On the less positive side, we really are unhappy about so much Federal money going to wealthy independent schools. Teachers still feel over-worked and lacking in support from the community. Teachers take on an enormous multiplicity of tasks. We're up for mandatory reporting, so we're meant to be noticing any child that exhibits any sign of abuse. We're taking on a lot more welfare issues.
Staff have more meetings in their own time.
The recent agreement was hopefully going to give teachers relief, and in some schools it may, but the government hasn't offered enough money to pay for extra teachers. We need to work on getting enough young teachers, of a high standard, into the system. There's going to be a dreadful shortage soon. The issues of drugs, of family breakdown and of students feeling totally unengaged by school must be tackled. And a real problem that's common to all schools is the Internet - what's on it and inappropriate accessing.