Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Work

How can i help my husband

15 replies

Roxie85 · 26/06/2014 09:41

Hi everyone,

My husband has lost his secondary science teacher job for the 3rd year running. The first job he lost was in 2012 when the school was downsizing due to fewer children and he had to interview against another science teacher and he lost. He managed to get another job in 2013 which lasted a year because the school replaced him and some others with NQTs to save money. Last year when he lost his job we were expecting our first child. He had several interviews but didnt get any of them. He attempted to get supply work for the September term and joined several agencies and only got 1 day the whole term. There were prospects of a half term placement but he got a call on his way to the school to say they were now sorting in house due to budget problems.

Thankfully in January 2014 he got a job for the year but this school is now restructuring and losing a teacher (him) He has applied for lots of jobs and only had 1 interview so far and he is so low especially after not getting any supply work last year.

I really dont know how I can help and support him (i am also on maternity leave so money is tight) We have spoken about me returning to work early but he cant be in charge of the baby in case he gets a job for a day and he really wants our little one to be with a parent at home for as long as possible.

He is a really good teacher and puts a lot of time and effort into his pupils and lessons, it just feels like he has had rotten luck.

Any help or advice would be great as i dont know what to do. We are first time parents so are dealing with all the issues surrounding a baby, plus he seems to be getting more and more upset/possibly depressed about the situation.

OP posts:

Report

PeppermintInfusion · 26/06/2014 11:50

How about advertising to tutor? Sciences should be in demand for extra help. Either privately or through an agency. As a qualified teacher he could get a higher rate per hour.
I did it and I'm not a qualified teacher and could have taught from morning to night.
Not necessarily a career as such, but it would get money in the short term.

twentyten · 26/06/2014 11:55

A friend got lots of work through first tutors. It sounds really tough and I bet his confidence is knocked.
It's not a good time now though... Advertising as a tutor over the summer could be lucrative. Worth contacting local schools? Card in newsagents?
Good luck

Ledger12 · 30/06/2014 21:10

My friend runs a tutoring business!! If you I can pass on his details to her!! You never know, it might be perfect for him!! Let me know!! Charlotte x

twentyten · 30/06/2014 21:42

Exam marking/ exam invigilating / running clubs/ .... School budgets seem tighter than ever this year. How is he doing? Has he had anyone look at his letter? Cpd up to date? What extra does he offer? Good luck

twentyten · 30/06/2014 21:43

Could he do a mock interview with ex colleagues?

tribpot · 30/06/2014 21:46

Why can't he be the SAHP whilst you go back to work? He is struggling in a very tough market and you have a permanent (I assume) job. It sounds like a no-brainer. Also sounds possible for him to fit tutoring etc around your full-time hours.

Lilaclily · 30/06/2014 21:51

It might be worth posting in The Staffroom section for more specific advice
Could he go into higher education ?

Roxie85 · 30/06/2014 22:03

He would hate to be a SAHD. Its really not his thing looking after the house, sorting meals etc. He loves our daughter don't get me wrong but spending the day playing on the floor and reading with her and doing lots of activities just isn't his thing especially as he would be surrounded by SAHMs at all the groups.

People have looked at his letters and have said good things about it. His current school even looked over the lesson he was teaching for a casual pre interview and they liked it, but he didn't get past the pre interview stage.

He has always offered to be part of after school clubs and he helped at the school panto and charity events at one of his schools but when they were laying off staff they chose the girl who didnt do any extra to stay instead of him.

Not sure if he can do higher education stuff but i will have a look into it.

He has another interview on Thursday and so I really hope they see how good he is otherwise we are going to have to think about our next step.

Thanks for all the suggestions. It gives me some options to present to him if required.

OP posts:

tribpot · 30/06/2014 22:07

He would hate to be a SAHD

If he can't earn the money and you can, it may be a question of needs must - at least for a while.

Fingers crossed something turns up for him, but be prepared to be realistic.

twentyten · 01/07/2014 08:32

He has to show them how good he is. Lots of examples, u p to the minute subject/ curriculum knowledge- wow factor in lesson- tick all the lesson obs ofsted standards.
He has to walk in believing he's the best too. Hard after knocks but it's what it takes. Wowing everyone he meets.

woodlands01 · 01/07/2014 20:44

It is very unusual for a good science teacher to be out of a job.

Roxie85 · 01/07/2014 20:58

Thanks for the comments. I think it is tough being confident when you get knocked back so much but I try and get him into a positive mind set beforehand. Especially tough as last year he was getting more interviews but this year he hasn't had many. From others I have spoken to the teacher job market is getting swamped so there are a lot of good teachers losing out to cheap nqts.
My husband has found that the others at interview are either nqts or were on year contracts with their previous school and we're replaced by nqts as the schools are trying to save money. Schools are only doing 1yr contracts it seems now.
My husband has been told that he is a good science teacher and it's just unfortunate that his current school are restructuring to have an additional head of department so they lose a standard teacher.

OP posts:

sadwidow28 · 08/07/2014 05:47

Will he think outside the box? If you live in/near a University town then he could look for research posts e.g. Research Fellow, Research Assistant etc. When I was in teaching, I only saw education opportunities in schools until I was made redundant. I got a research post, then another, then a Teacher Training post, went on to work for a LA...... until I ended at Government level.

If I hadn't have been made redundant in 1989 I would have only seen my career path within a school.

I wish him good luck.

ElizabethMedora · 08/07/2014 07:49

International schools? If you're hoping to become a SaHM anyway it doesn't matter about leaving your job behind, & the pay would support you all.

PosingInManilla · 08/07/2014 10:03

Agree with tribpot - if he doesn't have a job and you do then isn't the decision already made?

Private tutors here get 25 per hour and yes it is seasonal (11+, SATS, GCSEs and A Levels) there is tons of demand at peak times. I would definitely look into this if he can't find a full time or permanent post. Does he know that FE Colleges are despreately searching for maths tutors right now? There's a new government agenda for maths/English GCSEs in colleges - it doesn't seem a massive jump from a science teacher to a maths GCSE tutor so may be worth looking at?

Flip

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.