DfE considering making teachers work for free to make up for lack of catch-up funding

[noblegiraffe]

With the upcoming spending review looking like it will hit education hard with little extra cash for catch-up, the DfE is reportedly now considering simply making teachers do it for free.

They are considering a proposal to remove the 1265 hours cap on teachers ‘directed time’ which would mean schools could add hours to the school day and just timetable teachers to teach them for no extra pay.

This, to a sector which is already critically short of teachers, will only damage recruitment further, and push more teachers out of the profession.

They are flailing around trying to come up with solutions to problems of their own making that will, in fact, only make things worse. Absolute idiots.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/01/dfe-considering-return-of-sats-at-14-and-axing-teaching-hours-limits

I emailed Zahawi a couple of weeks ago as I'm one of his constituents. I still haven't had a reply. I've met the plonker once when he was the apprentice bod. He won't be any better than Williamson I'm afraid. He's just a yes man. He hasn't got a clue.

I love my job. But the last 2 years are making me wonder if it's worth it. My health is suffering (I'm ecv) with all the extra stress and pressure. I literally can't do anymore.

I haven't even finished writing all the new SoL to fit the new framework and now talking of putting back yr9 SATs! So much change! Let something run for a few years to see the impact before changing it again you bloody idiots 😡.

@Whirlywooo

....and watch the education system collapse as teachers leave in their thousands.

It'll never happen though, the unions will see to that.

I don't believe the unions will have any impact whatsoever. Teachers shouldn't be working in the current ridiculous conditions and the unions haven't managed to change this in spite of all their statements that schools should be safe, etc. I've been asked many times why don't teachers go out on strike? It is a good question.

Our school does no lunchtime or afterschool activities at all. We just realised that we were all spending more than enough time doing the basics to do our jobs properly. The HMIE commented that we had no groups or clubs, but what could they do about it?

I've seen the day when we would do all this kind of stuff, but you get absolutely no thanks, and continually shafted.

I gave up running extra curricular a few years ago when I realised how much time I was spending on other people's children, and how little time I had for myself.
I love my job but there really are only so many hours in the day.

I've been asked many times why don't teachers go out on strike? It is a good question.

When teachers go out on strike, we get massive abuse in the media and online (including on MN). Striking has also in the past made fuck all difference to our working conditions, so there's a 'what's the point?' element. A lot of teachers have come to the conclusion that things won't change and have just quit instead.

I have been in till six every day since this year started and working at weekends which I didn't do before as I am 24years in and that helps. We have started a new phonics scheme which has increased workload dramatically and sickness amongst staff is increasing daily. I was so tired when leaving on Friday that I stubbed my toe and fell. I can't give any more. My HT is really supportive and wants the best for us but is also under the weight of government expectations.

More just will not happen. I would have to consider leaving a job I still love when I am sat in front of my children and giving them all I have.

@noblegiraffe

I've been asked many times why don't teachers go out on strike? It is a good question.

When teachers go out on strike, we get massive abuse in the media and online (including on MN). Striking has also in the past made fuck all difference to our working conditions, so there's a 'what's the point?' element. A lot of teachers have come to the conclusion that things won't change and have just quit instead.

The government also made it more difficult to strike, you need a very high percentage turnout and it’s almost impossible to make happen when many people are just in a union for insurance purposes

@noblegiraffe

I've been asked many times why don't teachers go out on strike? It is a good question.

When teachers go out on strike, we get massive abuse in the media and online (including on MN). Striking has also in the past made fuck all difference to our working conditions, so there's a 'what's the point?' element. A lot of teachers have come to the conclusion that things won't change and have just quit instead.

This!

Plus if we are not in school, it’s the pupils’ learning that suffers. I wouldn’t be prepared to do that to pupils after the disruption they’ve already suffered these past two academic years. Plus, if they miss out on their learning due to us being on strike, we’ll have to catch them up during our own time anyway so it kind of seems farcical!

But when was the last time that teachers went on strike?
Not in the 25 years I've been teaching.
It's maybe time to bloody well down tools and show people what actually happens when teachers have had enough.
However, I'll admit that ultimately we're screwed whilst we have this shower of cnuts in government.

@MrsR87 and that's why the government can get away with whatever it wants

@savagebaggagemaster of course there have been strikes in the last 25 years! NUT definitely had a high turn out of strike action. Admittedly at least 10 years ago, if not more. The more recent times it hasn't really led to anything as lots of staff haven't joined in. I agree that there isn't any point. Not that my union in my 18 years, have voted to strike.

I've been teaching 24 years and I think I have been on strike 3 times once was just a London strike though.

Going out on strike is not popular and not wanted but if this really happens then I think strike action will follow.

[quote user1471530109]@savagebaggagemaster of course there have been strikes in the last 25 years! NUT definitely had a high turn out of strike action. Admittedly at least 10 years ago, if not more. The more recent times it hasn't really led to anything as lots of staff haven't joined in. I agree that there isn't any point. Not that my union in my 18 years, have voted to strike.[/quote]
All out strikes? When? I've seen the odd work to rule but even that was a damp squib.
Don't get me wrong, of course I understand the issues behind why teachers don't strike; but I think it's a cultural thing in the UK as well. Let's face it, if we were in France, we'd be on strike!
I'm just frustrated, very very frustrated that we're being shat on from a great height and seem powerless to do anything about it.
I don't want to leave. I like teaching. I've done it for long enough. However like any other human being on this earth I would like to be respected and treated fairly.

I don't see how it can happen. And I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing either, until more detail is provided. I don't recall where in the article it mentioned for no extra pay- unless I missed the inference?

There was a nationwide strike in 2013/14

@Viviennemary

Good idea. Who finishes work at 3 o'clock and gets all those holidays too. Plenty of vacancies in other sectors I read.

I don’t know who finishes at 3pm, no. Certainly no teachers I know.

I don't recall where in the article it mentioned for no extra pay

“If the 1,265 hours agreement goes, it would allow headteachers to determine locally what the working arrangements in the school were. It could make longer days cheaper, because you wouldn’t have to pay teachers to do it,” a source said.”

From the article. Of course they wouldn’t scrap directed time and then pay teachers more! It’s to avoid having to pay anyone for a lengthened school day.

Gosh it was only light hearted. I got a bit sick of all the multiple teacher moanings in lockdown which has eased off considerably. Thank goodness. Sorry.

@Viviennemary

Gosh it was only light hearted. I got a bit sick of all the multiple teacher moanings in lockdown which has eased off considerably. Thank goodness. Sorry.

I got fed up of the multiple teacher bashing during lockdown which I thought had eased off a bit. Shame it’s back.

How is one supposed to tell the difference between a lighthearted post from Vivienne and a serious one when she says the same goady stuff in both?

It won’t happen- ridiculous idea. I’m more worried about the return of SATS for 14 year olds. Seriously? After everything that’s happened in the last few years that’s their solution.

@Viviennemary

Gosh it was only light hearted. I got a bit sick of all the multiple teacher moanings in lockdown which has eased off considerably. Thank goodness. Sorry.

Seriously? Read the room.

The children will actually get a worse education. My goodwill has gone. I refuse to do free after school clubs anymore and I'll be recycling last years planning. I already work 12 hour days and refuse to do more.