Primary Teachers - positive experiences of workplace?

[sweetpeagarden]

Hi,
I am well aware from reading many posts and speaking to other teacher friends in different schools of the pressures we are all facing: workload, work-life balance, Ofsted looming, funding.
I’m just wondering of any positive experiences of primary teachers where you feel you work in a supportive workplace and can manage these issues without feeling overwhelmed and undervalued?

Since returning this academic year I have been unwell with a range of viruses and ongoing infections; I have had to take a few days off here and there because I was physically too unwell to teach. Despite feeling more and more pressure each week, I’ve managed into school but have felt my mental health declining: I’ve been crying every night after work; feeling tearful in the workplace (SLT have seen me upset and airing my concerns about workload, behaviour, mixed messages from management) and do not act on it; and generally feeling ‘zoned out’ and brain fog.

Even though I have spoken to SLT, tried self-care and wellbeing to try and manage a work-life balance and struggled into work this term, I have hit a wall and am really suffering. The GP has put me onto medication for anxiety and I know myself I do not feel fit to return.

The school is expecting Ofsted any minute, the SLT are very ‘cliquey’ and gossip constantly about personal details about staff and parents (sometimes extremely inappropriately). Staff are not thought of highly if they leave work at a reasonable time, say before 4.30pm (even if their marking and planning is done). When concerns about marking demands and planning, paperwork, SEN, behaviour issues are raised no clear messages or support is offered. There are also other teachers (and support staff) who have complained and have been really suffering from workplace stress and burnout - the SLT witness them crying and don’t act upon it. It feels they blame the teachers rather than looking at their own policies or approach to see what the common denominator is.
Many times SLT inform teachers to ‘make up’ the numbers referring to data then pride themselves on school performance…there are so many things that don’t feel right and I know I need to apply for a new position.

any advice? I am aware all schools have a lot of pressure but does this sound ‘normal’?
what would you do?
thanks in advance

Anyone?

Couldn’t read and run. Yes from my experience this is the culture. This is one reason why I am looking for a way out. The system is broken and it’s not getting better.

I teach in a small. rural church school. I've been there since 2001 so I'm now the longest serving teacher there.

I'm on my third headteacher and all have been ok. They are and have been supportive and caring.

I've had a few health issues over the past 3 years and SLT have been good. But the educational issues still remain the same, Ofsted, assessments, data etc etc.

I shall be glad to retire in the next couple years. I'm so fed up of teaching now.

I think you should try moving schools! Maybe with a career break in between if you can afford it, or you could do supply for a few months if not.
Not all schools are that stressful. It varies hugely. Best of luck to you.

Thank you. I do think I need to experience a different primary school as this is my first workplace in the career!

Definitely not what all primary schools are like! Yes, we have big workloads but your slt do not sound supportive or kind. I would look for another school! However, i would say that unless there is a clear reason you're finding marking or similar too overwhelming (ie, divorce, ill health etc that slt know about) then SLT generally want a 'solution' to problems in my experience. By that i mean, rather than saying, 'I'm struggling because of marking' (which will always be there) ask a more direct question like, 'I was just wondering what the marking policy says in terms of how frequently books need a forward marking comment from a teacher?' That's just an example but it's very hard for them to reply, 'Every piece of work in books needs this,' because they are aware that sounds like an unmanageable workload. I know for example in my school books are expected to have more indepth marking from teacher X days a week so i plan those lessons on days i don't have staff meetings or my hobbies in the evenings.
Sorry for such a long reply!

Thanks, that’s interesting.
I feel really zoned out and unable to cope as my usual self, really struggling with anxiety.

the doctor advised sick leave.

No, that’s not the culture of all primary schools at all.

It sounds like a very difficult environment. It also sounds like you have some significant health issues which are going to need treatment, so not only the medication that you mention but also longer-term therapy such as counselling or CBT. It’s impossible to unpick how much is linked to your work environment but in my experience health issues tend to be exacerbated (sometimes very significantly) but not usually caused by difficult working conditions.

The doctor wouldn’t suggest this lightly. You should seriously consider taking their recommendation.

I hope you feel better soon

I feel panicked at the thought of phoning them about sick leave. But I know going on like this isn’t a possibility.

I'm just here to echo all primaries aren't like that. We're due Ofsted any day and I think I probably care more than the head! We don't have observations, book scrutinies or a crazy marking policy. I've worked in a school which required stupid levels of marking and I really wish I'd challenged it more because the number of hours required was just not justifiable. Having said that, it's a very different climate to 10 years ago now that schools need good teachers more than we need them. The only thing I'd say is I don't think it's necessarily reasonable to expect to leave work at 4.30 regularly. Yes we probably get into school a little earlier but in most salaried professions it's usual to leave work at more like half 5 or 6 and sometimes much later. I work fewer hours as a teacher than on the graduate scheme I did previously.

Yes, absolutely. I do think depending on how much of your work you can get done at weekends or earlier on in the day it does play a factor into what time you stay until.
I’ve heard one colleague who is now in a different school where the teaching staff have left most days just after 4pm which is unheard of where I am.

It is true that people in other jobs work till and even seven as I see this with my family ( they work in a variety of skilled office based jobs). However they also start at 9 and not at 8 like teachers and they benefit from 1 h lunch break so in total the hours are somewhat the same. I would also argue that the intensity of the job is different in that in teaching we are always "on" with minimal breaks and lots of duties. Our day is intense in a different way. But yeah schools vary massively. Centralised planning has really cut my hours significantly- I could never go back to creating all lessons from scratch

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. I really don't think it helps the teachers' cause suggesting most other professionals get an hour's lunch break - in salaried jobs of a similar level of seniority to teaching I think that's far from the norm. My friends and family who are engineers, doctors, accountants, NHS allied professions, retail managers and scientists certainly don't. People may start at 9 (many start earlier) but plenty work evenings too. I do agree the teaching day is particularly full on though!

@Bainbridgemews for sure and I meant more office type roles like civil servants etc
But of course teaching is not the only job that has long hours and stress ! I think its important to stress the idea of being constantly on and having a duty of care towards students at all times. Also working with children/ teens and their parents is different to working in many other industries

I think teaching can be doable if: there is a very strong behaviour for learning policy which unfortunately is missing in many schools