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My missus resigned as a head teacher after 8 years (25 years as a teacher) due to lack of funds to run her school, increasing pressures of complying with Ofsted (... with no funds) and no support from the county council.
Much happier as a 4-days-a-week classroom teacher now, but still has to work her entire day off, just to keep on top of everything.
I'm getting out as soon as I can. I'm a head of faculty with a staff of 4 teaching 1600 kids. No support from the head-shed. Consumer approach from the parents. Constant pressure to hit ever changing targets that become meaningless when the emphasis changes after 6 months.
Just to do the barest minimum, I am expected to do 30 hours plus simply marking books. That number is based on 5 mins per book, every two weeks. As a punter, wouldn't you expect a bit more than 5 mins a fortnight? Course you would and that's why it takes us in dept a heck of lot more time than that. We're an essay based subject that relies on specific use of arguments, reflection, synthetic skill sets, analysis and definitive, supported conclusions. You cannot simply tick and flick - they need individualised responses that guide them towards an improved, personalised outcome. I put this to the Head Shed and they didn't dispute my figures. Just shrugged and said that's the way it is. Cheers boys. The latest idea is to outsource marking! ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-32513932) Halle-facking-lujah. So, someone who hasn't got the first facking clue about little Johnny / Jenny will personalise the response? Or will they just write '17/24 C/B borderline. Target B'? Winds me up.
Those 30 hours (yeah, right) is before I prepare, resource, differentiate lessons for one of seven different year groups, support my tutor group, deal with departmental issues, exam scripts, moderation, support either of the two NQTs I mentor, write a resourced and researched scheme of work for the exam board that has changed its specification and examination rubric (the last one is over 20,000 words. A university dissertation is usually only 10,000), coach students, deal with behavioural issues for the dept, statistics, tracking performance, performance management reviews, lesson observations, Leadership call-out duty, planning visits, heads meetings, governors meetings etc etc etc etc. Oh, and then I might teach some kids on my full timetable.
I've been diagnosed as clinically depressed with severe anxiety and am classified as high suicide risk. And I support QPR. Oy vey.
I've applied for the job of Test Pilot for Durex and am waiting to hear back from their Head of Penile Wrapping Solutions, Ray Jinghorn.
[Post edited 30 Apr 2015 15:50]
'What do we want? We don't know! When do we want it? Now!'
I appreciate everyone has a right to free speech, but anyone who votes UKIP either don't understand what they're voting for, or are just blithering idiots. UKIP's sole policy is to take the UK out of the EU, and that will be the biggest damage to British business since the second world war (Not even exaggerating). How do you think our economy will do when it becomes extremely difficult to trade with the one place that buys more of our goods/services then anywhere else in the world (Over 50%)? Not only will it be harder to sell, but imports will increase greatly in price due to tariffs and other red tapes. The NHS will collapse due to the lack of immigrants coming into the UK, considering how many of them have jobs in our hospitals etc. They're a racist party with a complete berk as their leader. I realise all the party leaders are idiots, but for God sake don't vote UKIP
I appreciate everyone has a right to free speech, but anyone who votes UKIP either don't understand what they're voting for, or are just blithering idiots. UKIP's sole policy is to take the UK out of the EU, and that will be the biggest damage to British business since the second world war (Not even exaggerating). How do you think our economy will do when it becomes extremely difficult to trade with the one place that buys more of our goods/services then anywhere else in the world (Over 50%)? Not only will it be harder to sell, but imports will increase greatly in price due to tariffs and other red tapes. The NHS will collapse due to the lack of immigrants coming into the UK, considering how many of them have jobs in our hospitals etc. They're a racist party with a complete berk as their leader. I realise all the party leaders are idiots, but for God sake don't vote UKIP
I'm not voting UKIP but;
a) can't we still trade with other EU countries?
b) "The NHS will collapse due to the lack of immigrants coming into the UK, considering how many of them have jobs in our hospitals etc." - I doubt migration would be stopped completely, just regulated. Besides, if they are then there are jobs for the 2m unemployed to do. Don't want to take the job?... then you don't get your dole money. Even if it means mopping halways, it's better than sitting on a doorstep out of your head on your 10th can of Carlsberg Export, at 11am.
I'm getting out as soon as I can. I'm a head of faculty with a staff of 4 teaching 1600 kids. No support from the head-shed. Consumer approach from the parents. Constant pressure to hit ever changing targets that become meaningless when the emphasis changes after 6 months.
Just to do the barest minimum, I am expected to do 30 hours plus simply marking books. That number is based on 5 mins per book, every two weeks. As a punter, wouldn't you expect a bit more than 5 mins a fortnight? Course you would and that's why it takes us in dept a heck of lot more time than that. We're an essay based subject that relies on specific use of arguments, reflection, synthetic skill sets, analysis and definitive, supported conclusions. You cannot simply tick and flick - they need individualised responses that guide them towards an improved, personalised outcome. I put this to the Head Shed and they didn't dispute my figures. Just shrugged and said that's the way it is. Cheers boys. The latest idea is to outsource marking! ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-32513932) Halle-facking-lujah. So, someone who hasn't got the first facking clue about little Johnny / Jenny will personalise the response? Or will they just write '17/24 C/B borderline. Target B'? Winds me up.
Those 30 hours (yeah, right) is before I prepare, resource, differentiate lessons for one of seven different year groups, support my tutor group, deal with departmental issues, exam scripts, moderation, support either of the two NQTs I mentor, write a resourced and researched scheme of work for the exam board that has changed its specification and examination rubric (the last one is over 20,000 words. A university dissertation is usually only 10,000), coach students, deal with behavioural issues for the dept, statistics, tracking performance, performance management reviews, lesson observations, Leadership call-out duty, planning visits, heads meetings, governors meetings etc etc etc etc. Oh, and then I might teach some kids on my full timetable.
I've been diagnosed as clinically depressed with severe anxiety and am classified as high suicide risk. And I support QPR. Oy vey.
I've applied for the job of Test Pilot for Durex and am waiting to hear back from their Head of Penile Wrapping Solutions, Ray Jinghorn.
[Post edited 30 Apr 2015 15:50]
Your clinical depression is not entirely due to supporting QPR. When my father (a doctor) visited us a month after the missus resigned, he spotted that she was clinically depressed. A daily dose of Citalopram has done wonders for her mood and motivation.
b) "The NHS will collapse due to the lack of immigrants coming into the UK, considering how many of them have jobs in our hospitals etc." - I doubt migration would be stopped completely, just regulated. Besides, if they are then there are jobs for the 2m unemployed to do. Don't want to take the job?... then you don't get your dole money. Even if it means mopping halways, it's better than sitting on a doorstep out of your head on your 10th can of Carlsberg Export, at 11am.
Of course we can still trade with them, but it will be so much more difficult then it is now, and considering how much we rely on EU trade that will be very problematic and costly. And yes of course there will be more jobs for Brits, however we clearly do not have the same skills and expertise that the migrants have, otherwise we would already have the jobs? We need to invest in grants and education to ensure we get highly skilled British doctors and nurses. In any case, it seems a tad unfair to allow the doctors to stay and not allow those in lower skilled jobs to stay no?
Of course we can still trade with them, but it will be so much more difficult then it is now, and considering how much we rely on EU trade that will be very problematic and costly. And yes of course there will be more jobs for Brits, however we clearly do not have the same skills and expertise that the migrants have, otherwise we would already have the jobs? We need to invest in grants and education to ensure we get highly skilled British doctors and nurses. In any case, it seems a tad unfair to allow the doctors to stay and not allow those in lower skilled jobs to stay no?
"however we clearly do not have the same skills and expertise that the migrants have, otherwise we would already have the jobs?" - that's the governments/systems fault for choosing cheap foreign labour over educating people here coupled with people's apathy towards working, probably due to the former. It can be redeemed by satrting again but that'll cost huge amounts and probably take a decade. Far easier to take cheap labour from abroad and pay dole money to the people here rather then educate them.
As for the lower skilled jobs, I think indigenous people should get the chance to do them first, give people out of work the first opportunity. If they don't want it, they don't get dole money and the work goes to someone who does want to do it. I remember seeing a report on TV and some bloke in a Scottish highlands coastal town (fishing industry mainly) moaning "all them foreigners taking our jobs" then when asked, he admitted the locals didn't want to do the jobs available.
As a kid our family used to go summer camping regularly on a farm in Yorkshire in the 70's and Geoff (RIP), the owner, was very much against the EEC (now EU). He said the farmers and industry of this country can support itself. He was a hard working, honourable and decent man and I believe him. Our farming & industry has been torn apart by sourcing cheaper goods from abroad and huge EEC restrictions on what farmers can output..... so much for a free economy when you aren't even allowed to produce as much as your farm can provide. When we were there, the farm had everything, wheat & corn fields, potato and other root vegetable fields, cows, pigs, sheep, the lot. By the late 80's/early 90's, the farm was down to two rows of carrots and a manky old chicken, all down to EEC restrictions.
Your clinical depression is not entirely due to supporting QPR. When my father (a doctor) visited us a month after the missus resigned, he spotted that she was clinically depressed. A daily dose of Citalopram has done wonders for her mood and motivation.
If you can take it with Peroni then I'm in.
'What do we want? We don't know! When do we want it? Now!'
Really awful to hear how impossible teaching jobs have become. The posts on here from teachers reminded me of this talk from Mark Fisher where he spoke about the modern day manifestation of capitalism as neoliberal bureaucracy
I appreciate everyone has a right to free speech, but anyone who votes UKIP either don't understand what they're voting for, or are just blithering idiots. UKIP's sole policy is to take the UK out of the EU, and that will be the biggest damage to British business since the second world war (Not even exaggerating). How do you think our economy will do when it becomes extremely difficult to trade with the one place that buys more of our goods/services then anywhere else in the world (Over 50%)? Not only will it be harder to sell, but imports will increase greatly in price due to tariffs and other red tapes. The NHS will collapse due to the lack of immigrants coming into the UK, considering how many of them have jobs in our hospitals etc. They're a racist party with a complete berk as their leader. I realise all the party leaders are idiots, but for God sake don't vote UKIP
too late!
1 in 10 might vote for them that's a lot of idiots!!!!! or a lot of people fed up with the way things are going
UKIP voters ,please it's just plain embarrassing , Farage has allegedly fiddled his expenses just like MP's, he describes people as fully black or half black, he's the sad bloke propping up the saloon bar when you go in on a Sunday lunchtime.'I'm not a racist but' is his mantra, do you think he honestly gives a flying f*ck about the inner cities or class sizes in east London?His job was a stockbroker, does he really care about the poor of our country who exist on food banks?Or is he more concerned on creating a nice political career ?
I appreciate everyone has a right to free speech, but anyone who votes UKIP either don't understand what they're voting for, or are just blithering idiots. UKIP's sole policy is to take the UK out of the EU, and that will be the biggest damage to British business since the second world war (Not even exaggerating). How do you think our economy will do when it becomes extremely difficult to trade with the one place that buys more of our goods/services then anywhere else in the world (Over 50%)? Not only will it be harder to sell, but imports will increase greatly in price due to tariffs and other red tapes. The NHS will collapse due to the lack of immigrants coming into the UK, considering how many of them have jobs in our hospitals etc. They're a racist party with a complete berk as their leader. I realise all the party leaders are idiots, but for God sake don't vote UKIP
You would be more of a blithering idiot to vote labour in again , especially after the last fcuk up they made of running the country
And Bowles is onside, Swinburne has come rushing out of his goal , what can Bowles do here , onto the left foot no, on to the right foot
That’s there that’s two, and that’s Bowles
Brian Moore
The crash was American bankers. The war, yes, now looks completely wrong, but other than that, explain.
you seriously think brown & Blair didn't ???
Immergration on a mass scale Phoney war , i wonder what happened to those weapons of mass destruction Bankrupting our country Selling our gold reserves for fcuk all Branding those against them racists Huge spending on social services which provided fcuk all to those who needed it Creating a benefit culture Overseeing the crumbling NHS and doing nothing to eradicate the problem Increased taxes Cash for honours Peter madelsesons dodgy mortgages Those are just off the top of my head, but I do find it funny how the likes of straw,Blair , milliband are now admitting to there mistakes on immergration, the welfare system, the country's financial collapse, it's a bit like our tone in saying that they have learnt by there mistakes but you know deep down they haven't
A vote for milliband & cronies would just about finish this country off
And Bowles is onside, Swinburne has come rushing out of his goal , what can Bowles do here , onto the left foot no, on to the right foot
That’s there that’s two, and that’s Bowles
Brian Moore
I'm voting Green. You lot can vote for who ya like, I can't change your opinions by cussing them, not sure why anybody thinks they can..... As far as how I see it going: Either Tories & UKIP or Labour & SNP with Lib Dems joining to push either duo across the line. Think Ed Milliband has been even more of a prat than usual by ruling out a coalition with the SNP as they'll win in Scotland and he'll have to backtrack (lie...a politician? Never) and try make a deal with them to have any chance of getting power. I think UKIP will surprise a lot of people with the high number of voted they get. Greens will get their best ever numbers, but will still be in 5th place, not far from the Lib Dems though, who will flop badly IMO. As a side note, we know that when Cameron goes, Boris will be his replacement (whenever that happens). How about Labour or Lib Dems? Who would be their new leaders? I have to say, as a Green supporter, they missed a trick big time by not having Caroline Lucas as top lady, she would've put them above Lib Dems, Natalie Bennett strikes me as the type who had a strop to get her way and be in charge.
UKIP voters ,please it's just plain embarrassing , Farage has allegedly fiddled his expenses just like MP's, he describes people as fully black or half black, he's the sad bloke propping up the saloon bar when you go in on a Sunday lunchtime.'I'm not a racist but' is his mantra, do you think he honestly gives a flying f*ck about the inner cities or class sizes in east London?His job was a stockbroker, does he really care about the poor of our country who exist on food banks?Or is he more concerned on creating a nice political career ?
Creating a political career? Unlike Cameron, Clegg and Milliband who have done nothing except be in politics
Islington eh?You're not one of those residents who live in a £2m+ house and have Labour stickers in the window?
Had to ask.
I'm not. My house is worth roughly 3 times what we paid for it, and 10 times our mortgage. Hardly our fault just happened. And yes I still believe in what the Labour party historically stands for. And, get this, (not you specifically Blob) I don't give a flying one about immergration (sic).
I'm not. My house is worth roughly 3 times what we paid for it, and 10 times our mortgage. Hardly our fault just happened. And yes I still believe in what the Labour party historically stands for. And, get this, (not you specifically Blob) I don't give a flying one about immergration (sic).
[Post edited 30 Apr 2015 22:48]
Remind me again what it historically stands for?I could do with a good laugh tonight.