I'm sinking

[mistywintermorning]

I have taught for sixteen years and I have always been OK with the workload. But now I am really going under.

I have to organise and deliver two extra curricular activities, each lasting an hour after school. This is doubly hard as on both days I am teaching all day. The school only has a half hour lunch and it's expected we spend break times in the school canteen with the kids. The days are exhausting and draining.

The traffic is just terrible as well, I only live twenty minutes away on a clear run but because of roadworks and peak hour traffic I am frantically rushed in the morning (can't get in any earlier because of nursery - I have two young kids) and then I am committed to staying until twenty past four two evenings a week, one evening is a half five finish and the other two evenings I've loads to do.

It's just a struggle and I'm constantly stressed

If they’re rowdy, kick them out, it’s not a lesson, it’s something put on for their benefit.

If it means you leave at peak traffic, can you stay a bit later after and do some prep at school?

I can't giraffe, to both. I can't kick them out because as far as slt are concerned it is a lesson, and if I stay later I wouldn't get to nursery on time.

So it's like

3:30 - 4:30 - lesson 6

and the traffic doesn't really die down until about 6:30/7.

Are you signed up to Lit Drive? There are tons of really good resources in there which should save you some planning.

Do you really have to do all the pick ups and drop offs every day? That’s a lot to manage. Can’t your DH change what he’s doing so that he can share the load?

The intervention sessions don’t sound productive. Your hours don’t sound sustainable. You are coming back with reasons why you can’t change anything, but ultimately you will have to - you can’t carry on like this and be healthy or happy or have a decent family life.

I don't think I can change anything yet; i may be able to in the future

I really feel for you. I'm sinking too - but in a primary school. Had the school had ofsted recently?

Sounds like a horrible academy I worked in last year. Most miserable year of my life. I started looking for vacancies immediately.

Now in a school much further away, behaviour more challenging - but supportive systems in place and colleagues who have each other's backs. Head encourages to leave before 4 at least twice a week, and pretty much everyone leaves just after 3pm on a Friday.
My mental health has improved 100% and even in times of intense workload (ie November), it all feels manageable.

I left a school after 1.5 terms. In fact I'd handed in my notice before the first half term. I only needed to work 4 weeks notice (probation) but I "helped them out" staying longer. I hated it. The fact that 7 staff had left the summer before I started SLT kept quiet. Just go. They'll be plenty of other jobs advertising for April.

Intervention is not an 'extra curricular activity'! It's an extension of the curriculum. I feel sorry for the kids as much as anything!

This all sounds horrible (and daft). Look for another job asap!

Being HoD is not a reason to do more ec than anyone else. If anything, it's reason to do less.

well, the mystery is solved - we are actually contracted until 4 so if we aren't teaching on those days, it is a bonus!