I don't want to go back :(

[KareninsGirl]

That's it in a nutshell. We have experienced huge change in our workplace and I'm doing three times the workload I should due to others either bring absent or not doing their jobs properly.

I used to love my job but all I feel now is disillusioned and exhausted.

Please remind me of why education is such a great sector to work in?!

I wish I could but I feel the same. Sick.

Please can we all squeeze hands for a bit? I feel so anxious, I'm sorry you do too.

A good friend of mine has just handed in her notice, too.

I know the feeling am signed off this week (eptopic pregnancy - i missed most of the week prior to half term too) i am dreading going back next week.

Sorry to hear you are struggling too.

Am already counting down the days until the Christmas break.

X

Me too.

I should be getting ready but right now I'm being a couch potato. :( I feel like there's no point putting anything extra in any more- it's never good enough for the constantly moving goal posts.

Because most parents truly appreciate the fantastic jobs you do for our children and how what you do can affect their whole lives.

Me too with the sick feeling.

Don't want to go back into the tunnel.

Hate it.

Just remember what a privilege it is that we have free education in this country! Imagine all the millions of lives that have been changed for the better thanks to teachers like you...

Does that help? practising motivational speech

I care about the children and the parents, but it's all about the inspectors. And yes, we have HMI in this month. Again.
7 weeks, Karenin.

I've handed in my notice. I used to love my job.

Thank you for those kind words about how we are appreciated and effect positive change for young people. It truly is the reason I went into education - to give youngsters the best possible chance and give all that I could.

But I hear the PP loud and clear about ever-changing goalposts. It's impossible to keep up.

mrs excited sorry to hear your sad news and I hope you are feeling better x

I am sorry Mrs Excited . And HSM, that's really kind.

The trouble is it feels as if everything is moving away from the students being at the centre of my efforts. I'm there to help the students but spend far more time jumping through hoops. I've never felt this bad before. I'm trying to pinpoint what's changed, but I can't face it.

Sorry to sound self centred, can't tell anyone in RL. Am going to take DS out for a bike ride to keep busy and not cave in to it.

it is impossible. Having been left to it as regards planning for the last two years I now have a stack of new proformas to fill in for the benefit of inspectors. Will add nothing, I can't use them as well as the others. What a waste of time.
soapbox that is sad. My friend is a fab teacher, really creative and dynamic. She has been squeezed so hard by the system that she is just leaving, no job to go to - prob leaving teaching altogether. She says she's not a tick box teacher and she can't do it anymore.

It's all about data now, dontcha know...

I struggle immensely with this.

data is a big fat liar

I think its pants might be on fire.

stamps foot
actually data is neutral, and sometimes helpful, but it is open to interpretation. And those interpreting don't always have a benign agenda. Is what I meant.

ah soapboax you get it

I once had my data sent back for being too honest.

HT said HMI wouldn't like it.

I had to inflate my predicted grades.

Guess who'll be on the carpet when the students don't make the grades I had to inflate?

data has flaming hot pants round my way.

tawdry I was honest. I asked them, do you want honest? We don't know, they dithered. Now it's too late they want inflated.

the last school I worked at had two sets of data. The honest one and the hot pants one. I know it was hot pants because dd went there, and she's clever, but she's not Einstein.

It's a disgrace. I'm an honest person. I have to be honest with the kids. But I can't.

It's smoke and mirrors and arse licking and bowing and scraping. Nothing to do with education.

I actually handed my notice in last year, but withdrew my resignation and stayed for my yr11s.

I kind of regret it now.

Data would be so much more meaningful if it just said, 'This is what Child X got on this test' etc instead of trying to shove one level/grade onto an entire term's work AND try to make it fit whatever inflated target Child X has been given this term/day/minute etc.

For everybody feeling a bit (or lot) down about going back, do make sure you've got something nice planned for next weekend - give yourself something to look forward to. And maybe take a nice lunch tomorrow, to give yourself a mini 'treat' within the mayhem.