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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

Is it true that the NQT year is even harder than your trainee year?

29 replies

Lizzylou · 26/03/2015 20:53

Am now more than 2/3s through my training, it is undeniably hard, my dh and dc barely recognise me. Perhaps naively I thought that once this was done the NQT year would be easier, no assignments for one thing. Lately all of our weekly training seesions have included something about surviving the NQT year with warnings about hard it will be.

Is this really the case?

OP posts:
DoctorLawn · 26/03/2015 20:58

Of course it is - you are accountable for a class of your own. You may not have assignments to complete (thank goodness! Grin) but you do have to get to grips with all the data and evidence. Different schools have different expectations, of course, but your NQT year will be very hard.

On the plus side, it's a job like no other Smile

Original poster
Lizzylou · 26/03/2015 21:03

I am Secondary so not one class, but have been (or felt anyway), accountable for the progress of my classes this year. I do reports/parents evenings and interventions.

I do agree, I love teaching even though I have aged 10 yrs and can't sleep properlySmile

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rollonthesummer · 26/03/2015 21:03

I have to say that the year after my NQT was the hardest of the three!

PGCE was hard-loads of new stuff to learn and it was exhausting. NQT was also hard as it's your own class and the responsibility is on you, but I think the year after just knocked me for 6. You lose lots of non-contact time, you haven't got that 'awww, she's just an NQT feeling' and you get lumped with clubs and curriculum responsibilities!

:(

NorbertDentressangle · 26/03/2015 21:03

A friend of mine is in her NQT year and, yes, she seems busier than during her training.

She spends every evening and most of her weekends marking and lesson planning (her Head is a stickler for checking the lesson plans every week).

However, she loves what she does and loves having her own class. She is so proud of them!

DriftingOff · 27/03/2015 10:55

I definitely found my NQT year a lot harder than my PGCE (secondary)

SavoyCabbage · 27/03/2015 11:04

Yes, I found it harder. At university there is so much support and other people who are in the same boat.

Original poster
Lizzylou · 27/03/2015 15:00

Oh crap Grin

OP posts:
DontGotoRoehampton · 27/03/2015 16:57

Also no longer true about no assignments. I discovered that friends doing it for the two appropriate bodies I know people in this year, Richmond-Upon-Thames LA and Rotherham LA, NQTS are expected to do Action Research project and assignments. Don't know about others, but presume they are likely to be the same.

EvilTwins · 27/03/2015 17:26

It's harder because of the accountability thing. You may feel accountable now but the buck stops with the regular class teacher, not with you. Your timetable load will also, in all probability, be higher. What's your subject?

HagOtheNorth · 27/03/2015 17:43

You will also have parents to deal with.
You say you were accountable, so how did that work? You've been entirely in charge of classes for the whole year? That doesn't sound like training.
I agree that most NQTs I've mentored in primary found the year after NQT very hard.

Original poster
Lizzylou · 27/03/2015 21:36

I am History. I have had classes since October. At first I was supervised 100%, now not very much. I do parents evenings (at first with Mentor), reports, ringing and meeting parents and am very aware of those not making their levels progress! But yes, that could just be me putting pressure on myself. Noone else is putting pressure on.
It is a school based course, so not much university involvement.

The assignments are my stress point, I have been out of education a looong time.
Best take advantage of that summer break to recharge thenConfused

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Haggisfish · 27/03/2015 21:37

No I thought nqt was slightly easier than pgce but the second year of teaching was the hardest-sorry!

MrsJacksonAvery · 27/03/2015 21:38

I thought PGCE was harder. Being observed only once a half term in your NQT year seems much, much less than training.

Original poster
Lizzylou · 27/03/2015 22:01

I hate formal observations! I go to pieces, hate them, am fine with my weekly mentor ones.
I do a PTI course (which is another stress point, I love it but hadn't realised the effect losing one Saturday a month would have) and an NQT on the same course said similar re: just halftermly observations. He was waxing lyrical about how much easier the NQT year was. I feel I may have to warn him about yr3!

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RevealTheHiddenBeach · 28/03/2015 19:10

I am on school direct and have had my own class for the last term as things weren't working with their previous teacher. can't believe the change in how hard it is - the added responsibility, writing reports, meeting parents, and being the one person to deal with sorting the classroom and all the other random things like friendship issues and lost lunch boxes. I'm glad I am doing it now as I am getting a bit extra support, I know that next year as I'll be an nqt I will be much more on my own. It's definitely not a "tough for one year then a steady climb" job and I am full of admiration for all those who are training with young children at home!

PurpleDancingTurtle · 28/03/2015 19:28

I agree NQT harder, and second year the worst as you have a full timetable.

CliniqueChubbyStick · 28/03/2015 19:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bobian123 · 28/03/2015 19:34

Hi lizzylou, just thought I'd add my own experience into the mix. Personally, I think it can depend a lot on the school you end up in and the support you're given. I'm primary, and was fully expecting to have no life during my NQT year. Actually, I have to say I really enjoyed it. I had lots of support in school and, whilst I did end up doing some work out of hours, it wasn't all the time. Plus I got pregnant half way through and all was OK.

Not saying it was a walk in the park- I worked long days and worried about levels a lot-but it wasn't as bad as I was imagining!

Good luck!

MrsJacksonAvery · 28/03/2015 19:36

I honestly think it gets easier - as your confidence and your resource bank grows, it will become more manageable. I always tell our PGCEs that you can't be a perfectionist in this job - you will never be on top of everything.

ashesandfire · 28/03/2015 19:36

Honestly? Yes. Everyone told me PGCE was the hardest year- they lied. Adjusting to a nearly full timetable nearly killed me (I didn't find the transition from NQT to NQT+1 as bad) plus the accountability.

EdwiniasRevenge · 28/03/2015 19:39

I'm 5 weeks into my NQT and I am at breaking point..sorry.

BUT I started in Feb which apparently is 100x harder and my classes have had supply since Oct which is another 100x harder again.

The school is aware they have a HUGE behaviour problem...and have a HUGE problem with retention of staff. Over 10% of the teaching staff are currently off long term sick...and a there are a couple of other vacancies so there is a lot of supply in the school.

Personally I am finding it hell...but there are a lot of barriers created by my circumstances and school...

40thisisit · 28/03/2015 21:02

No, I think the nqt year is easier. I'm in mine at the moment and yes it's busy but I'm enjoying it far more than last year. As mrs Jackson says your confidence grows and that's half the battle

NotQuiteThere · 28/03/2015 21:16

Reading with interest! And procrastinating about PGCE essay number 2, which is due in next week..... I hate the essays, looking forward to not having to do them next year. I'm going to need to nip the perfectionism in the bud too, lesson planning, resourcing and evaluation is taking too long at the moment.

I know the workload is going to be immense, but I'm looking forward to having my own classroom and having the time to build relationships with my classes. I know that the increase in teaching hours is going to be a real strain, quite worried at the thought of seeing my own children even less. BUT, even now, it's great to be able to leave work earlyish on a Friday to be with them, and school holidays have been wonderful.

Original poster
Lizzylou · 29/03/2015 10:14

Edwina, that sounds really tough! I am lucky that I already know the school and will have most of my new classes from start of July (once yr11 leave the rest of the school move up to the next yr), I really hope that there are no essays!
Bobian it is the support that you get which is crucial, my mentor is fab and so helpful, I know that a lot of my cohort have had nightmares, I have been lucky.

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FuzzyWizard · 29/03/2015 10:22

I'm a secondary history teacher. NQT year was tough, I was also fully responsible for A level Politics that year. I'd still say it was easier than PGCE year when I wasn't ever really comfortable. The year after PGCE was better still, I really enjoyed my GCSE groups that year in particular and it was all a bit less scary. At the end of that year I was promoted to HOD, that was the steepest learning curve tbh.