silly hours a week as we all do.

Extra after school catch up for eg - no way, Jose. If it helps, I find it useful to say to SLT when emailed/given extra tasks to do Yep. What would you like me to knock off the list?

First time I did it my line manager was taken aback and I pointed out You know what teacher workload is like. You can't just keep adding extra things. You need to think about what you'd like us to stop doing if you are adding something else. They seem to have got the message - but I suspect it will need re-inforcing next year.

After school I think you can simply politely say Sadly, I don't have childcare for that and won't be able to.

@BlessYourCottonSocks that's a good tip. Luckily I have a good head of department who is very understanding. I just hope the exam boards take into consideration how much time exam groups have missed. Doesn't help I teach a practical subject (technology) and been told that all practical work is suspended for the foreseeable future.....that's going to go down well with my groups, I get all the high profile lads who can't cope with sitting at a desk, my subject is their enjoyable time in school. It's going to be interesting!

I'm actually the opposite and worried about not having enough work/my job not surviving.

My subject is Performing Arts. I'm currently teaching most of my full timetable on Microsoft Teams (which I hate and is not especially effective) but there's no way we won't be back full time in September (private school). We're mostly primary age but teach secondary style with specialist teachers for most subjects from age 7 or 8. If children have to stay in bubbles with the same teacher or distance or not sing or not work in groups or anything like that, I don't know how I'm going to be able to do anything useful. And even if my lessons can happen I'm worried my productions won't be able to and that's 30-40% of my workload probably.

I don't think workload will be heavier for many teachers, especially. Different maybe but same amount of work, I think. For example, you might have more pastoral issues but fewer children in school. Or you might have to do catch up sessions but have fewer children in your main classes so less marking. I think it will balance.

Technology here too.
Am also worried about how much content we can get in, if pupils are in one room, and we move. Doesn't really work for us does it.

@grafittiartist @manicinsomniac as we are all non core subjects do you think we may be expected to assist in teaching core subjects? Our subjects dropped for foreseeable future?

@TwinkleMerrick, I don't know, it's a possibility, I'm sure.

I've taught English and History up to age 13 before and, in theory, I'm trained to teach any subject to KS1 and KS2 (though I'd be an appalling Maths, Science or Computing teacher!) I really wouldn't want to but I suppose if needs must then that's the way it would have to be.

Things is, my school already has all the core subject teachers it needs.

Hi all!
Yes- I am thinking that we might have to "diversify " and will end up supporting core subjects. Short term at least.
I really hope that it doesn't damage our subjects. While the lockdown was on I thought that DT was shown as so important, but now I'm worried that it becomes too difficult to facilitate.
Performing arts too- all that physical space needed.

Anyone else worried about behaviour too- a day on one classroom is not fun!

I don't think it will damage them long term. Although it does depend how much practical subjects are valued by the SLTs of individual schools, I think. I'm very lucky in that respect and can trust that we'll be supported to do as much as possible as soon as possible.

Behavious - idk. Small children do it so it may be ok. I think they will need regular breaks though.

Though only a parent, not a teacher, I could not agree more with BlessYourCottonSocks. If you are doing twice the work you should and are not getting paid for half of it, you are not improving education, but taking someone's job from them.

You did not decide the budget for education. If it is inadequate, it is not your fault and more to the point, not your problem.

Only if there is a culture of saying no to extra work will we start to get more teachers into a less pressurised profession.