I was talking to a fellow teacher yesterday in her 50s. She is working 50-60 hours a week and is exhausted (she's head of English in a primary school). She has been at the top of the pay scale for years, so the only increase she sees is the % increase that is occasionally bestowed on us. She said her cost of living has doubled in the last 10 years, yet her pay is virtually identical. Isn't this ridiculous? I am in the same boat too; unless I go into management, I will earn virtually no more for the last 20 years of my career. I was at a friend's house the other day and he was going for a job interview for the next step up (still not management) that would DOUBLE his salary! It's so depressing...