Any teachers out there?!

My hubby is a teacher and he did an English degree then a gtp. He is currently head of English where he manages to get everything done within school hours and has taken the department and turned it around. He is also running a YouTube channel and website for kids of GCSE age and he's written an ebook to be released soon. On top of that he's in the process of setting up a site for teachers helping with practical stuff so people can become more efficient teachers. People all over the world are singing his praises at the moment not least me! Lol! If you needed Any help then he would happily help and to the rest of the teachers on here, check out his videos. His channel is YouTube/mrbruffteacher and the ones for kids of GCSE age is the same but without the teacher on the end. He also had a web page you can contact him through called mrbruff.com. I'm pretty sure you will find some helpful stuff. Good luck with your journey into teachering.
 
claribella said:
My hubby is a teacher and he did an English degree then a gtp. He is currently head of English where he manages to get everything done within school hours and has taken the department and turned it around. He is also running a YouTube channel and website for kids of GCSE age and he's written an ebook to be released soon. On top of that he's in the process of setting up a site for teachers helping with practical stuff so people can become more efficient teachers. People all over the world are singing his praises at the moment not least me! Lol! If you needed Any help then he would happily help and to the rest of the teachers on here, check out his videos. His channel is YouTube/mrbruffteacher and the ones for kids of GCSE age is the same but without the teacher on the end. He also had a web page you can contact him through called mrbruff.com. I'm pretty sure you will find some helpful stuff. Good luck with your journey into teachering.
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Wow, thanks so much!
 
Teaching is a wonderful job and I enjoy every moment in the classroom, but it is a stressful job and the holidays are needed. I have been teaching for over 20 years and don't plan on continuing for too many more years. I don't think they pay is great - you get to the top of the pay scale very quickly and here it's not easy to get a part time job with extra responsibility.

As someone else said, I refuse to let teaching take over my life - it is very easy to do. I also like to spend the weekends with my own children and got fed up of having to miss them compete in a variety of sports. Even today I had to take work with me whilst my daughter took part in a pony club quiz.
If you are well organised you should be fine combining horses and teaching, but beware teaching is not flexible so you can only compete at weekends or the holidays, some championships are on week days in term time.

You will need to get some school experience before a PGCE. We have potential students asking all the time and can only accommodate a limited number. Make sure you make a good first impression and be helpful once in school and don't leave with the pupils, stay for meetings if you can.
 
claribella said:
My hubby is a teacher and he did an English degree then a gtp. He is currently head of English where he manages to get everything done within school hours and has taken the department and turned it around. He is also running a YouTube channel and website for kids of GCSE age and he's written an ebook to be released soon. On top of that he's in the process of setting up a site for teachers helping with practical stuff so people can become more efficient teachers. People all over the world are singing his praises at the moment not least me! Lol! If you needed Any help then he would happily help and to the rest of the teachers on here, check out his videos. His channel is YouTube/mrbruffteacher and the ones for kids of GCSE age is the same but without the teacher on the end. He also had a web page you can contact him through called mrbruff.com. I'm pretty sure you will find some helpful stuff. Good luck with your journey into teachering.
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Small, small world! Ask Mr Bruff who was the first person to ever donate via his PayPal........ :D:D:D
 
Hi. Sorry to gate crash the post. For those who said they get to school early in order to leave early, does the school not mind? Did you ask about it in interviews? May seem a strange question but I found myself in a primary school where we had to stay till 6 at the earliest everynight. I got into school at 7.30 every morning too. I had nearly an hours drive to school too. It worries me that when I apply for jobs in teaching I'll end up in the same situation. I'd much rather start early to finish at 4.15 ish to do horses in the evenings. Also would be willing to work at home after stables so wouldn't be lazy. Worried this is what will be thought.
 
H2t - I think your school may have been taking advantage :) a teacher can only have a certain number of directed hours. With parents eve, open days, duties, meetings and cpd sessions that leaves the majority of directed hours on the majority of days between 8 and 4pm - this will vary slightly....
 
Haha awesome billie! Certainly is a small world! That first donation was a huge encouragement to him so thank you. You can rest assured that the money went towards a hay bale, a new pair of hoof boots or a new rope halter! Money well spent I think you'll agree lol only joking
 
Hello! I am an English teacher and have been for 5 years now. The first 4 years I found it very hard work but essentially rewarding and enjoyable. However, I have to be honest, over the past year I have really been thinking it's time to get out of teaching!

This is perhaps due to working in a school where there is massive pressure following a 'Good' rating from Ofsted (Head is determined to get 'Outstanding') and people currently having to apply for their own jobs. So it may just be the school I'm in, but even in the 5 years I've taught I think teaching is losing its way.

The current government are not teacher friendly and are determined that more children should be failing exams. Therefore they are doctoring the grade boundaries to achieve this (for example last summer's English results fiasco).

Since owning a horse I have also found it extremely hard to balance workload. I used to get to work about 7.30, do an hour's planning and marking before school and then stay 1-2 hours in the evening (until about 5/5.30). I would then get home, have dinner etc and start work again about 8 until 10 or 11. At the moment I have to leave work by 4.30 in order to bring horse in in daylight (although this should get easier over the next few weeks) as he's been bolting and messing about if left in field too late. I also struggle to work in the evenings as don't get back from yard till 8/ 8.30.

I don't do myself any favours as I'm on DIY and would probably be better with Part livery but can't afford it at the moment. A sharer would also help.

If you are interested in teaching, perhaps ring up some schools and see if you can go in for a couple of days to help out (you will need a CRB check but I did this no problem before training). Or perhaps some experience as a teaching assistant?
 
Claribella, keep him working hard. You and the horse need to be kept in the lifestyle you have become accustomed to! Just trying to persuade our HOd to buy a subscrip to the revision guide. Bruff has been emailing one of my colleagues about it and it is on the agenda for tomorrow so that purchase should see you right for a new show jacket at least :)
 
Billiie1007 you're probably right. When I left so did 12 other members of staff. It was only 2form entry so that was a lot of teachers and teaching assistants. Mostly teachers. One xmasthe head said about us going home 'early' which was set at half 5 so not early at all really. X
 
Another primary teacher here! All the other posters have given you good advice regarding what you need to do - best to have a look at current govt advice as they keep changing the requirements and routes available!!

I have been teaching in the same school for the past 13 years (I taught adults before that) and for the most part I have enjoyed it. We have had a change of heads recently, so a case of 'new broom' - lots of changes, not all of them good!

The holidays are great, but as other have said, you DO need them! Not only to recover (!) but also to work. Depending on what your school requires of you (I think requiring staff to be there 'till 6 is a bit unusual and excessive!), you should be able to get to your yard in the early evening. Unfortunately, my yard is 10 minutes from home but 45 minutes from school - I can get there in the summer evenings, but a bit too late in the darker evenings.

I wish you every success!
 
Hiya, sorry late reply! I just sent an email to the head teacher, went for an interview, discusses several things etc & then bam, been there for two nearly three years & go on class trips, teach my own little group of kids phonics etc. I'm hope if to get a TA job paid there as one is leaving to be a teacher ( I'm having a year out )
 
MrsHutt said:
Meant to say - it's rather interesting that there are quite so many teachers on here!! Wonder what that tells you???
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I'm sure there would be just as many doctors, police, nurses etc if someone asked.

What is more interesting is why so many teachers are posting so late on a Sunday night - because we're all planning and marking for tomorrow. :-)
 
MrSpam said:
I'm sure there would be just as many doctors, police, nurses etc if someone asked.

What is more interesting is why so many teachers are posting so late on a Sunday night - because we're all planning and marking for tomorrow. :-)
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Or I just looked at my pile of marking, did half of it then read my emails - woo hoo, new marking policy is that the kids are going to mark their own homeworks from now on :D I teach secondary maths by the way. This is my NQT year. Up until about Christmas I was working crazy hours, in school from seven till seven and putting in more time at the weekends but after Christmas I decided enough was enough and I was going to make myself ill so I just stopped. Now I write one line lesson plans, just about keep on top of my marking, I do run a club one night after school but that's it. If I can't do it and leave by 4.30 unless it's life or death it doesn't get done and I'm so much happier for it and my lessons are better as well. So it is a pretty steep learning curve but you get there.
 
I'm a teacher & head of year (2 year groups so 400 kids)

It's a great job in so many ways. Teenagers are great fun, every day is different, great holidays etc. I work in a grammar school so don't have many behavioural issues to worry about but the pressures come from results instead and having to meet target grades etc. (ie - last year 75% of my pupils got A/A* grades and I still didn't meet the set target)

I work in a great school with a good head teacher and nice staff which makes a big difference. I get in at 7.30am and usually manage to leave by 5 so not too bad. I am super organised which is essential and manage to fit in my horses after work.

The first 2 terms are the worst in terms of work load. All my groups are gcse / a level so a lot of pressure and work in term one and 2. After the summer half term I lose loads of lessosn when they leave and life gets easy again.

As others have said, the holidays are needed. I know list of people have stressful jobs but you have no idea how hard it is working with teenagers all day. Teaching is full on, and it doesn't stop at break / lunch when you deal with all the the other things teenagers bring into school wi them (emotionally) it can be hard to switch off when you go home and if you move into pastoral care dealing with things like child protection issues can be heartbreaking too. There's no let up all day - I often go from 7.30 to lunchtime without a toilet break or a drink as it's non stop. it's physicAlly exhausting too.

All that said it's incredibly rewarding and I still keep in touch with some of my past students. There's not much that can beat getting an email from a person you used to teach who had an awful home life and the odds were against them to thank you for what you did, and to let you know they have just graduated fro uni. That's what the job is really about.

I've been teaching for 18 years now. I'm 40 and don't think I could manage it physically until I retire - unless I find a nice little private school and just teach part time.
 
maxapple said:
I'm a teacher & head of year (2 year groups so 400 kids)

It's a great job in so many ways. Teenagers are great fun, every day is different, great holidays etc. I work in a grammar school so don't have many behavioural issues to worry about but the pressures come from results instead and having to meet target grades etc. (ie - last year 75% of my pupils got A/A* grades and I still didn't meet the set target)

I work in a great school with a good head teacher and nice staff which makes a big difference. I get in at 7.30am and usually manage to leave by 5 so not too bad. I am super organised which is essential and manage to fit in my horses after work.

The first 2 terms are the worst in terms of work load. All my groups are gcse / a level so a lot of pressure and work in term one and 2. After the summer half term I lose loads of lessosn when they leave and life gets easy again.

As others have said, the holidays are needed. I know list of people have stressful jobs but you have no idea how hard it is working with teenagers all day. Teaching is full on, and it doesn't stop at break / lunch when you deal with all the the other things teenagers bring into school wi them (emotionally) it can be hard to switch off when you go home and if you move into pastoral care dealing with things like child protection issues can be heartbreaking too. There's no let up all day - I often go from 7.30 to lunchtime without a toilet break or a drink as it's non stop. it's physicAlly exhausting too.

All that said it's incredibly rewarding and I still keep in touch with some of my past students. There's not much that can beat getting an email from a person you used to teach who had an awful home life and the odds were against them to thank you for what you did, and to let you know they have just graduated fro uni. That's what the job is really about.

I've been teaching for 18 years now. I'm 40 and don't think I could manage it physically until I retire - unless I find a nice little private school and just teach part time.
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Thank you so much for your detailed reply. The part about getting emails from past students thanking you is similar to what inspired me to think about becoming a teacher in the first place; I always had absolutely brilliant teachers and they had a huge impact on my life - practically shaped me to who I am today. I grew up in a small, private international school and they were the best years of my life (until now, hopefully there's even better years to come!). My most fond memories are of teachers and school.

As for the organisation, I am meticulously organised and feel like I can't not be organised... If that makes sense.

More questions... What other activities can I undertake that may enhance my CV? Other than observational placements at a school, obviously. Everyone has been wonderfully helpful, thank you!!
 
hogged2trot said:
Hi. Sorry to gate crash the post. For those who said they get to school early in order to leave early, does the school not mind? Did you ask about it in interviews? May seem a strange question but I found myself in a primary school where we had to stay till 6 at the earliest everynight. I got into school at 7.30 every morning too. I had nearly an hours drive to school too. It worries me that when I apply for jobs in teaching I'll end up in the same situation. I'd much rather start early to finish at 4.15 ish to do horses in the evenings. Also would be willing to work at home after stables so wouldn't be lazy. Worried this is what will be thought.
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No, that isn't normal and tbh I'm surprised that the unions weren't all over it! The LA HR dept wouldn't like it either, schools are supposed to be mindful of work/life balance and staff well-being.
I am in my first yr of Early Retirement and right up until the end of the Summer Term I wasn't convinced that I'd made the right decision, although I had no intention of going through another OFSTED inspection.
I taught in primary schools for well over 30 yrs and loved it but the paperwork and constant interference from the world and his dog got to me in the end. I always taught in schools in 'challenging' areas and found the pupils very rewarding -for many of them school ws the only real satbility in their lives. Many of the parents were also very grateful to the staff but others could be awkward beggars. With supportive colleagues even the most challenging school cn be great place to work.
I am amazed that secondary teachers are talking about leaving school just after the pupils on a regular basis - that certainly doesn't happen in Primary schools although except for scheduled meeting times, you should be able to leave to suit yourself.
My horses are at home, so I usually preferred to work at school until the caretaker was ready to lock up, then not do as much in the evening. If I had an appointment I would leave just after the pupils but not on a regular basis. Possibly in primary schools lesson preparation has to be more classroom based than in Secondary.
Now I know that I made the best decision possible when I decided to retire, I am now working part-time in a related field and hoping that the funding will continue after April because I now realise just how stressed I had become. The holidays may be long but you will spend a large part of them planning and preparing for the next term and the rest recovering from the effort that you put in during the last term. the best part is that you can do the work in the evening and spend the days with the horses.

Teaching in any phase is emotionally draining - as someone else said, you have to be constantly in control of your emotions and reactions which in itself can be very stressful and tiring.
OP, to volunteer in school you will need to have a current CRB check and will need to explain fully to the Headteacher why you want to a)teach and b) volunteer in that particular school and c) what you can bring to the school. All schools get many students looking for placements and tbh many of them are more bother than they're worth, so you must make a good impression if you are going to get a placement.

ETA, volunteer work with any organisation which works with children/young people would be good on your CV. Have you been involved with RDA, for instance?
 
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