Just seen my timetable!

[Anothertalkinghead]

I have seen my timetable and it is not what I had been promised. I feel so sick and got no sleep last night. I had made it clear that I do not feel confident teaching certain year groups and classes and had been told it wasn’t a problem - I would be timetabled for other year groups. The stress of teaching these classes has caused my physical and mental health to suffer in the past. The staff member responsible for the timetable said that she had not been made aware of the situation and now that the timetable has been written it’s tough luck. I know that I just cannot do this in September. I don’t know why I’m posting really. I know that there is nothing anyone can do.

That does sound rubbish- totally different to signing up at a secondary.

I agree with you that the only solution is likely to be a new job. I think there will be lots going TBH as I think there will be a good number of teachers who just don't feel they are safe (virus) teaching any more. However, I'm thinking the type of non-contact cover job you have had may evaporate. We had an MFL specialist teacher in that role, but she has been put into class so as not to move around bubbles.

Maybe look at different sectors- Special School or Independent?

Wow that doesn't sound good. I can understand you would be stressed about teaching maths and English to secondary school kids - I would feel the same.

I'm an English teacher and my happy place is year 10 upwards. If there's anything specific that I can help with, please do say.

I might email the timetabler, HoD and senior manager.

I might say I wanted to make them aware how upset I was with the timetable.

• state you are primary trained
• that this issue had been raised and you were promised you wouldn’t have Senior classes
• that it has caused your mental health to deteriorate and you fear that the prospect of this is already impacting you
• show appreciation for the fact tometabling is difficult and everyone’s preferences can’t be met
• tell them that Regretfully you will need to start looking for an alternative job ASAP and want to warn them.
• ask again if anything can be done to at least reduce your time on this aspect of your timetable

-stress that you love working in the junior school which is what you are trained for.

This could be an approach which might deliver some improvements. You would need to get the tone right and include someone on SLT who might get involved to drive some change.

And just a thought ....sorry, might not be a nice one - is this a genuine mistake or are they trying to drive you out? Sadly these things happen.

At first I thought you sounded a bit unreasonable, but teaching secondary when you are primary trained and clearly hate it, doesn’t just sound like fussiness.

Top tip, always copy timetabler I’m on any emails about future timetabling and if there are any particular requests which are vital rather than just preferences, email them directly to check the info is being considered at the key tometabling point of the year.

You often won’t get what you want and it is impossible to deliver what everyone wants, but this does sound pretty awful. It is poor of your HoD to have not passed on something so important. If you end up staying, you’ll need to pursue him to check he has passed on such info on future. Mistakes can be made and HoDs are often juggling so much it’s easy to let something slip, so reminding of a carefully selected vital thing is fine, if you’re not being a pest and always reminding them of something.

Don’t give up. There might be some small improvement that vN be worked in.

Is it worth looking for another job in a primary school? I don’t know where you are geographically but where I am there are vacancies and some schools have struggled to fill them.

I think you have tried the secondary school year groups for long enough to know it isn’t for you? I think big changes can be a love or hate thing. I always thought I was a KS2 only kind of teacher, preferably 5/6 but then through a bizarre set of circumstances I ended up leading EYFS. Which it turns out I actually really like and may possibly be better at. But I would have known straight away if it wasn’t for me.

If you can find another position it could help you get through the autumn term at your current school, knowing that you only have to endure it for a short while.

That sounds horrendous. Just the thought of having to teach Secondary would make me resign on the spot. I can't offer any advice but my God, I feel for you.

What a horrible shock, especially after being reassured by your HoD that you wouldn't be put in this position.

If it's making you unwell, would there be any benefit in your GP signing you off and occupational health getting involved to consider appropriate support? Or are other primary schools still struggling to find PPA cover and advertising jobs? Given your current school knows about your MH and it's an error at their end that has resulted in your needs not being accommodated, perhaps the headteacher would be willing to release you from your contract without the usual notice period?

If you are staying, at least for the start of term, are you able to share some of what the aims of your sessions/lessons are e.g. is it exam technique? Learning technical vocabulary? Pre-teaching of a concept? And how much flexibility do you have with the content? How are the students that come to you selected? I know at my DDs' school it tends to be students with dyslexia who aren't doing MFL along with those struggling with attendance and/or mental health who receive core subject support during MFL lessons.

As you love teaching Y4, you already know more bizarre SPAG terms than about 97% of the population. Likewise, your maths is likely to be better than a significant chunk of the wider population. Although you may feel uncomfortable teaching the KS3/4 content, could you KS2ify your sessions so you're closer to your comfort zone?
How would you feel about turning the situation on its head and givng the lessons more of a study skills focus or being a sort of 'learning surgery'? This might be something the school is willing to be flexible with to make amends for putting you in this position, it may be worth thinking about what you're willing/able to do to take some control over the situation and offer it up as a solution. For example, instead of trying to teach content, teach them how to construct mind maps, to take notes, create index cards, learn formulae songs from YouTube etc., basically anything that will help with revision? If going for the learning surgery option you might ask students to bring along something they are struggling with and as a group, consider ways to tackle it e.g. ask a friend, look on Bitesize, check YouTube, see if it's explained on Dr. Frost or similar, have a go at the relevant exercise on Seneca. You might want to set each of them to investigate one option and feedback to the group with their solution in ten minutes. Whilst the tricky thing being worked on may not always be immediately relevant to the whole group, the research skills, summarising and being able to extract sufficient information to pass on to a peer will be useful at some point. Get out the felt tip pens, sugar paper, post-its and 'round the world' maths games and give the students something completely different, more like primary school and recognising that they will learn much more from you if you feel comfortable and relaxed than if you're fearing for your mental health.

I really hope you find a way forward that works for you. It's horrible to feel trapped and let down.