Any other teachers struggling rn?

[BabyRace]

I don't know why but this September has been more brutal than ever. I am barely keeping my head above water, not sleeping properly and really stressed.

Last weekend I couldn't engage with DD and DH took the lead with her. Tell me it's not just me, or at least it'll calm down soon.

I'm really struggling this year, it's not just you. It really doesn't help that we have the big O officially due now so the pressure is on and the sheer number of shite whole-school initiatives SLT has thought up, has gone up , increasing staff workload further.

It isn't just you. We have ofsted looming, I work in a school that is over staffed but obsessed with ensuring that any hard working teachers timetable is filled up. The weaker teachers basically have more free periods, creating an atmosphere of resentment.

I've got a TLR that has massively changed from last year and nobody will support me.

I'm going to try to stick it out for this year only but am firmly planning my exit from this particular school for next year.

I think the pressure of ofsted after (during?!) covid is sending everyone potty to be honest. We are already a failing school so... not fun.

I feel for you both. We had ofsted I'm the penultimate week of term (can you believe?!) for a monitoring visit and that went really well but it hasn't changed anything. SLT are throwing stuff at us with the shortest deadlines.

@holyshort that's really awful, I can definitely understand the resentment. I'm sharing planning with teachers like that and they aren't doing their side. Happy to take but not to give. So frustrating.

I feel as if some members of our (huge) SLT view us as if they pay our salary out of their own pockets. I've really had enough. And don't get me started on the ageism - I'm 44 and they think I'm a dinosaur.

You are not on your own. I am on my knees and we're only a month into the new year. Lots of talk about mental health and well being for the pupils; absolutely bugger all consideration for staff. One class commented on the amount of times I got email notifications in one lesson... I don't take in the info anymore, just overwhelmed with so many conflicting instructions.

I love my school but I do feel like this September has been really long and hard

Probably not helped by the fact that I have had an awful cold the last week. Didn't want to take time off because of my exam classes so struggled through all week.

We have open evening next week plus I have some extra after school meetings.

I could honestly do with a 4 day weekend!

Two weeks to half term for me which I am so looking forward to. We are away for the 2nd week so hoping to get a good rest before the run up to Christmas.

@BabyYoda9

You are not on your own. I am on my knees and we're only a month into the new year. Lots of talk about mental health and well being for the pupils; absolutely bugger all consideration for staff. One class commented on the amount of times I got email notifications in one lesson... I don't take in the info anymore, just overwhelmed with so many conflicting instructions.

This could be my school. I've just had a week where I've barely had one single break or lunchtime to eat / get on with my own work, such is the rate of staff illnesses / staff Covid isolation at my school, and the need to cover teaching staff's break and lunch duties. Today, outside of teaching my own classes, covering other classes and duties, I only had half an hour of "free" time - with no morning break or lunch time.

My curriculum LM took me aside yesterday and told me they were worried about me and the hours I'm working. I got into work at 6.30 yesterday and it took me 2 hours to get started on anything productive because SLT had yet another poorly thought out plan and I was too busy fuming. I swear down they have a gambling ring on the top corridor with bets on who cracks first. I think I want out of the profession.

Not just you at all. I’ve been really struggling; didn’t know if it was just being a working mum with a toddler as this is my first time…. But the kids behaviour isn’t quite as you’d expect at start of term (pandemic effects I think), school are acting like Covid doesn’t exist, Ofsted looming too (constant emails from SLT with new things to do) - yuck. I have a trainee (who clearly doesn’t respect me - age/gender gap/hasn’t realised they’re not in their old job anymore - fun) and honestly, I don’t have anything left to give after a year of pandemic and baby care/no sleep. Paddling furiously here.

I feel the same. Everyone wants everything to suddenly go back to normal, as though there's no COVID, but there is still COVID, so for example, proper OfSted all singing all dancing lessons are expected, but we still have to also put an online version up on the system because there are so many off with COVID. Can't wait til half-term.

For various reasons, we're having to move rooms a lot as well at our school, and it's killing me.

Oh the moving rooms! That's been such a big part and I hadn't even considered it. I so miss having my own classroom. Being responsible for displays in 4 rooms is absurd.

I'm sorry you're all feeling this way too, but I'm glad it's not just me.

We had ofsted last week. 15 hour days in school. It was hugely stressful and we're only 4 weeks into this term. Everyone is so tired and there's loads of sickness plus staff isolating for covid.