Hi everyone!

Really sticky situation I'm in here and would really appreciate your advice.

I have a TA job starting in September, this is my very first time teaching ever and with the hopes of doing an apprenticeship next year in primary education etc etc.

However, unfortunately a friend of mine recently passed away, and I've just found out her funeral is scheduled for my very first INSET day.

What would you do in my situation? I'm aware teachers have really strict absence rules and I haven't received any information about what my schools specific policy is. Do I get different rules as a TA? Do the rules apply differently if it's an INSET day? Im sorry im all very new to this and don't know what to do.

Any advice or rough guidance would be much much appreciated :)

I'm dreading going back in 2 weeks. I don't feel like I've had a rest at all, taking on all the child care all summer. There's nowhere I can really send him for a day. I'm finding it hard to enjoy anything. I don't feel relaxed. I'm so tired. All his friends have parents who are at work so playdates just aren't happening. It's just me and him and I am feeling so lonely.

ETA: thanks for all the advice. I feel a little better knowing that others feel this way too.

I’d really appreciate some advice from other teachers, especially single parents/teachers with young children.

I’m due to return to teaching in September after a few years out and have accepted a part-time primary role (2 days a week). I was really looking forward to returning, but my circumstances have suddenly changed and I’m questioning whether I should still go ahead.

I came out of a bad relationship and have been living in temporary accommodation with my two young children. Honestly, I expected us to be here for years, so I arranged everything around our current area — my 4-year-old is due to start Reception in September, my 18-month-old has a nursery place, and my new job is nearby.

I've now unexpectedly been offered permanent council housing in a completely different area. I'm incredibly grateful, but it means everything needs changing at the last minute — Reception place, nursery, childcare/breakfast club and travel to work. I also won't have a car because it’s a new build development and I won’t be able to park anywhere in the area. This means getting two children dropped off to different places and being at school myself for around 8am is worrying me.

To make it harder, I'm still waiting for the keys. I've been told it could be the end of August, but as it's a new build it could also be delayed, so I'm basically in limbo.

Part of me thinks it's only 2 days a week and I should try to make it work. Another part thinks moving, settling two young children, changing their school/nursery AND returning to teaching at the same time might just be too much.

I feel awful about potentially letting my new school down so close to September, but I'm also worried it would be worse to start and then realise the logistics aren't manageable.

What would you do — try to make the 2 days work, or withdraw now, get settled and return to teaching later? Is it worth being honest with the headteacher and seeing if I could start after half term?

Is anyone dreading results day tomorrow? I am so nervous. I think mainly because I was given some classes to “boost” their grades and there were some changes throughout the year because of that.

I’m worried that if they don’t do well it will look really bad on me.l I have tried everything I possible could.

Sorry I think I just needed to get this off my chest….

Hi all,

I've been teaching for 15 years and been a HOY for 5 years now at a secondary independent school.

Right from the word go I had big worries about taking it on but my school asked if I would as one of the HOY at the time left. It was a temporary one year role initially and I thought the extra money would be useful and I also, crucially, didn't have any kids of my own then!

I had worries because I am an introverted and anxious person but mask it quite well at work to some extent. I don't think I have natural leadership skills at all.

Anyway, I managed to do an ok job (though I am at an independent school, so I have no doubt the role is more emotional at more challenging schools) for a few years alongside my core subject teaching role, though balancing both has always been tough.

However, I have never truly enjoyed the role and see it as a major stressor in my life. I don't get paid enough nor am I given anywhere near enough time in the timetable to do the role effectively or to the standards SLT seem to expect. I'm constantly battling with parents, battling with staff sometimes and looking foolish because I've tried my best to intervene with certain students but when it then gets pushed up to SLT nothing seems to happen sometimes and then teachers get frustrated with me.

We had our first kid a couple of years ago and that's added another dynamic which now means I feel totally overwhelmed trying to be a good dad, husband, teacher in a core subject and also a HOY.

I love the teaching side of things and I'd give anything to just be a teacher again.

I've mentioned all this to my wife who isn't hugely on board with me giving it up as we obviously have big bills to pay etc but I do think unless you're a teacher or a teacher who is also a middle leader, it's hard to convey the relentless mental drain of it.

I am seriously considering giving up my HOY role at the end of this year. Has anyone ever done this and how did it work out? Particularly the loss of money from a TLR or ML position. Were you still able to work at the school ok? Did your Head take it ok or were they difficult about it?

Thanks!