I have had the worst day and I keep crying...

Sorry to see that things are bad. I hope you have a better day tomorrow. ?

Is it worth contacting your union for advice? I hate all the initiatives they keep introducing into schools and the threat of OFSTED - I'm off on maternity leave in a fortnight and am praying they inspect while I'm off! I have so much I still need to do in class let alone other paperwork.

Mel, I could have written that although I work in retail. I really feel for you as I know exactly how you feel...I wish I could just be left to get on with my day job, which is what I enjoy, and why I took it on in the first place, grrrrrrrrrrr!

Big hugs x

I feel for you, another primary teacher here drowning in paperwork. I totally understand what you mean about the teaching, it seems to be the smallest part of my job at the moment. We have a new head who is fabulous and has definitely changed the school for the better but the workload is at least 3-4 times heavier than before. Our new mark scheme alone adds 30 mins to one set of books.

It's always mad this time of year anyway and I find that things don't settle down until after Christmas. It's my turn to host Harvest festival this year and as I've been staying until closing every night doing marking and planning (new frameworks - grrrrrr) I've done nothing for it yet. It's in 3 weeks!? I'm eating lunch at my desk, or most of the time having a few bites and hiding it in my cupboard until after school. Breaks are non existant too and I'm also getting in very early, as well as doing marking at home on weekends.

Are you a TLR? If not do they have a heavier workload than you or is it across the board? Something sounds like it has to give. I seriously hope you're getting your PPA. A chat with the union might be worth it, if only to let off some steam or for some advice on how to handle matters. I've had several requests for our union rep to visit which we've declined but you could always ask them to do a visit with the members in your school for a chat as if it's them approching you rather than vice versa. That should make him a bit more aware of what he's doing.

Hi, hope you've had a better day today ?

I would recommend contacting your union, as others have said. HTs are very good at making it sounds as though you have to do everything to be doing your job properly, but unions are keen on making sure you do have a balanced life, in my experience. Your HT needs reminding, obviously!

I have been where you are and decided to leave primary teaching (despite loving it and having good OFSTED feedback) the day I realised I was finding the children in the class almost an inconvenience because of all the other work I had to do?

Hope you get it sorted, you really don't have to put up with it.

Hi girls.....thank you all so much for your kind and helpful words.

Yesterday at the end of the day, an episode happened with one of my gorgeous but particularly vulnerable children and it put things into perspective for me. Basically, my kiddies are my priority and paperwork is secondary.

But, I did have a better today as I had a chat with the head this evening and basically I told him I was struggling. I put it in such a way though as not to be moaning to him (he hates that) but rather ASKING him for strategies to use to help me get it all done because at the end of the day, he will not cut the amount of work. I was astounded, I was expecting harsh words about time management (I could really do with 30 hours in a day not 24!) but what I got was support and useful advice. So the upshot is, I have decided that I am not going to panic about 'stuff', I will do it when I have time and focus on educating 31, 7 year olds.

Thank you all again.....

Mel B x ?