Support and Teaching Staff Safe Space - bring biscuits! (edited by MNHQ)

[BehindTheSequinsandStilettos]

Didn't we have an inner staff room within The Staffroom - you know, where we could chat and vent about the week?
Am I being stupid or has it gone?
Rough week, needed to chat x

Lucky sod (apart from having to be dug out/freezing your bits going to the shop) but I am so I have not had a snow day in five years!

@GrammarTeacher my thought are with you! We only do one paper - which is fucking ridiculous in the other direction.

That is ridiculous! I mean our marking is awful but they need to be prepared. We have less time a week than most other people as well (3 hours a week with year 11) so can’t really do it as much in class.

Hi all! I am looking to collect data for my dissertation about teachers' perspectives and classroom interventions regarding girls with ADHD. If you have 5 minutes spare I would be very grateful if you could please fill out this survey https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=MH_ksn3NTkql2rGM8aQVGzbUGRJ1NUpEtEygVEg4ektUMDZDMkhKQUlHWU82V1BGRzAzODFETUIzQS4u . Thank you so much in advance to anyone who helps me out!

Ah, mocks coming up here, too. I teach every child in the year group. Last time, we had one week's turnaround before the data was due in. I pray it's a bit more reasonable this time.

Anyone else's Y11 just not bothered this year? Most schools I've worked in, Y11 start to knuckle down after Christmas, but no such luck the last 2 years I've worked in this place. And then the protests when I don't do Easter or May half-term revision.

Quick question anyone please - which pay is more TLR1A or TLR 1C?

Cab anyone advise on asking to do part time / job share?

I'm currently doing my TA training (level 3) and am also looking for a job.

Due to family commitments I can ideally only do part time so 4 ideally 3 days a week so 0.5/6- 0.8. I don't want to do 5 mornings etc I need complete days off really.

I see jobs advertised as full time so I'm ringing to ask if they would consider a job share and th answer is 99% of the time no. I did have one place saying yes but it was too far away.

Am I asking too soon?

Should I ask at a potential interview once they've met me and seen how wonderful I am 😂

But I don't want to waste anyone's time.

Any advice?

My Y11s are lazy and unmotivated at the moment, it's like pulling teeth trying to get them to do even simple tasks

They barely engage during lessons and then have the cheek to ask if I'm doing intervention...which they then come to and just sit there

(it's "not compulsory"...but it's an expectation that we do an hour after school per week)

I certainly will not be doing holiday revision. We do plenty for them as it is.

All we can do is keep trying to teach them, and the rest is up to them...!

We have plenty of job share teachers but have never actually had a job share TA, other than those doing mornings or afternoons with a 1:1 pupil. I'd keep on asking, but I suspect if there is a full- time alternative applicant, heads may favour that.

If you could find someone who could do the other half, you could present yourselves together?!

Our headteacher refused a job share request from a brilliant TA at our school. He said that as some of our teachers were part time he needed TA's to be consistent.

She now works for the Civil Service. Such a shame.

Thanks all, I know I may have to work full time but I just don't see how I will do it. Also another thing I'm finding is alot of schools aren't offering tours to prospective applicants they only offer tours to prospective teachers but how am I supposed to know if I'll like it and what the school is like if they don't have tours. I've been on one tour so far.

@Teachymummy yes I have noticed this new trend too! Odd.

I'm working in a school I really like on long term supply as PPA cover , but I'm an ECT and the constant change is stressful but I'm making the best of it even though I'd prefer to have my own class. Recently one of the teachers has gone off on sick and I asked if I could be considered. They passed over me and I feel gutted. My first year of teaching has just felt like one rejection after another I feel completely shut out by the profession
I got such good feedback on my placements and I know I can be a good teacher but I'm deflated and drained and don't know what is my way forward

Am currently secondary science but not really enjoying myself, and haven't been for some time.

An NHS role has come up for a community sexual health worker. It involves delivering sexual health education (as well as other RSE stuff) mainly to young people across schools and other groups, as well as vulnerable adult groups.

It's a pay cut and would lose the holidays (but that would be the same in almost every job move that isn't to another teaching post!) but the idea of it really appeals to me and I think I might apply!

Has anyone got any experience either in the field, or in leaving teaching for a lower paid/less holiday role, or NHS role?

@redsquirrel07 no experience but this is what I plan to do in September/October time. Retiring at the end of the academic year at age 56 then going to get a job in the NHS doing admin or something part time.

The drop in pay won't affect me as I'll have the buffer of a pension. The holidays will be interesting. I'm looking forward to cheaper holidays.

A friend who moved form education to the civil service says she doesn't miss them now she has a less intense/stressful job.

Thank you for this.

I'm only in my 20s but just really not enjoying classroom teaching.

I rarely hear people who have left teaching say they regret it, and a lot of people do say that you don't feel you need the amount of holidays that teaching gives.

I think a lot of people stay in it because of feeling trapped in terms of having to sacrifice pay, holidays etc by leaving which is a shame.

@redsquirrel07 I would seriously think about leaving if your not happy before you get further up the pay scheme and comfortable.

If you're not happy now it will only get worse. I've been teaching for 29 years and have loved it until about 3-4 years ago.

Thank you. I'm certainly going to consider my options! The pay and holidays are already far beyond what I'd get elsewhere but I'm more concerned for my long-term fulfilment! I hope that your retirement and new job goes to plan and brings you the happiness you deserve 😊😊 xx

This half-term is a killer. Is it just me or does it feel far too long? I'm on my knees with exhaustion and we still have 3 weeks to go until Easter.

5 weeks until exams and Y11s are still apathetic. In my class of 25 I've had two who show a glimmer of doing work and revision; the rest are still treating lessons and after-school interventions as an extension of their social life.

It feels worse given we're back to Attainment 8 rather than Progress 8 due to Covid, because we need higher than normal figures in our stats.

The half term feels endless, the mock and test marking workload is going to be insane the last 2-3 weeks for us, Y11 still don't seem to much care and sit through most lessons (and interventions if they bother) gossiping and organising their social lives, and the kids' behaviour is generally rubbish in classrooms and corridors alike.

Also agree the pressure is worse, especially now the focus is on 9-5 not 9-4.

I feel you! (Oh and I'm leaving teaching at the end of the year...)

Hi, I wondered if this support thread might be still running and if I could join?

Hello lights
Sorry lovely, I haven't been on here for ages but it was/is a support group for anyone working in schools, so of course you can join/are welcome
If you do find your way back on here, happy to chat. How is your year going?

I am in marking hell. School have set an unrealistic turn around time and then added in reports for other year groups at the same time. This is what happens when you give a Latin teacher with a max of 6 students control of the school schedule.