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?!

[GW297]

OP - are you looking to move schools? Have you thought of supply?

[NoThanksIAmBusy]

I am just popping my head around the staffroom door to say that I think you are all amazing.

You make such a difference to childrens lives. My DD (year 4) told me yesterday that she couldn't wait to go back to school because it is so much fun and she loves her teacher so much. I'm so sad that things are so hard for teachers at the moment, but always remember that most of us are hugely grateful and appreciative of you all.

So thank you.

[Ilovemyrabbits]

This thread makes me so sad. I'm a teaching assistant and I see teachers under pressure every day. I see them banging up against the brick wall that is Gove. I seriously hate that man. The teachers at my daughter's old school, which is where I work now, are fantastic. They give so much and they get slagged off in the press all the time. It's just not right.

I have two friends who have recently become teachers and they are both feeling the strain, even though one has only been teaching for a couple of years and the other is fresh in this year. My first friend was fast-tracked to deputy head training and is taking on that role now. She's also been given the SENCO role, maintains part of her teaching responsibilities, is head of subject for her year and is doing a further qualification. She is a workhorse, but even she is struggling to keep up.

They kept telling me to take up a teaching degree, and til recently, I did consider it. Now I've decided instead to do a different course. It'll open up my future choices to educational based jobs, but not necessarily teaching. I think it's the only sensible option.

[ReluctantBeing]

I hardly slept last night and I know I won't sleep tonight. I'm looking forward to seeing the kids, but not the staff. And observations are this week. I'm being observed unit one on Friday, but I am off on Thursday due to a hospital appointment.

[Orangeanddemons]

I teach in an outstanding school too. The stress is awful. We have to keep it in that category all the time. Am too dreading going back. I used to really enjoy it, and love the kids, but the stress is awful.

Feel sick at the prospect, I need to join the group hug. The point is, this is the future of the country we are dealing with, and we all feel terrible. Something is seriously wrong

[Orangeanddemons]

I have hypnosis before my observations, it's the only way I can get through. Works though.....

[NewNameforNewTerm]

Have you told you team leader or HT OP? I think it is important they know how we feel. I did a few weeks ago, at the time all she did was throw up her hands and say "what can I do?", but there were a few subtle changes made.

[NewNameforNewTerm]

Hypnosis ... tell me more. I like the sound of that.

[KareninsGirl]

Right, have worked out how to unhide this thread at last!

Am considering leaving education altogether, GW. I cannot see how, under Gove, things will be any different in the future in any state school. Very sad.

Have tried talking to team leader, newname, but they are under an impossible amount of pressure themselves and no solution could be found. I'm not unique: there are so many of us in my situation in my department and in others.

I feel sick about tomorrow.

[LEMisafucker]

I am saddened to read this too, because it only confirms what i believe about education in this country. My DDs school is by FAR the best school in the area but they will not play ofsteds game and as a consequence ended up with a RI in the latest inspection. I complained about this to ofsted and to be fair it was investigated but as soon a i spoke to the guy who was doing the investigation, his patronising tone told me it wouldn't be upheld, and low and behold it wasn't. Its really upsetting - the teachers at my DDs school are brilliant, go that extra mile all the time and yet they are made to feel inadequate by ofsted. I also had a taste of teaching in FE, chucked in at the deep end with no training, expected to organise controlled practical assesments for GCSE and A level with no support - I ended up having to be signed off with stress and it pushed my anxiety back sky high again. I know college is different but that and constantly reading threads like this and hearing my teacher friends complaining and wanting to leave has lead me to rule this out as a careers choice. Its sickening, i worry for my DDs education, i really do.

[Cherrypi]

I'm intrigued about the hypnosis too. Can't seem to pass my observations at the moment.

[Orangeanddemons]

Well, I was in such a state before an observation, that I couldn't even look at the lesson plan. So I went to see a hypnotist in desperation.

It just makes me more confident, less concerned that things might go wrong, and more in control if they do. Just more in control really, I stop questioning things. The effects don't last for ever, but now we just tweak it to the time of the observation, and it is much much easier. I couldn't do it without. I swear by it, absolutely! Have an ob in a week, booked in for next Saturday

[Orangeanddemons]

Tbh, it is amazing, it transforms to be bold confident and assertive in the lesson, whilst under acute observation. I cannot recommend it enough.

[Dilidali]

For those of you feeling sick to the stomach about going back: my little girl could be one of your pupils. She is towards the end of primary school and has struggled with Maths for a while now.
Now, I don't know which one of you guys did some magic, but thanks to one of you she has begged me to test her timetables and spellings this whole half term, because she doesn't want to dissapoint you. She's really excited to see you tomorrow and talk to you about the new author she discovered (R. Kipling), she learnt one of the poems to recite for show and tell, she thinks it links with this term's theme. She'll come in with a copy, just in case she forgets a bit.
I don't know what you like, but I reckon a cake might be in order. Thank you.

[exoticfruits]

It is so sad that the job has changed completely since I started. It is just too stressful now. Every hour in the classroom needs an hour out and there are just now enough hours in a day!
All teachers that I talk to feel the same and yet, like me, they love working with the children.
This week I am going to a school on a voluntary basis for a charity. We are all ex teachers, doing it free because we enjoy it, but all got out of teaching. I can't think of any other profession where people do it for free but don't want the paid job! Gove should take note, it is a sorry state of affairs.
I am no help OP. Just be sure you are not alone and think of the children who will appreciate you.

[BrianWont]

Just reading this thread has made me feel anxious, and I left teaching over a decade ago.

I well remember that sinking feeling at the end of half term - but I still work in education and I see the damage that Gove is doing and I know that teaching is grimmer today than it's ever been - and that's saying something.

I just want to point out that if you do decide to jack it in, there is a better, happier, less stressful life out there, just waiting for you...

[soapboxqueen]

Even though I am leaving, 35 more get ups , I am upset that I won't see the children in my class anymore and I worry about them. I know I do a good job, I just can't do that and jump through the hoops.

It's not about working smarter or anything like that. There just isn't enough time to do everything.

[KateBeckett]

Can I join the group hug?
I'm in my second year of teaching, and am dreading Tuesday (training day tomorrow!) I already have a huge list of things that I need to remember, and I feel sick thinking about what I might have forgotten.

To add to it, I am only contracted until Christmas, and have the joys of job applications to worry about as well. I am only applying for permanent jobs this time as I just can't face going through this again in the summer.
:( What makes me doubly sad is that I absolutely adore my current class, and had some lovely comments at parents eve that made me feel like I was in the right job. (Despite the fact I haven't been observed as 'good' since my 2nd teaching placement - coincidently the only school I have experienced where teacher well being was put over box ticking!)

sigh

[KateBeckett]

Brian and Soapbox doing what...??

[TawdryTatou]

Yes, doing what?

I'm open to ideas. I'd do practically anything...

[soapboxqueen]

I'm a lucky beggar and I'm going to be a sahm.

Long term I don't know. I may just walk into a field (with juice and biscuits), declare that I am a school and see who joins me.

We need a revolution of some sort and I can get the ball rolling with biscuits

[ninah]

soapbox that sounds exactly what the government wants. Your training might go against you there though

[soapboxqueen]

The goverment can keep its paws off of my biscuits

[Lizziegeorge]

The really sad thing is it's never about the children but the pressure and increasingly a small but nightmare group of parents. Our wonderful head ( who showed us how to play the Ofsted game) is leaving after five minutes in the job. Everyone is blaming the pressure and the parents who seem to have no respect for what he has done for the school ( a huge amount) We are all devastated and moral is at an all time low. This is the first time I've not worked all of half term but now I'm so behind but at least I had a life for a week.
Funny thing is as I'm typing this my own dd has just said how she can't wait to go to school tomorrow!!!! A massive thank you to her teachers, hope they're ok tonight!!

[Orangeanddemons]

If we get 2 requires improvements in our school, we go into capability. Is this the norm everywhere?