People who described themselves as teachers when they’re actually teaching assistance or cover supervisor

I know…hence I was agreeing that I’m not a teacher!
But I also do far far more than most people think TA’s do.

That is quite a significant part of the job though!!

It's so easy to lose a room.

It's honestly the hardest part of teacher training.

I can't imagine being thrown in front of 30 kids, even of primary age, without it.

nothing new, and it happens with many professions in addition to teaching.

typically the qualified person will be vague (works in finance/the NHS/whatever) because they don't give a fig about your tax issues/ingrowing toenail in a social situation, whilst the part or non qualified person will talk up their role.

PS - but I have seen TAs being given too much to do above their pay scale, like taking a full class when they shouldn’t.

Thank you.
I think the pay level for Level 1 TAs is about right. But I think the Higher Level TAs are underpaid.

We have a couple of HLTAs who do interventions but in terms of other TAs I occasionally get a random person turn up in my lesson who can’t do much because they neither know the class nor the maths and then I never see them again.

If primary TAs are being paid the same as secondary TAs but doing all this teaching and marking then they are being taken for mugs, tbh. Secondary TAs don’t do any of that.

I mark books too, we live mark so there are no 30 books to mark. In fact I probably mark more than the class teacher. I also input Data (QLAs) as that’s part of my role.
I don’t write reports or do parents evenings, thank goodness!! I’m not sure I could remain 100% professional!!
I know you weren’t having a go btw, that was more aimed at the people on Mumsnet who seem to think a TA is solely there to change reading books and clean paint pots.

… and marking sets of 30 exercise books, meetings, writing reports, inputting data, training days etc.
I’m not having a go at you.
I did 30+ years in F/T teaching then took early retirement to do further study and some supply. During Covid I was asked to help out doing TA work. I ended up doing it over 2 years.
There is no comparison between the work of a TA and a teacher. Worlds apart.

I’m a TA. I wouldn’t call myself a teacher as I didn’t go to Uni to get a degree to earn the right to call myself one, however I “teach” a huge amount of the day. Maths groups, reading groups, phonics groups, interventions and I cover our class when the teacher isn’t there. In fact the only thing I don’t do is planning.

I totally agree. Have seen it first hand.

This woman was still deliberately lying though.

Exactly. TAs are invaluable to teachers. My job would certainly be much harder without them.

That’s me! I just couldn’t be bothered with the planning, endless meetings, abuse etc. etc. etc. At least now I can run out the door at 3 and have a life. I am qualified but teaching in this country has gone to the dogs. Thousands are leaving annually and school management and councils do nothing about the absolute disaster that’s facing schools .

Yes; and just be proud of what you do. There are so many ‘low level’ jobs which are under estimated: check out workers, receptionists, so-called trolley dollys, cleaners. I’m often so grateful for how helpful they can be.

This is a huge part of teaching which is often overlooked. If you can’t manage behaviour, nothing will be learned.

I agree. Be upfront and honest. Don’t mislead others.

Read this back to yourself.

You’re ok with someone with no teaching qualifications teaching the high risk lessons but not the low risk ones.

They are also not taught about behaviour management.

It's really unfair on them to have them teaching, as well as the kids.

Actually yes in secondary. I am a senior specialist TA in science. I teach ks3 as long term cover.

I also do my own marking, planning etc.

I am currently doing my degree to do pgce to be a full time teacher

@taxguru you were teaching that module though. Presumably the qualified teachers weren't able to deliver that part of the curriculum as well as you could, so you were employed to do it? The fact that you didn't get keys to the classroom etc just means that the staff were treating you like a temporary employee, which is often the case, even if it isn't particularly kind. That reflects poorly on them imo and doesn't take anything away from the fact that you were teaching that part of the course.

Of course TAs generally have fewer responsibilities than teachers and having done both, I don't view them as the same job. TAs don't do the planning and marking, but to me it's not a big deal if a TA views what they do as teaching.

And you shouldn’t however I and others like me with teaching qualifications should and do as we have teaching qualifications and many years of teaching under our belts.

No it's not. It's a non teacher doing part of the job of a teacher.

If I change the fuse on a plug, or replace a wall socket, it's the work of an electrician but it doesn't make me an electrician.

I'm an accountant (a proper qualified one!) and I spent a few years doing part time "teaching" at our local college many years ago, for one module of the AAT accounting technician qualification for 16-18 year olds mostly but also a few adults each term. I never thought of myself as a teacher. I had no teaching qualifications. At the start of every term with a new group, I introduced myself as an accountant and apologised for not being a teacher! I did the job of "teaching" the syllabus but was very much an "outsider" in terms of the other teachers, i.e. more like a subcontractor, didn't attend staff meetings, didn't have a pigeon hole, didn't even have keys to the classroom and my "teaching" was more akin to presenting a course/seminar rather than a lesson. I turned up every week, ran through my lesson as such, went home again. If students had questions etc., I always referred them to the course leader or other "proper" staff/teachers they had for their other modules. What I did was VERY different to the permanent/staff teachers who did the other modules and ran the whole course. I'd never dream of calling myself a teacher.

It’s actually the easiest part of the job. And the nicest part. It’s the rest of the shit where you earn your pay.

As a primary school teacher, I can tell you that standing up and delivering a lesson is not even half the job!