Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

Original poster

Career advice needed (teaching)

15 replies

Serena1977 · 09/09/2022 18:24

So I'm a supply teaching assistant at the moment. Thought I'd do that because I haven't found a teaching post (qualified in July) and supply teaching is a bit slow at the beginning of the school year.

I hate it. The school is awful. The children are unruly, the staff are clearly worn down by it and have written the children off. The behaviour is shocking, the quality of teaching is poor, the ability is low, SEN is not catered for. The place is so gloomy.

Will my reputation be damaged if I quit? Will the agency not give me teaching work because I quit?

I have been asked to volunteer at my child's school. On the one hand, I feel it devalues me. A qualified teacher for free but conversely I will be in a good school and have the chance to build my skills and the opportunity to observe teaching.

What shall I do? I feel like I'm losing confidence by the minute even TAing.

All I want is my own class and career.

OP posts:

Original poster

Serena1977 · 09/09/2022 22:01

Hopeful bump!

OP posts:

SequinsandStilettos · 09/09/2022 22:03

Primary or secondary?

Youreastar · 09/09/2022 22:09

There is no reason why you can't quit as you're a supply TA. The agency can't hold this against you. Maybe join more than one agency and insist on supply teaching jobs only. It will give you the experience and job fulfillment you want. Good agencies are well connected and not only provide cover for day to day supply work but also arrange cover for PPA.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General education Jobs

BCBird · 09/09/2022 22:09

I teach in a secondary school.
A friend of mine did supply teaching and I know it can be very daunting and quite lonely.

If you do not want to go to that particular school then surely you can tell the agency. You could be up front and say that it is the atmosphere, ethos and indiscipline, ( my guess is they will have some inkling of this) or be a bit economical with the truth and say something like you want somewhere closer to x, y or az? Or you fancy a new challenge.
I think supply work can be extremely challenging.
Good luck.

Meredusoleil · 09/09/2022 22:10

I thought the education sector was crisis and we had a shortage of teachers? Which area are you in? Or is it just that things are already so dire, its got to the point where schools can't even afford ECTs now? Really very worrying tbh.

Personally, if you can manage without the income for now, I would definitely not go back as a TA at the school you've been sent to. Tell the supply agency not to send you there again. In the meanwhile, while they find you (or you look for yourself) somewhere else, go volunteer in your child's school. Nothing to lose from that and potentially a lot to gain 😉

Meredusoleil · 09/09/2022 22:10

Marmaladegin · 09/09/2022 22:21

To answer your question, no it won't. Tell the agency you don't want to go there any more.

Somanycuddlybears · 09/09/2022 22:24

No it won’t. Hope you get something better soon.

Original poster

Serena1977 · 09/09/2022 23:55

Area is North notts/derbyshire border.

Many on my course didn't get a job in the summer.

There does seem to be less posts advertised compared to previous years.

My daughter's class has 43 children.

There is no money. Class sizes are getting larger. SEN children get less support. There is more need. Using TAs to teach. Unqualified staff to support complex SEN. The list goes on.

OP posts:

FishFingerSandwiches4Tea · 10/09/2022 05:39

Literally not going to a school you don't like is the main perk of supply! I used to do supply teaching and there were 2 schools I asked my agency not to send me to again. One of them I was booked for a week. Rang the agency at lunchtime on day 1 to say I would stay and complete the day but would not be returning. It was fine, still got offered work.

FinallyHere · 10/09/2022 09:02

in a good school and have the chance to build my skills *

No one should be forced to work in an environment such as you describe. Stop and tell the agency to not send you there again ever. They will not be surprised.

If jobs really are so scarce, then getting to be known in a good school sounds like a good way forward if you can afford it.

Might there be any chance that you might in time be offered a job there, if one becomes available? Make sure you let them know you would be interested. Good luck.

SequinsandStilettos · 11/09/2022 13:35

If primary and you can afford it, do some work experience in your child 's school. A vacancy may come up in time. Perhaps offer them a couple of days and do agency work in other primaries to keep your hand in/being in some money.
if secondary, just switch schools. The work will pick up by October and there should be long and short term available, or offers over supervisor rates if you want a foot in the door.

SequinsandStilettos · 11/09/2022 13:35

bring

SequinsandStilettos · 11/09/2022 13:36

offer cover supervisor rates

RyanYESorNO · 11/09/2022 13:49

I'd 100% leave the role you're doing now. Supply agency will find you other work, it's what they do.

But I also would not do the role in your daughter's school. They are getting a qualified teacher for free, while you won't be able to go and take a day's supply at short notice as you will be committed to them.

I'm assuming you don't NEED the money if you're considering volunteering, so I'd stick it out with supply until it picks up a bit. Getting into a few different schools to find the happy places to work is so so valuable.

Flip