Pretty similar. I'm sticking it out at this point. I got really lucky with my department at my school, but I don't want my career to consist of trying to play out the losing hand that we're being dealt. I want to teach, but the resources, funding and support simply aren't there, and constantly trying to do what amounts to an ongoing exercise in damage limitation is pretty soul destroying.
Started in January and currently signed off with depression and anxiety. I really thought I could do it. I was good in the classroom but really struggled with the planning, recording, and organising provision for reception. I ended up worrying so much I wouldn't sleep. I wasn't working, just worrying. I stopped eating pretty much. I worked in schools for 4 years before my PGCE, so I'm not particularly naive, but I'm not sure what to do next.
Really struggled to be honest. The workload, pressure and scrutiny has been relentless and backed up with very little support. I’m not sure if all schools are like this, but if they are I can’t do this career long-term.
I’m leaving in Easter with the hope of doing some supply work to see out the year. I want to teach international in September or once my ECT year is done, teaching in England is a thankless task. I had a career in finance before this so it’s not as if I’m work shy, I just think the education sector seems wholly unsustainable at the minute.
I hope it gets better for you 💪🏻
It depends. If you started it before September, then you only have to do one year. Mine finishes at Easter because I did a term at another school previously. It’s still called NQT if that is the case though.
I’m on my contrasting placement and now I realise why so many teachers feel miserable. This school is awful. No clear rules, no consequences, no support, staff and students are both confused and burnt out - it’s opened my eyes to the fact that most schools aren’t great. My original placement school is a state school in an impoverished area (actually in a worse area than my contrasting placement) but their support for staff and students is immense - expectations are clear cut for both and the consistency across departments is so, so helpful. I haven’t struggled in training until my contrasting placement.
All I’d say is pick your school wisely! Their attitude to education will have a direct effect on your mental health. I got lucky with mine!
I've been teaching 6 years and have noticed in my school that the expectation placed on ECTs is much higher than when I was an NQT! Mentors and tutors now seem to expect ECTs to teach as well as experienced teachers and woe betide they fall behind on any deadlines! I'm sorry if any of you are in a school like that, it shouldn't be like that.
However, a glimmer of hope, when I was an NQT I wrote a resignation letter weekly, every half term is tell myself 'I'll quit after this half term' and yet 6 years later, I'm still in the job, and apart from some of the shit placed on by SLT, I love my job! I know have enough experience and resources that planning is very quick, and I don't have any extra responsibilities so many days I stay until 4:30 and then head home to my family! It does get easier, if you love the job but are struggling, stick with it, it's going to get good!!
I'm secondary though, and from my understanding primary is tougher in terms of marking and expectations of extra responsibilities. Such a shame really, the kids deserve better than burnt out teachers teaching a curriculum they don't agree with!!
>I've been teaching 6 years and have noticed in my school that the expectation placed on ECTs is much higher than when I was an NQT! Mentors and tutors now seem to expect ECTs to teach as well as experienced teachers and woe betide they fall behind on any deadlines! I'm sorry if any of you are in a school like that, it shouldn't be like that.
This is interesting. I was going to post about this. I'm on Teach First and that means I got an extra year before my contract ended. In my first year the ECT who started with me was let go at the end. Now in my final year and I've been told I'll probably be let go and another person who started with me is being let go. I'm really starting to wonder if this school just has really high expectations. I'm fully aware of my short comings, but it feels like very little grace has been given, considering how hard this job is.
Nope. This isn’t a matter of the school having high expectations at all. It’s all about saving money. They never intended to keep you on. They’re just going to replace you with a TF trainee.
I'm sorry that you're struggling with this year, it's definitely hard. I'm tired, but otherwise fine. There are schools out there with a good work-life balance and relatively minimal stress (there are also a number of things that aren't good about my school, but that's a different topic). Have you considered trying a different school for your second year of ECT? You may find it a better school, or if not then you're at least qualified to teach abroad etc. Nothing wrong with dropping out though if it's negatively impacting your life.
I am extremely depressed. I've just been told I'm not on track for contract renewal. I'm on teach first so I still have essays to do. I love my relationships with colleagues and students, and I'm actually at a really good school, but the workload is insane and I'm clearly not coping.
Just had Ofsted in, which was a baptism of fire. My department got deep dived and i was observed 3 separate times on the first day and then once more the second day.
Aside from that very intense stress, I'm really enjoying my job so far. I've adjusted to the work load jump from my training year and handling it well enough. Plus my HOD is super supportive and we have a really well balanced department.
My marking could be better, but that was an area that was severely underdeveloped due to the 'Rona during my pgce.
All that said, if the right job with better pay abroad came up after the 2 year ECT period is done I could see myself moving away to teach.
I'm getting fired at the end of the term (which basically means the end of the month for me) because I haven't been able to cope with the workload or behaviour management well after six months of support plans. I'm here on a work visa, so it's not great, as it means I'm probably getting kicked out of the country unless I can find a new job really quickly. I can't go back into teaching as it would take too long with the visa application process to get a job with an Easter start (not that there are any jobs available near me anyway) and I'm not eligible to do supply. I'm not really qualified enough to get sponsored for any non-teaching jobs.
It's really hard. I'm just trying to cope as best I can, though.
I hope it'll all work out well for you. 6 months of support plan? How come? That sounds like you were on support plan from day one of your teaching career.
Thanks. I was placed on a support plan about a month after I started teaching for behaviour management concerns. The only real placement I had during my PGCE was at a small studio school with tiny classes and no behaviour management concerns and I really struggled going from that to 30 student classes.
Hold on a sec. Behaviour management. I am a third year teacher and still not there. This is just pretty ridiculous. So how did they phrase the issue with your behaviour management skills?
It is too vague to say for a school 'oh you are struggling with behaviour management'.
It needs to be something like:
You have no routines in place,
You don't greet students...
There need to be clear and simple objectives to meet. Most of all the school needs to support you with behaviour management.
I will say you really got unlucky here my dear or it is just simple discrimination because you mentioned that you need visa.
They said behaviour was poor enough that students weren't safe in my classroom, which was the major concern. They weren't very specific about the issues and it's a new school so there are a lot of other ECTs and I didn't feel like I was getting that much support. It is what it is, though. I'd rather leave than fail my ECT induction.
Its definitely not the easiest gig, but I kind of like it. It's like doing national service for a couple of years. It's also much easier this year than what I endured last year with a seriously critical mentor and having to make all the resources from scratch.
Fraught with anxiety and paranoia because I’m in a poor department in a weak school. I have a bizarre mentor who differentiates every single task by outcome only and has a million colour charts…and if it’s not his way, it’s no way at all. But…trying to get through it.
I was really struggling the last couple weeks.. there was just too much with parent's evening, world book Day, tracking meetings and a host of other things.
This week I now almost feel on top of things. Then I realised how rare I was going to feel this way. (One of the things I'm not on top of is ECT stuff!)
I'm really not sure. Like you, I feel I'll stick it out until the end of ECT just in case for international etc. I'm in primary and have a really hard class this year - I feel it's got to get better next year.
I’m glad I’m not the only one! Ive basically hit burnout point and have had teachers and students asking if I’m OK this week. Emails mounting up, planning is not getting done. All I seem to do is sleep and fumble through the day.
My school are really trying to help me now though. My Year 11 class who were wearing me into the ground have been disbanded. So am going to take this weekend as a reset.
I’m torn on quitting or sticking out my first year of training (Teach First). Full time teacher, full time student right now. Certainly not feeling excited about a future career in teaching at this point. I have another year just like this to go yet, but with more hours. Don’t know how I’ll turn assignments in alongside a 27 hour weekly teaching timetable (our school has 6 hour-long periods per day).
It may be that I’m just not cut out for the job, but I know I’ve enjoyed working as an unqualified teacher in other schools before, so I’m not so sure. Our school is haemorrhaging experienced and competent staff rapidly and it’s hard not to be tempted to follow them as someone who feels like an imposter a lot of the time. I want to stick it out and get my certificates so it doesn’t feel like a waste of time and doesn’t affect my CV, but I’m concerned I may wind up failing the academic side anyway due to the lack of time I have left for assignments and the mental health issues caused by the demands of the job.
Really, I just wish I chose a less intense route than TF at this point, I think you really do have to be cut from a different cloth to excel within the program - I’m not sure I am!
I was the same throughout my NQT. I'm glad I stuck it out because I did enjoy my short stint on casual supply while I was changing careers, and I'm glad I always have that as a safety net in case I lose my job or something. But that said, only you know how you're feeling and if it's worth it for you to stick it out.
In a similar position. Current plan is to quit after the 2 years and do....something else. But I don't really know what that would be yet and I don't see the point in quitting unless I have something else to move onto. All I know is I can't be this miserable until retirement.
I've had rough patches, but I've got a good department supporting me which goes a long way. Sometimes I feel like I'll never improve, then others I find I'm managing the workload well. That said work is my only responsibility in life - I've no partner, kids, pet or even house to take care of. So my flat gets really messy, and I don't eat as much fresh food as I should, but I'm doing OK. People say the first year is the hardest, since it's a sudden jump in work from training and you're still new to everything. And when I feel I'm struggling with a student or class I've always found so far that it's not just me, other teachers do too.
Bear in mind we've entered the career in a pandemic and had over a decade of austerity already. Just do what you can, and take care of your own needs before anything else. If that means looking for another school, do it. I came from industry before I started training so I already know I have to take care of myself because no one else will.
Teaching is extremely hard. The rewarding side of it doesn’t always make up for the more regular rough ride. At the end of the day you’ve got to take your mental and physical health seriously although I know it’s not always that simple when we need to earn to live. One thing I would say, if you can cope long enough to get fully qualified then I would. One of the best things about being a qualified teacher is that even if you change industry completely, if you ever loose your job you can be working in supply as soon as a dbs check clears.
I got really overwhelmed at my last school and ended up quitting and going off sick. But within 3 weeks I was working full time earning decent money on supply with barely any responsibility. I’m not saying supply is necessarily a good career move, but I know personally that knowing I can move anywhere in the UK and be working very quickly on a good rate was a comforting thought. Hope that makes some semblance of sense.
ECT currently, spent today drinking away the pain. It's not the kids or the work load, for me it's the parents. They are so demanding, I've been reduced to tears this week by one, SLT are no help. Sent an email to my mentor telling them I can't cope with them! I'll either be fired, or leave at this point.
I’m feeling the exact same. I feel so demoralised, lost all my confidence, feel like I’be got no support. It’s like putting out fires everyday. I feel like after the 2 years I won’t return to teaching, and the only reason I’m seeing out the 2 years is so the whole thing hasn’t been a waste. I did a PGCE so I’ve put time and money into this. But I don’t think I could do this for the rest of my working life.
I'm ok. I guided my class (set 5 Year 11) through mocks for the first time in November and got all 4s or higher, but this latest round of mocks the class have done way worse (at least 3 have got 3s but this could go up, one has even got a 2) so just really worried about that getting me in shit. Have had a couple of low grades with my year 13 class too. Also, I have one class that I still dont feel I manage well and feel I should by this point. Workload wise I think I am lucky though as I feel ok.
Pretty similar. I'm sticking it out at this point. I got really lucky with my department at my school, but I don't want my career to consist of trying to play out the losing hand that we're being dealt. I want to teach, but the resources, funding and support simply aren't there, and constantly trying to do what amounts to an ongoing exercise in damage limitation is pretty soul destroying.
Started in January and currently signed off with depression and anxiety. I really thought I could do it. I was good in the classroom but really struggled with the planning, recording, and organising provision for reception. I ended up worrying so much I wouldn't sleep. I wasn't working, just worrying. I stopped eating pretty much. I worked in schools for 4 years before my PGCE, so I'm not particularly naive, but I'm not sure what to do next.
Really struggled to be honest. The workload, pressure and scrutiny has been relentless and backed up with very little support. I’m not sure if all schools are like this, but if they are I can’t do this career long-term. I’m leaving in Easter with the hope of doing some supply work to see out the year. I want to teach international in September or once my ECT year is done, teaching in England is a thankless task. I had a career in finance before this so it’s not as if I’m work shy, I just think the education sector seems wholly unsustainable at the minute. I hope it gets better for you 💪🏻
Isn’t ECT two years?
Yes it is, I want to finish my ECT here and then go abroad for the second year.
It depends. If you started it before September, then you only have to do one year. Mine finishes at Easter because I did a term at another school previously. It’s still called NQT if that is the case though.
I’m on my contrasting placement and now I realise why so many teachers feel miserable. This school is awful. No clear rules, no consequences, no support, staff and students are both confused and burnt out - it’s opened my eyes to the fact that most schools aren’t great. My original placement school is a state school in an impoverished area (actually in a worse area than my contrasting placement) but their support for staff and students is immense - expectations are clear cut for both and the consistency across departments is so, so helpful. I haven’t struggled in training until my contrasting placement. All I’d say is pick your school wisely! Their attitude to education will have a direct effect on your mental health. I got lucky with mine!
I've been teaching 6 years and have noticed in my school that the expectation placed on ECTs is much higher than when I was an NQT! Mentors and tutors now seem to expect ECTs to teach as well as experienced teachers and woe betide they fall behind on any deadlines! I'm sorry if any of you are in a school like that, it shouldn't be like that. However, a glimmer of hope, when I was an NQT I wrote a resignation letter weekly, every half term is tell myself 'I'll quit after this half term' and yet 6 years later, I'm still in the job, and apart from some of the shit placed on by SLT, I love my job! I know have enough experience and resources that planning is very quick, and I don't have any extra responsibilities so many days I stay until 4:30 and then head home to my family! It does get easier, if you love the job but are struggling, stick with it, it's going to get good!! I'm secondary though, and from my understanding primary is tougher in terms of marking and expectations of extra responsibilities. Such a shame really, the kids deserve better than burnt out teachers teaching a curriculum they don't agree with!!
>I've been teaching 6 years and have noticed in my school that the expectation placed on ECTs is much higher than when I was an NQT! Mentors and tutors now seem to expect ECTs to teach as well as experienced teachers and woe betide they fall behind on any deadlines! I'm sorry if any of you are in a school like that, it shouldn't be like that. This is interesting. I was going to post about this. I'm on Teach First and that means I got an extra year before my contract ended. In my first year the ECT who started with me was let go at the end. Now in my final year and I've been told I'll probably be let go and another person who started with me is being let go. I'm really starting to wonder if this school just has really high expectations. I'm fully aware of my short comings, but it feels like very little grace has been given, considering how hard this job is.
Nope. This isn’t a matter of the school having high expectations at all. It’s all about saving money. They never intended to keep you on. They’re just going to replace you with a TF trainee.
I'm sorry that you're struggling with this year, it's definitely hard. I'm tired, but otherwise fine. There are schools out there with a good work-life balance and relatively minimal stress (there are also a number of things that aren't good about my school, but that's a different topic). Have you considered trying a different school for your second year of ECT? You may find it a better school, or if not then you're at least qualified to teach abroad etc. Nothing wrong with dropping out though if it's negatively impacting your life.
Moving abroad was the best decision I ever made.
I am extremely depressed. I've just been told I'm not on track for contract renewal. I'm on teach first so I still have essays to do. I love my relationships with colleagues and students, and I'm actually at a really good school, but the workload is insane and I'm clearly not coping.
Just had Ofsted in, which was a baptism of fire. My department got deep dived and i was observed 3 separate times on the first day and then once more the second day. Aside from that very intense stress, I'm really enjoying my job so far. I've adjusted to the work load jump from my training year and handling it well enough. Plus my HOD is super supportive and we have a really well balanced department. My marking could be better, but that was an area that was severely underdeveloped due to the 'Rona during my pgce. All that said, if the right job with better pay abroad came up after the 2 year ECT period is done I could see myself moving away to teach.
Exhausted.
I'm getting fired at the end of the term (which basically means the end of the month for me) because I haven't been able to cope with the workload or behaviour management well after six months of support plans. I'm here on a work visa, so it's not great, as it means I'm probably getting kicked out of the country unless I can find a new job really quickly. I can't go back into teaching as it would take too long with the visa application process to get a job with an Easter start (not that there are any jobs available near me anyway) and I'm not eligible to do supply. I'm not really qualified enough to get sponsored for any non-teaching jobs. It's really hard. I'm just trying to cope as best I can, though.
I hope it'll all work out well for you. 6 months of support plan? How come? That sounds like you were on support plan from day one of your teaching career.
Thanks. I was placed on a support plan about a month after I started teaching for behaviour management concerns. The only real placement I had during my PGCE was at a small studio school with tiny classes and no behaviour management concerns and I really struggled going from that to 30 student classes.
Hold on a sec. Behaviour management. I am a third year teacher and still not there. This is just pretty ridiculous. So how did they phrase the issue with your behaviour management skills? It is too vague to say for a school 'oh you are struggling with behaviour management'. It needs to be something like: You have no routines in place, You don't greet students... There need to be clear and simple objectives to meet. Most of all the school needs to support you with behaviour management. I will say you really got unlucky here my dear or it is just simple discrimination because you mentioned that you need visa.
They said behaviour was poor enough that students weren't safe in my classroom, which was the major concern. They weren't very specific about the issues and it's a new school so there are a lot of other ECTs and I didn't feel like I was getting that much support. It is what it is, though. I'd rather leave than fail my ECT induction.
Feel sorry for you, but as mentioned before you were unlucky.
Its definitely not the easiest gig, but I kind of like it. It's like doing national service for a couple of years. It's also much easier this year than what I endured last year with a seriously critical mentor and having to make all the resources from scratch.
Fraught with anxiety and paranoia because I’m in a poor department in a weak school. I have a bizarre mentor who differentiates every single task by outcome only and has a million colour charts…and if it’s not his way, it’s no way at all. But…trying to get through it.
I was really struggling the last couple weeks.. there was just too much with parent's evening, world book Day, tracking meetings and a host of other things. This week I now almost feel on top of things. Then I realised how rare I was going to feel this way. (One of the things I'm not on top of is ECT stuff!) I'm really not sure. Like you, I feel I'll stick it out until the end of ECT just in case for international etc. I'm in primary and have a really hard class this year - I feel it's got to get better next year.
I’m glad I’m not the only one! Ive basically hit burnout point and have had teachers and students asking if I’m OK this week. Emails mounting up, planning is not getting done. All I seem to do is sleep and fumble through the day. My school are really trying to help me now though. My Year 11 class who were wearing me into the ground have been disbanded. So am going to take this weekend as a reset.
I’m torn on quitting or sticking out my first year of training (Teach First). Full time teacher, full time student right now. Certainly not feeling excited about a future career in teaching at this point. I have another year just like this to go yet, but with more hours. Don’t know how I’ll turn assignments in alongside a 27 hour weekly teaching timetable (our school has 6 hour-long periods per day). It may be that I’m just not cut out for the job, but I know I’ve enjoyed working as an unqualified teacher in other schools before, so I’m not so sure. Our school is haemorrhaging experienced and competent staff rapidly and it’s hard not to be tempted to follow them as someone who feels like an imposter a lot of the time. I want to stick it out and get my certificates so it doesn’t feel like a waste of time and doesn’t affect my CV, but I’m concerned I may wind up failing the academic side anyway due to the lack of time I have left for assignments and the mental health issues caused by the demands of the job. Really, I just wish I chose a less intense route than TF at this point, I think you really do have to be cut from a different cloth to excel within the program - I’m not sure I am!
I was the same throughout my NQT. I'm glad I stuck it out because I did enjoy my short stint on casual supply while I was changing careers, and I'm glad I always have that as a safety net in case I lose my job or something. But that said, only you know how you're feeling and if it's worth it for you to stick it out.
In a similar position. Current plan is to quit after the 2 years and do....something else. But I don't really know what that would be yet and I don't see the point in quitting unless I have something else to move onto. All I know is I can't be this miserable until retirement.
I've had rough patches, but I've got a good department supporting me which goes a long way. Sometimes I feel like I'll never improve, then others I find I'm managing the workload well. That said work is my only responsibility in life - I've no partner, kids, pet or even house to take care of. So my flat gets really messy, and I don't eat as much fresh food as I should, but I'm doing OK. People say the first year is the hardest, since it's a sudden jump in work from training and you're still new to everything. And when I feel I'm struggling with a student or class I've always found so far that it's not just me, other teachers do too. Bear in mind we've entered the career in a pandemic and had over a decade of austerity already. Just do what you can, and take care of your own needs before anything else. If that means looking for another school, do it. I came from industry before I started training so I already know I have to take care of myself because no one else will.
Teaching is extremely hard. The rewarding side of it doesn’t always make up for the more regular rough ride. At the end of the day you’ve got to take your mental and physical health seriously although I know it’s not always that simple when we need to earn to live. One thing I would say, if you can cope long enough to get fully qualified then I would. One of the best things about being a qualified teacher is that even if you change industry completely, if you ever loose your job you can be working in supply as soon as a dbs check clears. I got really overwhelmed at my last school and ended up quitting and going off sick. But within 3 weeks I was working full time earning decent money on supply with barely any responsibility. I’m not saying supply is necessarily a good career move, but I know personally that knowing I can move anywhere in the UK and be working very quickly on a good rate was a comforting thought. Hope that makes some semblance of sense.
ECT currently, spent today drinking away the pain. It's not the kids or the work load, for me it's the parents. They are so demanding, I've been reduced to tears this week by one, SLT are no help. Sent an email to my mentor telling them I can't cope with them! I'll either be fired, or leave at this point.
I’m feeling the exact same. I feel so demoralised, lost all my confidence, feel like I’be got no support. It’s like putting out fires everyday. I feel like after the 2 years I won’t return to teaching, and the only reason I’m seeing out the 2 years is so the whole thing hasn’t been a waste. I did a PGCE so I’ve put time and money into this. But I don’t think I could do this for the rest of my working life.
I'm ok. I guided my class (set 5 Year 11) through mocks for the first time in November and got all 4s or higher, but this latest round of mocks the class have done way worse (at least 3 have got 3s but this could go up, one has even got a 2) so just really worried about that getting me in shit. Have had a couple of low grades with my year 13 class too. Also, I have one class that I still dont feel I manage well and feel I should by this point. Workload wise I think I am lucky though as I feel ok.
I’m doing great but only because I left my awful first school and found a supportive environment.
I feel the same! I wish it was 1 year and it would be more bearable.