Turn your talent to teaching!
Discussion
Yesterday, I got a call from my supply pimp to say my CRB had run out and I needed to fork out £40 for a new one. (Jeez, the CRB people have no idea about all of the kids/animals I've been f
king in the meantime). I got a bit outraged and immediately phoned up the GTC (quango) to cancel my membership and stop their fking quango having some of my bloody hard earned. (I've been setting up my own business in the meantime).
On the rotbox, on PH and virtually everywhere I seem to look is suggesting I "Use my head" or "Turn my talent".
My contract ran out just about as the recession was kicking off and I really picked the wrong time to "twist". Anyway, I was doing supply and got around about 25 schools and met loads of students before work totally and utterly dried up. Funny how the sickies stop with the threat of redundancies from the LEA!
A load of my ex-colleagues are looking for work and the application rates have gone mental. A local school got about 200 for a mediocre post. I got irritated and decided to find the statistics on what-is-what. I think they would make interesting perusal for cynics as well as those considering "using their heads". I'd say, use your head, don't.
Here's the location of the stats.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000874/in...
Quote them:-
The key points from the latest release are:
For state funded schools (Local Authority (LA) maintained schools, CTCs and Academies) the total workforce, (FTE of teachers and support staff) rose by 20,900 from January 2008 to reach 788,600 in January 2009.
Between January 2008 and 2009:
•the full-time equivalent (FTE) number of regular teachers rose by 1,600 to reach 442,700.
•the total number of support staff (FTE) rose by 19,300 to reach 345,900.
•teacher vacancies in nursery, primary, secondary and special schools fell by 280 to 2,240.
•the overall PTR for the LA maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector went down 0.1 to 16.8
•the proportion of teachers from minority ethnic groups (non white) rose 0.3 percent to 6.0 percent.
There were, on average, 5.0 days sickness absence per teacher that worked in the maintained sector during 2008, a decrease of 0.4 compared with 5.4 days in 2007.
Interesting level of support staff recruitment.......
Other gems from the appendicies. (Bearing in mind this has a cumulative increase) (2009) 36550 qualified, 19190 retired although the official figure for "those who qualified but were not in jobs" was 8280. The discrepancy is year contracts, resulting in the difference being bunged into the jobseekers. There are also 255K qualified staff in the UK not working in schools. I wonder how many of these joined the jobseekers list, this recession.
Anyway, I know at least 5 mates who have decided to "use their heads" and I'm not convinced there are the jobs for them.
Use your head, think.
king in the meantime). I got a bit outraged and immediately phoned up the GTC (quango) to cancel my membership and stop their fking quango having some of my bloody hard earned. (I've been setting up my own business in the meantime). On the rotbox, on PH and virtually everywhere I seem to look is suggesting I "Use my head" or "Turn my talent".
My contract ran out just about as the recession was kicking off and I really picked the wrong time to "twist". Anyway, I was doing supply and got around about 25 schools and met loads of students before work totally and utterly dried up. Funny how the sickies stop with the threat of redundancies from the LEA!
A load of my ex-colleagues are looking for work and the application rates have gone mental. A local school got about 200 for a mediocre post. I got irritated and decided to find the statistics on what-is-what. I think they would make interesting perusal for cynics as well as those considering "using their heads". I'd say, use your head, don't.
Here's the location of the stats.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000874/in...
Quote them:-
The key points from the latest release are:
For state funded schools (Local Authority (LA) maintained schools, CTCs and Academies) the total workforce, (FTE of teachers and support staff) rose by 20,900 from January 2008 to reach 788,600 in January 2009.
Between January 2008 and 2009:
•the full-time equivalent (FTE) number of regular teachers rose by 1,600 to reach 442,700.
•the total number of support staff (FTE) rose by 19,300 to reach 345,900.
•teacher vacancies in nursery, primary, secondary and special schools fell by 280 to 2,240.
•the overall PTR for the LA maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector went down 0.1 to 16.8
•the proportion of teachers from minority ethnic groups (non white) rose 0.3 percent to 6.0 percent.
There were, on average, 5.0 days sickness absence per teacher that worked in the maintained sector during 2008, a decrease of 0.4 compared with 5.4 days in 2007.
Interesting level of support staff recruitment.......
Other gems from the appendicies. (Bearing in mind this has a cumulative increase) (2009) 36550 qualified, 19190 retired although the official figure for "those who qualified but were not in jobs" was 8280. The discrepancy is year contracts, resulting in the difference being bunged into the jobseekers. There are also 255K qualified staff in the UK not working in schools. I wonder how many of these joined the jobseekers list, this recession.
Anyway, I know at least 5 mates who have decided to "use their heads" and I'm not convinced there are the jobs for them.
Use your head, think.
When you consider there's over 21000 schools the FTE increase averages out at about 1 per school.
I'm surprised it is this low to be honest.
Work force remodelling (aka 21 things teachers shouldn't do) has had a massive impact on the number of support staff required. Rarely Cover (the last piece of the remodelling) alone has made us recruit 2 more cover supervisors.
Then you factor in increased curriculum demands, Diplomas and that the effective leaving age will increase in 2011 onwards then even more staff will be required.
Don't get me started on the "Safe Place To Be" and Extended Schools agenda.
Anyway - shouldn't your supply pimp pay for your CRB? They fleece us enough for supply they should pick up the tab.
(Not a teacher - just the poor bugger who has to make the books balance).
I'm surprised it is this low to be honest.
Work force remodelling (aka 21 things teachers shouldn't do) has had a massive impact on the number of support staff required. Rarely Cover (the last piece of the remodelling) alone has made us recruit 2 more cover supervisors.
Then you factor in increased curriculum demands, Diplomas and that the effective leaving age will increase in 2011 onwards then even more staff will be required.
Don't get me started on the "Safe Place To Be" and Extended Schools agenda.
Anyway - shouldn't your supply pimp pay for your CRB? They fleece us enough for supply they should pick up the tab.
(Not a teacher - just the poor bugger who has to make the books balance).
Cover Supervisors shouldn't be allowed, as it's cutting costs. You need qualified, educated staff rather than street monkeys. I would rather my kids were taught by pukka staff. It's not like there is a shortage of them.
Having said, street monkeys are cheap.
I think it all stems back to EU and "rights" and the councils dropping their pools allowing the agencies to clean up.
Having said, street monkeys are cheap.
I think it all stems back to EU and "rights" and the councils dropping their pools allowing the agencies to clean up.
Tangent Police said:
Cover Supervisors shouldn't be allowed, as it's cutting costs. You need qualified, educated staff rather than street monkeys. I would rather my kids were taught by pukka staff. It's not like there is a shortage of them.
Having said, street monkeys are cheap.
I think it all stems back to EU and "rights" and the councils dropping their pools allowing the agencies to clean up.
Agreed - but to do that (to cover Rarely Cover issues) you'd have to over staff - budgets don't allow sadly.Having said, street monkeys are cheap.
I think it all stems back to EU and "rights" and the councils dropping their pools allowing the agencies to clean up.
Street Monkeys (like that term!) are certainly cheaper than supply staff
LA's having a pool would be better - but you'd get some fool claiming safeguarding as an issue.
Those adverts are both cringeworthy and pointless even when the economy is booming. In a recession, they are a hideous waste of public funds when thousands of 'those who can' are discovering that maybe they can't at the moment and are thus already flocking in their droves to teaching.
Can't say I agree on the street monkey thing though. Cover supervisors do an infinitely better job than the epic failures who make up the vast majority of agency supply lists (present company excepted, of course). I mean, let me think... Do I employ someone through a proper selection process who will understand the ethos of the school, get to know the kids and have something invested in their success? Or do I take a punt each time I need some cover on a random social reject from the agency who will rock up at 9.00 and disappear at 3.15 having left a trail of chaos and destruction across the school? Oh, and the first option will save me money too...
Forgive me if I don't spend too long reaching my decision!
Can't say I agree on the street monkey thing though. Cover supervisors do an infinitely better job than the epic failures who make up the vast majority of agency supply lists (present company excepted, of course). I mean, let me think... Do I employ someone through a proper selection process who will understand the ethos of the school, get to know the kids and have something invested in their success? Or do I take a punt each time I need some cover on a random social reject from the agency who will rock up at 9.00 and disappear at 3.15 having left a trail of chaos and destruction across the school? Oh, and the first option will save me money too...
Forgive me if I don't spend too long reaching my decision!
The snag with agency staff is that they are usually pretty desparate. The quality was fine when I was having a good run of things, but as the work slacked off, the more motivated people got a grip and left. Only the lepers remained and the totally idle.
I meet a few people who are "mice" and have a nightmare at it and the rest are usually mature, cynical men.
Supply staff have no CPD and no performance management, generally are met with an indifferent attitude by other staff and in my experience, about 1/4 of schools have got any form of adequate procedure
Agencies are blatantly parasitic on the whole process. We won't dwell on the stats, but they're rather alarming and completely explain why CS's are used.
I used to get the "They've specifically asked for a Scientist" and then rock up and get left shocking cover work often to be done on paper.... that way the teacher just bins it (I presume)
I was always a bit of a square peg but to see some really good round pegs failing to get hired is an eye opener.
Whilst I am in "dad mode", I'll extend my moan to "What the fk is it with teachers going away on courses?" I could never get my head around that at all! Doctors are expected to read journals and keep on top of their game, whilst teachers (who are experts in learning) have a slack day off to get talked at by a brown shoesed bearded waster (M or F) and apart from paying the cost, the school gets soaked for an expensive agency slacker!
Only people with blank chequebooks would act this way. /dad mode.
I meet a few people who are "mice" and have a nightmare at it and the rest are usually mature, cynical men.
Supply staff have no CPD and no performance management, generally are met with an indifferent attitude by other staff and in my experience, about 1/4 of schools have got any form of adequate procedure
Agencies are blatantly parasitic on the whole process. We won't dwell on the stats, but they're rather alarming and completely explain why CS's are used.
I used to get the "They've specifically asked for a Scientist" and then rock up and get left shocking cover work often to be done on paper.... that way the teacher just bins it (I presume)
I was always a bit of a square peg but to see some really good round pegs failing to get hired is an eye opener.
Whilst I am in "dad mode", I'll extend my moan to "What the f
k is it with teachers going away on courses?" I could never get my head around that at all! Doctors are expected to read journals and keep on top of their game, whilst teachers (who are experts in learning) have a slack day off to get talked at by a brown shoesed bearded waster (M or F) and apart from paying the cost, the school gets soaked for an expensive agency slacker!Only people with blank chequebooks would act this way. /dad mode.
Ten Ninety said:
Can't say I agree on the street monkey thing though. Cover supervisors do an infinitely better job than the epic failures who make up the vast majority of agency supply lists (present company excepted, of course). I mean, let me think... Do I employ someone through a proper selection process who will understand the ethos of the school, get to know the kids and have something invested in their success? Or do I take a punt each time I need some cover on a random social reject from the agency who will rock up at 9.00 and disappear at 3.15 having left a trail of chaos and destruction across the school? Oh, and the first option will save me money too...
Forgive me if I don't spend too long reaching my decision!
Spot on!Forgive me if I don't spend too long reaching my decision!
Tangent Police said:
A load of my ex-colleagues are looking for work and the application rates have gone mental. A local school got about 200 for a mediocre post.
I was visiting a university a few weeks ago and they said the same. 200+ applicants for a part time lecturer role.A bit O/T bit some of the best trainers I have worked with have had school teaching backgrounds.
bga said:
Tangent Police said:
A load of my ex-colleagues are looking for work and the application rates have gone mental. A local school got about 200 for a mediocre post.
I was visiting a university a few weeks ago and they said the same. 200+ applicants for a part time lecturer role.A bit O/T bit some of the best trainers I have worked with have had school teaching backgrounds.
Not sure if it makes students have a better knowledge they can actually use, but they get better grades!
10-90, I partially agree with your sentiment about CS vs Agency on a short term basis and I suppose, if the absentee actually sets meaningful work, that's fine. I suppose it would still be preferable to build up a preferred client list/relationship with the pimp, so you get staff that can competently cover absence. Of course, you could ignore this and when you do hire agency staff for a longer stretch, you have to go through a few muppets and then when you find a goodun, they have to spend a few days bedding in. Obviously, there are those who bed in quickly and those who don't.....
Ash, you are right and currently there are 255000 staff qualified who are doing something else and another 36000 a year who qualify, vs the 19000 or so who retire a year.
It is a bit oversubscribed.....
AshVX220 said:
Sorry if I'm being a bit thick, but am I reading that as there being 442,700 teachers in the UK?
Surely not, that seems like a huge number to me!
Again, apologies if I'm missing something/being thick.
Well just from looking at an earlier post when someone said there were 21000 schools (dunno if thats right - it sounds a lot) then thats only approx 21 teachers per school....unless I am also being stupendously thick....Surely not, that seems like a huge number to me!
Again, apologies if I'm missing something/being thick.
bales said:
AshVX220 said:
Sorry if I'm being a bit thick, but am I reading that as there being 442,700 teachers in the UK?
Surely not, that seems like a huge number to me!
Again, apologies if I'm missing something/being thick.
Well just from looking at an earlier post when someone said there were 21000 schools (dunno if thats right - it sounds a lot) then thats only approx 21 teachers per school....unless I am also being stupendously thick....Surely not, that seems like a huge number to me!
Again, apologies if I'm missing something/being thick.
Tangent Police said:
bales said:
AshVX220 said:
Sorry if I'm being a bit thick, but am I reading that as there being 442,700 teachers in the UK?
Surely not, that seems like a huge number to me!
Again, apologies if I'm missing something/being thick.
Well just from looking at an earlier post when someone said there were 21000 schools (dunno if thats right - it sounds a lot) then thats only approx 21 teachers per school....unless I am also being stupendously thick....Surely not, that seems like a huge number to me!
Again, apologies if I'm missing something/being thick.
from DCSF just for England:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000744/UP...
Pupils
• In January 2007 there was a headcount of 8.1 million pupils in 25,000
maintained and independent schools in England. The full time equivalent (FTE)
number of pupils in maintained primary, secondary and all special schools was
7.3 million, down from 7.4 million in January 2006. 91 per cent of pupils were
taught in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools; the majority of the
remaining 9 per cent were taught in independent schools.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000744/UP...
Pupils
• In January 2007 there was a headcount of 8.1 million pupils in 25,000
maintained and independent schools in England. The full time equivalent (FTE)
number of pupils in maintained primary, secondary and all special schools was
7.3 million, down from 7.4 million in January 2006. 91 per cent of pupils were
taught in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools; the majority of the
remaining 9 per cent were taught in independent schools.
FunkyGibbon said:
from DCSF just for England:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000744/UP...
Pupils
• In January 2007 there was a headcount of 8.1 million pupils in 25,000
maintained and independent schools in England. The full time equivalent (FTE)
number of pupils in maintained primary, secondary and all special schools was
7.3 million, down from 7.4 million in January 2006. 91 per cent of pupils were
taught in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools; the majority of the
remaining 9 per cent were taught in independent schools.
Thankyou FunkyGibbon. http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000744/UP...
Pupils
• In January 2007 there was a headcount of 8.1 million pupils in 25,000
maintained and independent schools in England. The full time equivalent (FTE)
number of pupils in maintained primary, secondary and all special schools was
7.3 million, down from 7.4 million in January 2006. 91 per cent of pupils were
taught in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools; the majority of the
remaining 9 per cent were taught in independent schools.
Tangent Police said:
MiniMan64 said:
Out of interest, what's your subject?
Chemistry and Maths. Of course on the flip side I've just been reading in todays Times that a lot schools aren't teaching A-Level Physics anymore because of a shortage of teachers!
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