Teacher register - who are you and what do you teach?

[noblegiraffe]

Having seen loads of teachers around on various threads I thought it would be nice to find out who's who and what you do.

I'm a secondary maths teacher in a comp, been teaching for 12 years, part time for about 8. No TLRs which gives me plenty of time to post ranty threads about the state of education.

I hate Gove and like to picture him in his wellies inspecting pig farms, which is what I like to think his current job is all about.

Secondary science, since 2006. Took 3 years out due to work-place bullying. I did consider leaving teaching altogether. Now back teaching part-time, seems like a nice school so far, and I'm half-enjoying it and half wondering whether I really should get out of teaching altogether. The draw of the school holidays, my age (45) and having to start again at the bottom (i.e. cut in pay) is what puts me off leaving.

Not sure I actually like teaching part-time either - I feel out of the loop all the time. Teaching full-time would be too much ATM I think though.

Secondary Maths (also Computing, ICT, Critical Thinking, random other stuff as per normal in secondary, 2nd in Dept., occasional acting HOD, Sixth Form tutor until vertical tutor groups came in) for 25 years. Retired at 60 (was a late entrant to teaching) when I realised I probably couldn't hack it until 65.
Rather by accident got a job in FE (had actually planned a gap year...) and now lead a small team teaching Functional Skills to work based learners. Am mostly left to my own devices and out of the purview of institutionalised Teaching and Learning bods, really like what I do.

Retired teacher here. 35 years, but only two in the state system. Last position was head of physics in a sort of grant maintained girls' school. Previously at fully independent girls' school, international school in Africa, mixed boarding school in North of England.

Dumbledore I'm having nightmares! Y13 are shortly starting on NEA...I am la-la-ing in my head at the thought of marking them..

tbh - there are not quite that many in Y13 currently - cos quite a few dropped out after failing AS. But this year's 12s have classes of around 28 in each - and we won't be shedding the ones who do no revision and get a U at the end of Y12 any longer. No AS means I get to keep them for the whole two years, I suspect. SLT cheerily point out to me that large classes at KS5 are here to stay due to financial constraints!

You poor thing. That sounds mad!

Primary. Part time this year after returning from mat leave.

I'll bite. Go on Dumbledore - have me fantasising about your Catholic (girls?) school . How big are your classes?

I have 32 in one GCSE group! (Although to be fair, SLT do try to make 30 the limit)

I do love our place - there would just be so much more of my love to go round if I didn't have to spread it so thinly amongst them.

Secondary Performing Arts. Left school last summer to set up independently, so still teaching but a full time 6th form performing arts class. Loving the teaching bit but haven't managed to escape all of the shit I was trying to get away from as I am still linked to a "virtual" school because my course is government funded. The vast majority of crap has gone, to be fair, but I'm still dealing with irritatingly incompetent people - it's just that I can't see them.

11 in my year 13 class, 12 in year 12. My GCSE groups are 27 and 28. Ks3 are almost all 31. Some subjects have sixth form classes of 25 plus but that is fairly rare. Anywhere between 10 and about 22 is the norm. Core subjects have somewhat smaller ks3 and 4 classes.

Hmm...I'm not so badly done to maybe. GCSE/KS3 look similar to yours. History is popular and oversubscribed here. And so SLT will happily sign up people who don't quite meet the criteria for A level...bums on seats, I suspect! Currently have 2 Y13 classes, 19 in one and about 14 in the other I think. But the two Y12s have 28 in one and 26 in the others - and I fear they are here to stay. I understand one of our 'ologies' has +32 in a Y13 class (but that might be a wicked rumour).

Appuskidu the role was advertised although when I took it it was a bank job, built up first to 3 days a week contracted and now full time contract. Students can be challenging but obviously only dealing with one at a time. Main down sides are time spent travelling and lack of interaction with colleagues. On the other hand very little input from managers and can work from home when I don't have students ( nature of students means there are lots of cancellations)

I've already posted but coming back to agree about large classes being the thing that will drive me out this year probably.
Not a core subject so 31 in every KS3 group (9 groups). The marking is insane and I'm spreading myself so thinly that I've barely said two words to some (lovely) pupils this year while the needy and naughty take up all of my time. I feel like I'm letting them down.

Scottish Primary teacher here but served my time in England till 7 years ago. Think I experienced the last of the best years there then met CFE...

Primary Escapee here! Now doing education outreach for industry and loving it.

Nothing you do as a teacher is ever good enough in the eyes of parents or SLT :-(

Cover supervisor in a semi rural comp. Currently being stretched to the limit by badly behaved year 9s

Wow, really interesting reading, such a range of experience and settings, I kind of expected it to be all primary and secondary which shows how limited my experience is. I'm in awe of those of you that have been teaching since the 90s, I bet you've really seen it all before.

I know there are also teachers out there not yet registered (you're late!) please keep posting! :)

Lots of Gove fans, so here's a video I never tire of watching: m.youtube.com/watch?v=HAqyf7a4xFM

Here Miss! I have taught Business Studies for 17 years now, and am currently part time at an independent grammar school, biggest class size i have is 5 ☺️

AS a (non-British ) non-teacher reading this thread I'm wondering if any of you would be kind enough to explain or elaborate on these acronyms?

Thankyou

TLR
SLT
CFE
NEA
SISRA
HLTA
SLE
CAT

5

My biggest class is 32 (Y7) and my smallest is 18 (Y13). I still don't know some of my bigger classes' names. Obviously I know the naughty ones.

Am I the oldest? Teaching since 1977 mostly year R, year 1 and 2. Finished full time as Senco a coule of years ago, part time and supply til last school year. Currently having a gap year, which might never end!

You've been teaching since before I was born, story! Wow. I expect things have changed since the 70s.

TLR - teaching and learning responsibility - a promoted post that comes with extra money like KS3 coordinator or Head of Year
SLT - senior leadership team - assistant heads and the like
CFE - Curriculum for Excellence - something inflicted on Scottish teachers that isn't, as far as I can tell, very popular.
NEA - don't know
SISRA - a school results analysis program thingy.
HLTA - higher level teaching assistant. Able to teach the odd lesson, so often used for cover in primary schools
SLE - don't know
CAT - CATs tests are like IQ tests used to find out how good the kids are at non-verbal/verbal reasoning and so on. Sometimes used to generate GCSE targets.

Although I've now looked back at the thread where CAT tests are mentioned and they said Y13 so I'm not sure it's the IQ test thing as they are usually done in Y7.

Chemistry here. Did 3 schools for 2 years each (state, indie, state) then medical needs 1:1 tutoring with LA for 18 months (like geog describes). Now SAHM with a toddler and a 2 day old.

No idea if I will go back to it or not. Or indeed if anyone will want me.

Thanks Noble!