Starting a new job next week-anyone else?!

[unicorncupcake]

Now that the GCSE results are done and dusted and the bank holiday is over I can’t avoid the inevitable any more-my new job starts next week new commute, new school and school run for DCs, new people and colleagues, new exam qualifications to teach, 1200 new kids names to learn. Am going from a tiny private school where I knew everyone by name, parents and pupils alike to a massive (boys) state school. 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

Logically I know it will all be ok, I got good vibes on interview and second visit, HR and new HoD have been very efficient and positive. New role is a step down in responsibility and hours and am hoping to regain some semblance of a life. I’ve left an environment so toxic the stories I could tell don’t even sound real, so am delighted to not be going back. But bloody hell I am terrified 😱 I can’t be the only one moving to pastures new?!

Our Insets are always casual. Jeans and t shirt. Head will be in the same.

Had my stress dreams, feeling a bit more chilled now but the 6am alarm is going to HURT tomorrow.

I'm also starting my NQT year, in Secondary. I've got good vibes about the school/from my HoD but I'm definitely swinging between excited and nervous. I feel like everyone else I trained with has got timetables and knows what they will be teaching, but I've got almost nothing which is a bit scary!

I'm also starting my NQT year tomorrow. I had all these ideas about planning a term's worth of lessons over the summer and I've done bugger all! I'm feeling quite terrified after having the summer off but I'm also excited to be getting my own classes and classroom. I found the PGCE year tough and hoping this will be a little easier.

I found the PGCE year tough and hoping this will be a little easier.

Good luck.

I found the PGCE year tough but the NQT year tougher-being totally responsible for your own class for the first time is incredibly stressful. The subsequent year when the additional non-contact time is removed and you’re not excused for being an NQT is ready either.

Then it gets a bit easier .

Loads of us in the same boat! I’m wearing jeans and t shirt tomorrow, have already put all my clothes out for the whole week I’ve got my timetable and know what topics etc I’m teaching and most resources are on my drop box and google drive so am feeling almost ready to go I’ve got two inset days, then a day off, then teaching my first day on Thursday, then not working Friday. I’m going to be part time which I can’t wait for!

Well nothing triggers a mild panic attack like checking the new work email at the end of the day and finding 2 new emails that between them contain TWENTY FIVE attachments. Seriously. I'm not panicking about trying to read them all, just panicking that this indicates a much higher expectation of working outside of my normal hours and almost smells a little of being seen to be working rather than of thinking if each attachment is necessary, especially the if they were sent day before starting back - when do they think they'll all get read/actioned?! Need to keep repeating my mantra: just try it for a year... just try it for a year... and also never forget rule 1 - don't check work email at home!

OMG 25 attachments?? Are they all the policies? For the WORLD?!

Policies, breakdown of exam results, fire evacuation, agenda after agenda for INSET, tutor lists, phone number lists, departmental notes for each subject and a whole bunch I haven't even hovered the mouse over to see what they are. Honest to god I nearly wrote my letter of resignation!

Hi @SansaSnark I too have no info about anything!! NQT too and this lack of knowledge is what is making me nervous.

I was also wondering about what to wear. I’ve been told casual, but going to go smart casual. Black jeans and a plain long sleeve tee shirt

fedup21
Yep he knows everyone has been nice about it but obviously not ideal situation for any of us

How are you all? I didn’t sleep at all from Sunday to Monday and cried when I came home last night as I was so overwhelmed
Second inset day today, again not much sleep but I feel much better after bonding with colleagues while lugging around boxes upon boxes of books pointlessly within the department - a cheap and cheerful team building idea if you ever need one

I cried too! Totally overwhelmed feeling like I'd made a massive mistake. I'm still not sure this is a long term thing but appreciate it's very, very early days. Interested to know how frowned upon it is to only stay a year... (joking. Maybe.)
I will feel better once the kids are in I'm sure. And the department seems nice, even if they are very data driven, which I'm not used to.
First day of teaching tomorrow - good luck to us all!

Having worked a different job before teaching I am always surprised by how crap managers are at managing people. Instead of being inspirational, uplifting and team building at the beginning of the year everybody is already buckling under the pressure of results feedback and a to do list that has gone from zero to ten gazillions by breaktime...

Am going back after a decade out of the classroom. Inner city special measures - what could go wrong!

How are people feeling now that the kids are back/first proper day done? Hope it's going well for everyone.

Personally today was 100 times better than the inset days because the kids seem nice(ish!) so I felt more in control. It hasn't suddenly made my passion come rushing back though. Maybe it was unrealistic to hope that after a day in back with the kids I would feel the highs of teaching like I did in nqt year.

First teaching day today-I came home with a banging headache! Forgot my water bottle too. I was awake for most of the night feeling super anxious, but actually it was a pretty good day. My year 10 regular class was so lovely... My yr 10 'vocational' class (I'm abroad) was as tricky as I had expected...I'm finding it hard to find resources which fit with the curriculum and aren't too babyish for their age-this will be my biggest challenge for the year I think!
The school has a strange layout and I keep getting lost, which is annoying. My colleagues are mostly friendly and helpful at least.
I hope you all had/have a good first day!

I absolutely loved my 1st week!! I’m an nqt and I’m so relieved!

I have survived! Kids nice, colleagues friendly and generally a nice place to be. Thank the lord! Hope everyone has a relaxing weekend planned!

A few more days in and I am feeling a bit less than I am drowning fast and a bit more like I’ve got this. Definitely not wishing myself back to my old school at the moment!