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?!

[Worried123456]

This is the third thread about unhappy teachers I've looked at on here today and I feel like crying!

What have you done to us, Gove :(

[LizzieVereker]

I'm feeling a lot better now, thank you. The situation that was making me particularly unhappy has been resolved thanks to my lovely line manager. Don't want to give details as will out myself, but I will say that this job is hard enough without a colleague trying to bully you as well!

Still frustrated by the feeling that we are forced to focus on jumping through Govian hoops of wank rather than focusing on the needs of the students. Very sad to read that so many are so unhappy.

[ReluctantBeing]

Does anyone know the protocol for getting feedback following an obs?

[ravenAnyKucker]

Should be prompt, there needs to be a written record of obs which follows an agreed format (we use Ofsted style obs forms), & a chance to discuss/clarify/challenge as appropriate.

School should have a protocol setting it all out as part of their PM policy.

[ReluctantBeing]

I was observed this morning by too assistant heads. Others being observed today had feedback today. I got a email from one of my observers saying they would email feedback over the weekend. I am not amused.

[ReluctantBeing]

Too? Blooming auto correct. *two

[SatinSandals]

I am not surprised that you are not amused. I know teachers who are getting increasingly annoyed by having their downtime at home increasingly invaded by school emails.

[HeGrewWhiskersOnHisChin]

Our observations are now unannounced. We are given a 3 day window.

If anything seen during a formal, informal obs or even just a member of SMT dropping in, is judged as requires improvement, then we do not go up the pay scale next year.

Apologies for my grammar but I have a terrible headache after drowning my sorrows last night.

[Mummyoftheyear]

Showof, teaching will NOT fit in with your DH's job and your DC. Fact. It's all consuming - particularly during the first 5 years or so. Your DH will be looking after DC when he gets home. (house chores, packed lunches, washing) and at weekendS while you do your coursework, planning, marking, etc.
You wanted honesty
Hope it's not too brutal.

[ReluctantBeing]

HeGrewWhiskers, that is atrocious and goes against union guidelines massively. Have you got a union rep at school?

MummyOfTheYear you are right. It is all-encompassing. My DP feels that he knows some young people really well, despite having never met them. He even ended up with one doing work experience with him. He enjoyed that though.

[HeGrewWhiskersOnHisChin]

We haven't got a union rep at our school. Anything union related normally falls to me to deal with and fight for.

I know that our head isn't allowed to do that, but I'm worried that if I kick up a fuss ill look like I've got something to hide.

However, if any of my lessons are found to be requiring improvement then that's when I will involve the unions.

I think it's disgusting.

[ReluctantBeing]

It is. It makes my school sound reasonable.

[Mummyoftheyear]

Reluctant. I have to say though, that although I really suffered from the stress of it all (tool on my health as working ridiculous hours, weekends and school holidays), if not be where I am now if I'd not been through it. I don't think I'd have been able to do it with young children and a family life though. I'd recommend doing teacher training with a view to using it as a stepping stone. This isn't why I went into it. On the contrary. However, I've ended up, with further training, as an assessor and tutor. Pays better, reasonable (mostly) working times and hours. Still make sacrifices and debate whether it's good for my children to have an absent. ( working) mother from X -Y pm, but it's soooo satisfying to be able to teach individuals. I can actually help them to reach their individual potential vs 'teach to the middle', support those whose SATS levels will make a difference to OFSTED. (vs to the children this elves), etc.

[Mummyoftheyear]

toll, not 'tool'. Bloody autocorrect!

[Mummyoftheyear]

I'd, not 'if'. Oh I give up. Fat fingers!

[bordellosboheme]

Wow this thread brings tears to my eyes.
Dp is a teacher and has been doing it for 15 years. He says it's hard. After reading this I believe him. He's such a good dad though and never brings stress home. I'll appreciate him more after reading this.

[sofia31]

This thread also makes me sad. I have loved teaching for the first 7 years. Now trying to juggle parenting and full time teaching is nearly impossible. I am facing new performance management observations, where I am told as on UPS I must be outstanding. Does anyone else have any experience of such expectations?

[storynanny]

Sofia, I think there are great changes afoot re UPS. Im waiting to see what will happen to supply teachers pay under the new pay and conditions. Im on UPS 3 as that is where I was when I took early retirement last year. As supply teachers are "new" every time they go to a school, there wont be any requirement for the school to pay the rate which the supply teacher has been on previously. If my county decide to go for a flat rate on point 1 main scale that will mean a 45% pay cut for me.
Not sure how performance management is going to work for supply teachers. Although I feel I work very hard and put all my usual effort and enthusiasm into a days supply, of course I am no longer doing all the extra that went with my full time UPS3 role. And I go home before I used to when working full time.

[ReluctantBeing]

I don't think they can expect every obs to be outstanding. They can ask you to do more stuff though.

[holmessweetholmes]

God - just found this thread. I feel exactly the same. I'm back at a new (state) school, having taught in a private one for a number of years. I am appalled at the hoop-jumping and unmanageable amount of admin. Thank goodness it is only a maternity cover. Back to the independent sector for me, asap. It wasn't anything like this bad last time I was in a state school.

[celestialsquirrels]

Would those of you who love teaching but are considering leaving the profession nor consider working in the private sector? Treating it as a break from constant ofsted inspections etc etc for a few years until Gove has gone and normality once again returns to the state sector? Wouldn't that be better than chucking in what you love and becoming de skilled? Or am I just naive?

It just seems like so many of you are committed, wonderful teachers and what a waste to lose you from teaching completely...

[TawdryTatou]

RI in an LEA inspection today. I put hours into that lesson. They said they didn't see any evidence of progress I the 20 minutes they were in.

That was a set 3 group, who worked out the meaning of a poem they'd never seen before, with minimal input from me. But that happened once the inspectors had gone, so I get an RI. Again.

I give up. I don't know how to play this game any more.

[ravenAK]

Nope celestialsquirrels - I'm sitting Gove out.

If I leave education before he does, it'll be feet bloody first. I'm too stubborn to let that little shit drive me out.

I don't hold with private education anyway, but even if I did, it's not a big enough lifeboat for all of us!

[ReluctantBeing]

I'm determined to see Gove out too.
Tawdry, same for me.

[ninah]

We are RI, inspection or obs every week, my skin has broken out in huge sores, team with no training, everyone fed up, people leaving like flies ....am being told it's getting better and this is a normal stage in the process towards good
Is this normal?