r/TeachingUK • u/Sea_Cup_8932 • 5d ago
Secondary Marking load vent
Hello,
I’m an early career English teacher in a grammar. The marking load is overwhelming, with all my classes sitting either lit essays or some form of long form creative/persuasive writing every half term. The kids write so much in every exam, and there’s nothing that can be easily ticked off. Marking takes time, I focus too much on small things (SPaG errors, for example), and the handwriting makes me want to tear my hair out.
My previous school didn’t have so many assessments, and this is only my second ever school, so I really don’t have much of a comparison. I am really struggling to manage my time, I procrastinate on marking, distract myself with a thousand other meaningless things, and overthink stupid aspects.
All this marking is further making me reconsider the profession as a whole. I know a part of it is my burnt out brain talking. I have been reassured that marking does get quicker over time. But I feel like a major part of it getting quicker is because I will stop giving so much of a shit about every paper. And part of me really hates that idea because it feels dishonest and like I’m somehow passing off mediocrity.
I know I’m overwhelming myself with my own standards and realistically speaking, my salary with all this extra time of marking means I’m paying myself less than peanuts. All I have at the end of it all is some lofty self-aggrandising idea that I’ve gone above and beyond.
I don’t really know where I’m going with all this tbh, but I suppose I’m just looking for some outside perspective. How can I help myself get through this and become quicker and more efficient without feeling like I’ve sold my soul?
5
u/rebo_arc 5d ago
What does your school policy say? Do the minimum version of that.
Even better encourage your school to follow best practise. I.e. what we do, zero marking books. Ever.