Nqt?

[SingleDadio]

Hi
I'm a deputy head of a large primary school but after advice from non-teacher parents.
My daughter is currently in Year 3 and her techer is pregnant and going on maternity leave from January. The school have told us that an nqt has been appointed. Not a problem normally however her teachers so far have all been NQT's:
Reception: NQT job share 4 days with 1 day for foundation leader
Year one: nqt all year
Year two: nqt all year
Year three: experienced teacher, but now moving to an nqt.

I'm concerned about this again. Am I right to be or is this just because I'm part of the profession?

[DisparityCausesInstability]

My ds has an nqt for the first time this year - she is fantastic - the best teacher he has ever had and compared to the very experienced teacher he had last year who was very obviously counting the seconds towards retirement and could not be arsed.

I'd say a bit of fresh enthusiasm can go a long way!

[scurryfunge]

Why would it be a problem?

[Simbacatlives]

Better an nqt than a dodgy can't hold down a job long time supplier.

[gingernutlover]

as long as the nqt is well supported and monitored it shouldnt be a problem, infact it may be one of the better alternatives as others have said (sorry I am a teacher, but seeing this from a parents POV)

[emptyshell]

How offensive simbacatlives. I'm a supplier. I do it by choice because I'd rather have that flexibility - I also do it because we've been trying for a kid for years and I'd rather not land a job and then waltz straight off on maternity leave, plus I have assorted hospital appointments cutting into work time associated with the trying for a kid and recurrent miscarriages. I've been offered long-term work several times and I choose not to take it.

Not everyone who does supply is a failed "can't hold down a job long time" teacher - quit with the ignorant ill-informed crap. I know lots who juggle it with other jobs, I know lots who juggle it with caring committments for relatives or children.

It's actually a helluva lot harder to teach and manage a class when you don't know names, when you don't know the status quo within the school, when you don't know the discipline system within the school and when you've got the call at 8.45 and made it there just before the bell - and when you're teaching without any of the established status that being a long-termer on the staff roll brings you. When you've got people banding around ignorant shite like "doesn't matter how you behave it's only a supply" - makes it even harder too.

Before anyone tries to be a smart arse and point out typos as an example of my teaching inferiority - piss off, I haven't put my glasses on so I'm typing semi-blind, and I'm loaded with cold. (Pre-empting that because it's obviously going to happen with the callibre of supply-bashing that was posted)

[Simbacatlives]

I didn't say you were but many are. I have done many teacher capabilities only to see them turn up in another school on supply- basically because the teacher capability process has no teeth- resign before you bare sacked and move on. Saw 5 teachers teach last week- 2 Inadequate both long term supply- both schools had struggled to getvanyone in- both had been in since sept- should know the children by now.

I am sure that you are a fine teacher but mid year the pot is much smaller and the chances of getting a weak long term (not daily) supply is greater. Many long term suppliers want perm jobs but can't get them- that says a lot.

Depending on the part of the country you are in it is very hard to get good long term supply. The same teachers get recycled to do maternities - the op was talking long term supply- often a very different market from the day supplier.

[emptyshell]

The supplies I know and come across in schools are all ones there by choice. Lots of fantastic ones around our parts - I could do long-term regularly if I wanted the hassle, get offered it enough by headteachers but sod the hassle to be honest. Joy of being supply - I get to be picky.

Usually a reason if a school's struggling to get decent supply in - several places around here I wouldn't go back to if my life depended on it - mainly not because of the kids but because of how they treat their staff. If I've got the ability to choose my work - I don't choose to be treated like shit.

I cruised between longer-term contract work for years by the way - was often chased down in a current school with an offer for a new contract when heads knew my current one was coming to an end - so I must have been doing something well. Then decided I got sick of the constant goodbyes, no chance of getting a full-time job around here if you're not an NQT and realised I quite like the existence on day-to-day... all the fun stuff and none of the annoying bits.

[overmydeadbody]

SingleDadio the fact that your DD will have an NQT yet again shouldn't in itself be a problem. There is always the risk that the NQT won't be a good teacher, just like there is always the risk that an teacher won't be good. Unfortunately for every good teacher out there there seems to be a bad one as well.

[IndigoBell]

I would be very concerned if the school has a large percentage of NQTs.

NQTs can be brilliant if they are supported by more experienced teachers. If most of the teachers in the school are NQTs it would concern me for several reasons.

(Not the least being why is there such a high staff turnover?)

[JenaiMarrsTartanFoxCube]

What Indigo says.

Ds's teacher was an NQT last year (she was his teacher then, too). She's the best teacher he has had (currently Y5).

[chicaguapa]

I can understand that there would be concerns but DH is an NQT and shows loads of enthusiasm for teaching and brings a freshness to the lessons. Unless the NQT has issues with behaviour management (which I think a teacher learns with experience) and he/she isn't supported with assessment etc, I can't see why your DD would disadvantages with having NQTs throughout primary school.

[crazymum53]

The NQTs in my dds school are all very enthusiastic, well qualified and keen. They definitely enhance the school. I would not have a problem with an NQT.

My dds school have employed an unqualified teacher from overseas to cover a maternity leave recently and this has not caused any problems.

Underperforming schools are not allowed to employ NQTs so this would only be allowed if your dd was at a good school.

[ShoshanaBlue]

NQTs are generally great, but they have a day off each week for extra training which means lots of supply teachers.

There you go supply teachers - it's win win!

[pointydog]

Why would a deputy head be posting this? Makes no sense.

You are either lying or a bit shit.

[SingleDadio]

Why would I be lying?

It isn't my school and I wanted to know if I was reacting because of my role in my school as it wouldn't happen there or if my reaction was because of my child.

There has been a high staff turnover at the school recently due to retirement of staff. What's actually happened as the school had been stagnant for a while, with the same people in the same year groups and as people have left staff have moved year groups to fill the gaps and therefore year groups have been left empty, filled by NQT's.

[mrz]

What would you say to a parent in your professional capacity of DH if they questioned their child being taught by a NQT?

[EvilTwins]

I too find it a bit odd that a deputy head would be posting this. Surely your professional judgement will tell you that there is nothing whatsoever wrong with your child being taught by an NQT, and that there is no reason at all why an NQT should be "worse" than a teacher with experience. There are loads of brilliant NQTs - my DTDs are being taught by one at the moment (Yr R) and she's wonderful.

"in my school as it wouldn't happen there" - why wouldn't it? Would you refuse to appoint to a vacant post because the only applicants were NQTs? Would you shift staff around mid-year to ensure that the same class didn't get more than one NQT in a row? I doubt it.

I'm with pointy - this is weird.

[SingleDadio]

Yes we have advertised posts in the past with 'experienced teacher required'. The only reason I'm questionning it is because I know myself it can take a while to really get to know a year group and make the children progress. Experience, while yes it does bring its own chalenges, also brings a wealth of knowledge and I'm concerned that she has never been taught with a teacher like that. It's nothing personal about the NQT itself. As a DHT I would fully support the NQT of course, but my professional opinion is different to my opinion as a Father.

Anyway question answered, thanks for the responses.

[scurryfunge]

OP,
Are you worried that an NQT won't have the necessary high standard of spelling and grammar required of a teacher?

[mrz]

Ignoring spelling and grammar
but my professional opinion is different to my opinion as a Father. I find this very worrying

[SingleDadio]

Of course not. I'm aware that I make all sorts of errors myself, particularly when typing at speed.

[scurryfunge]

Yes, mrz....OP is suggesting a lower standard for someone else's children, maybe?

[mustdash]

I'd be delighted for all three DCs to have NQTs every year if they were enthusiastic, confident and well supported.

Rather that than the bunch of bored, can't wait till I can retire lumps they have now.