Comments on: The Longest Year: School Direct or School, Die Wrecked? http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/2014/07/school-direct/ reading, writing, coding, making Tue, 24 Oct 2023 13:43:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Sara http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/2014/07/school-direct/#comment-98702 Sara Fri, 09 Oct 2020 04:11:58 +0000 http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/?p=1655#comment-98702 Thank you for sharing your experience. It has been extremely helpful in helping me decide between a PGCE and School Direct, and I can safely say it’s going to be a PGCE for me :) Even though you wrote this 5 years ago it is still relevant and helpful today. Thank you Thank you for sharing your experience. It has been extremely helpful in helping me decide between a PGCE and School Direct, and I can safely say it’s going to be a PGCE for me :)
Even though you wrote this 5 years ago it is still relevant and helpful today. Thank you

]]> By: Caroline Carroll http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/2014/07/school-direct/#comment-95994 Caroline Carroll Tue, 05 Nov 2019 12:50:10 +0000 http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/?p=1655#comment-95994 Hi All I recruit for School Direct for a secondary alliance of schools and there are some pretty awful recounts on here. I also did half a primary PGCE some time ago before dropping out so I see that side of the coin too. lesson planning - the stuff of nightmares. wishing you all well however. Hi All I recruit for School Direct for a secondary alliance of schools and there are some pretty awful recounts on here. I also did half a primary PGCE some time ago before dropping out so I see that side of the coin too. lesson planning – the stuff of nightmares.
wishing you all well however.

]]> By: blogmywiki http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/2014/07/school-direct/#comment-93561 blogmywiki Tue, 29 Jan 2019 22:25:18 +0000 http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/?p=1655#comment-93561 Apologies for the very late reply - I get a lot of spam comments and the real ones get buried! Did you make a decision yet? Apologies for the very late reply – I get a lot of spam comments and the real ones get buried! Did you make a decision yet?

]]> By: MarmaladeAtkins http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/2014/07/school-direct/#comment-93444 MarmaladeAtkins Mon, 17 Dec 2018 10:13:52 +0000 http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/?p=1655#comment-93444 Considering SDS for secondary English. Now reconsidering! Have 15 yes teaching experience but lack of pgce/NQT limiting my school choices. However .... these stories are quite scary!! Considering SDS for secondary English. Now reconsidering! Have 15 yes teaching experience but lack of pgce/NQT limiting my school choices. However …. these stories are quite scary!!

]]> By: blogmywiki http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/2014/07/school-direct/#comment-93340 blogmywiki Sun, 02 Dec 2018 15:39:47 +0000 http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/?p=1655#comment-93340 Hi M, sorry to hear your story. Your mental health absolutely comes first, but I would say two other things: you may possibly not fail your first term, and if you stick with it you may be able to secure a role in a school where you can teach Biology exclusively and feel much more comfortable. I very much wanted to quit by Christmas but was talked out of it by my mentor, and I'm glad she did, even if Primary teaching wasn't the right field for me ultimately, it opened up possibilities that I'd never have had otherwise. Behaviour management was also my weak spot, and it's a tough one to crack - it took time, experience and general gaining of confidence for me. Good luck making your choices and I hope everything works out for what's best for you. Hi M, sorry to hear your story. Your mental health absolutely comes first, but I would say two other things: you may possibly not fail your first term, and if you stick with it you may be able to secure a role in a school where you can teach Biology exclusively and feel much more comfortable. I very much wanted to quit by Christmas but was talked out of it by my mentor, and I’m glad she did, even if Primary teaching wasn’t the right field for me ultimately, it opened up possibilities that I’d never have had otherwise. Behaviour management was also my weak spot, and it’s a tough one to crack – it took time, experience and general gaining of confidence for me. Good luck making your choices and I hope everything works out for what’s best for you.

]]> By: M http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/2014/07/school-direct/#comment-93335 M Fri, 30 Nov 2018 21:57:22 +0000 http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/?p=1655#comment-93335 Just read this back and I've clearly typed in frustration, lol! That should say I'm probably going to quit before Christmas. I've spent the last 2 days crying due to being advised I'm potentially going to fail my first term on behaviour management. It's the toughest thing I've ever done and I'm late 40's with more than average resilience in all the things I've done in my life. I'm sorry you're all having such a hard time but glad I'm not alone! Just read this back and I’ve clearly typed in frustration, lol! That should say I’m probably going to quit before Christmas. I’ve spent the last 2 days crying due to being advised I’m potentially going to fail my first term on behaviour management. It’s the toughest thing I’ve ever done and I’m late 40′s with more than average resilience in all the things I’ve done in my life. I’m sorry you’re all having such a hard time but glad I’m not alone!

]]> By: M http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/2014/07/school-direct/#comment-93334 M Fri, 30 Nov 2018 21:52:29 +0000 http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/?p=1655#comment-93334 It's like reading my own story!! I'm on SD secondary Science and it's killing me. My specialism is human biology and basically I'm learning to teach Physics and Chemistry, there is very little biology until later in the year which I wasn't fully aware of at interview. I spend so much time learning the subjects before I can plan them and I've discovered I really dislike physics and it's a difficult subject. I was children nurse before and the job was 'never' this tough. Trust me secondary is NOT the easier route, many primary SD I meet feel they have it easier as we teach so many different year groups and the subject knowledge has to be to such a significant standard, for me in 3 subjects. Also there are parents evenings or CPD training every week. My mentor is supportive but very particular and although I was a school nurse and taught EFL for the last 10 years combined nothing could prepare for this!! I'm mentally not coping and probably going to as my life is so stressful and I've just been told I may fail my first term, despite creating and delivering excellent LPs I'm not managing behaviour well and not this standard. I'm hoping to go to back to School nursing with a little re-training. The biggest is financial as I get a bursary and loans, I have no partner to support me but my mental health is more important than money so please if you're reading look after yourselves. No job or training should steal your life like this. It’s like reading my own story!! I’m on SD secondary Science and it’s killing me. My specialism is human biology and basically I’m learning to teach Physics and Chemistry, there is very little biology until later in the year which I wasn’t fully aware of at interview. I spend so much time learning the subjects before I can plan them and I’ve discovered I really dislike physics and it’s a difficult subject. I was children nurse before and the job was ‘never’ this tough.
Trust me secondary is NOT the easier route, many primary SD I meet feel they have it easier as we teach so many different year groups and the subject knowledge has to be to such a significant standard, for me in 3 subjects. Also there are parents evenings or CPD training every week. My mentor is supportive but very particular and although I was a school nurse and taught EFL for the last 10 years combined nothing could prepare for this!!
I’m mentally not coping and probably going to as my life is so stressful and I’ve just been told I may fail my first term, despite creating and delivering excellent LPs I’m not managing behaviour well and not this standard.
I’m hoping to go to back to School nursing with a little re-training. The biggest is financial as I get a bursary and loans, I have no partner to support me but my mental health is more important than money so please if you’re reading look after yourselves. No job or training should steal your life like this.

]]> By: blogmywiki http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/2014/07/school-direct/#comment-91668 blogmywiki Wed, 28 Mar 2018 20:17:23 +0000 http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/?p=1655#comment-91668 Hi Nick. Sorry to hear you are having such a tough time. Have you been able to speak to a tutor outside the school as opposed to a mentor? I was lucky enough to have a very supportive mentor who kept me going when I was finding it tough. Hi Nick. Sorry to hear you are having such a tough time. Have you been able to speak to a tutor outside the school as opposed to a mentor? I was lucky enough to have a very supportive mentor who kept me going when I was finding it tough.

]]> By: Nick http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/2014/07/school-direct/#comment-91665 Nick Mon, 26 Mar 2018 19:23:52 +0000 http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/?p=1655#comment-91665 Hey Blog my wiki I am currently school direct salaried just coming up towards the easter break On Friday I ate a dodgy meal in a restaurant which has completely knocked me for six - gastric flu As a result of this I have been off today and will no doubt not be back tomorrow due to this. This combined with the fact that being ill has killed my planning time. Anyway. I am actively undermined by everyone who has observed me since I requested a new mentor. My mentor pretty much only ever gave me requires improvement, this resulted in me losing confidence and being unable to be MYSELF. The school keeps coming up with these support plans which have just made everything more stressful Anyway - coaching observations I have probably been given requires improvement 50 times!! I have done everything to try and move away from this but every time I follow the feedback for example; differentiation I get told ‘yeah you did it’ but ‘it wasn’t good enough’. That has happened many times. Now I am at the point of believing that I cannot teach and I feel like telling the school the reason for this is because that is what they have led me to believe. Getting a bit depressed here - I have honestly felt like a hostage Hey Blog my wiki

I am currently school direct salaried just coming up towards the easter break

On Friday I ate a dodgy meal in a restaurant which has completely knocked me for six – gastric flu

As a result of this I have been off today and will no doubt not be back tomorrow due to this.

This combined with the fact that being ill has killed my planning time.

Anyway.

I am actively undermined by everyone who has observed me since I requested a new mentor.

My mentor pretty much only ever gave me requires improvement, this resulted in me
losing confidence and being unable to be MYSELF.

The school keeps coming up with these support plans which have just made everything more stressful

Anyway – coaching observations

I have probably been given requires improvement 50 times!!

I have done everything to try and move away from this but every time I follow the feedback for example; differentiation I get told ‘yeah you did it’ but ‘it wasn’t good enough’. That has happened many times.

Now I am at the point of believing that I cannot teach and I feel like telling the school the reason for this is because that is what they have led me to believe.

Getting a bit depressed here – I have honestly felt like a hostage

]]> By: blogmywiki http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/2014/07/school-direct/#comment-90159 blogmywiki Thu, 02 Mar 2017 13:06:55 +0000 http://www.suppertime.co.uk/blogmywiki/?p=1655#comment-90159 Dear Chloe - thank you for your comments. My hunch is that PGCE may be more 'do-able' for those with families for the reasons you outline, but I don't have any direct experience of it. Obviously you would then have a lot more college work than I did, which may balance it out. Good luck and keep us posted about what you decide to do. What subject are you thinking of or are you looking at Primary? Dear Chloe – thank you for your comments. My hunch is that PGCE may be more ‘do-able’ for those with families for the reasons you outline, but I don’t have any direct experience of it. Obviously you would then have a lot more college work than I did, which may balance it out. Good luck and keep us posted about what you decide to do. What subject are you thinking of or are you looking at Primary?

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