A week in the life of a teacher

A teacher still relying on short-term contracts and substitute work seven years after qualifying kept a diary of a typical week working with classes full of teens.

MONDAY

7am, Ian Dempsey wakes me. Wash, dress, grab my stuff and I’m ready for the half-hour drive to work. At eight I arrive and am met by a straggle of tired, grumpy teenagers who have hauled themselves out of bed to start their school week. They obviously don’t have the 11pm curfew that I’ve adopted. Most, however, give me a smile and hello and I continue on up the stairs to the staff room to enjoy a cup of tea and chat with co-workers about their weekend.