Anyone a current NQT?

[Bayum]

I've trained as a primary teacher and enjoyed every single moment.


I've spent 18 months doing supply teaching and enjoyed every minute. I applied for a few jobs last year and was lucky enough to gain a few interviews. I accepted the first job at my preferred school. Unfortunately, I'm only in my first full week and already I'm suffering crippling anxiety attacks and feeling like it's a profession I just can't hack.

I'm fully aware that the year is only the beginning of my career, but I'm genuinely at the point where I'm regretting not training as a doctor or a nurse...

How are you coping? How did you cope with your probationary year/NQT year?

 

[Alistair G.]

I can't say I'm in that profession but I know when I first started in my current job I felt very much the same. There is a lot of stress attached to starting a new job but trust me, once you have been there a good few months things start to settle down and the anxiety goes. I came very very close to walking out on my current job when I first started but I'm now 6 years in and would have missed out on so much had I walked away.

Hang in there, it will get better!

 

[bb21]

The first term is usually the most taxing and depressing as you suddenly have all the responsibilities piling on you and you are on your own. Is your head of department supportive? Talk to him/her wherever you can. I was lucky that when I had my first job the acting HoD was only three years older so we were able to get along really well. The 10% extra non-contact time will come in really handy, too. Try using it to relax and do some light work. You should get at least one period off per day.

Don't try and do too much on your own. Use ready-made lesson plans if your department already has them. Use lesson fillers if you feel extremely stressed one day. No one is going to blame you for allowing yourself some laid back time every now and then. It is an extremely stressful job which no one can appreciate until they are in the profession.

You will make mistakes too, so don't take it too hard. If you have been supply teaching for a year then at least you will already be a step ahead of other NQTs. Liaise with other NQTs in your school. You may also find that mutual support is invaluable.

Many people don't stay in teaching for long so if after a few years you would like a fresh challenge then that is perfectly normal too. Of the 18 people on my PGCE course, 10 quit teaching within the first five years.
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Just noticed that you said primary education. I was in secondary so structurally it would be slightly different but the same principles still apply.

 

[afyutr]

I have been teaching (on and off amongst other job roles) for 10 years now and found the first 6 months the most intensive. I did the PGCE part time 'on the job' and this made me realise that applying all the good principles you get taught during the training really do help.

I found that there were many late nights and long Sundays in the first few months but as soon as I learnt not to reinvent the wheel and spend a short amount of time reviewing all my lessons as soon as possible afterwards (to ensure positive changes were made quickly) it soon became much less intensive and I started enjoying it a lot.

Keep smiling and be infectious is what I always tell myself!

 

[ExRes]

Keep smiling and be infectious is what I always tell myself!

Talking of which, what is sick pay like in the profession ?