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Original poster

I have just been offered a choice of 25 guaranteed interviews for teaching positions next week.

102 replies

Nimbostratus100 · 09/05/2023 11:49

Because I am likely to resign my teaching job this June, and "word has got out". I am inundated with offers. I have just received an email from one recruiter listing 25 jobs they can guarantee me an interview for next week.

I don't have much faith in the honesty of agencies in general, but a quick google confirms the ones I have checked are genuine vacancies, and genuinely interviewing next week.

Out of the 25, if I were job hunting ( which I am not, if I stay in teaching I will stay where I am) then 20 would interest me. The other 5 or either jobs I am not qualified for, or jobs with a tricky journey.

I have other emails from other agencies, and some from schools directly.

This is the worst it has ever been. I have been subject to such aggressive recruitment before, but in previous years, only say half a dozen jobs at a time, never more than 10, at the most.

OP posts:
MarieG10 · 09/05/2023 22:17

MetaDaughter · 09/05/2023 12:14

Goodness.

May I ask a delicate question (in no way related to you, OP!)? Does this desperate need for teachers affect the quality of staff being hired?

Basically yes. As a chair of governors, the situation is dire. It does depend on the subject. For example, PE teachers…loads of them as schools are inundated with Sports Science graduates that scrape a PGCE and we are a,ways inundated with applications. Whereas Maths and other mainstream hardcore subjects, it is terribly hard to recruit, especially HOD level. We have had to agree to up TLRs and compete against other schools. The outlook is only going to get worse as simply for quality teachers, they easily get jobs outside of teaching and we are losing them hand over fist, despite a good SLT and supportive environment

slug · 09/05/2023 22:40

I left teaching in 2009 and somehow I'm still pursued by teaching agencies. Also Maths by the way. A lot of the approaches have the whiff of desperation

noblegiraffe · 09/05/2023 22:40

The holidays are for the kids not the teachers!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Jobs
weirdeash · 09/05/2023 22:42

and yet i’ve been told i can’t do the pgce because of my degree subject being law :/

ukgot2pot · 10/05/2023 00:22

This may be controversial but I think some subjects, i.e. - P.E, drama, art, food tech etc should have a completely different pay scale to those teachers who teach heavier subjects. The amount of planning, teaching and marking an English teacher has to do is going to be completely different from that of an art teacher. I personally think a much healthier starting salary (min 30K as an ECT) might go some way in helping with the recruitment and retention crisis.

Monkeytennis97 · 10/05/2023 00:36

What about sports fixtures? Plays? Concerts etc. These things take a huge amount of time and planning as well as coursework for Btecs and GCSES to mark etc and the actual clubs that lead to sports fixtures/plays/concerts. No such thing as lighter/heavier subjects.

ukgot2pot · 10/05/2023 01:20

No such thing as lighter/heavier subjects.

So you think a physics teacher has the same amount of work to do as an art teacher?

echt · 10/05/2023 01:23

Monkeytennis97 · 10/05/2023 00:36

What about sports fixtures? Plays? Concerts etc. These things take a huge amount of time and planning as well as coursework for Btecs and GCSES to mark etc and the actual clubs that lead to sports fixtures/plays/concerts. No such thing as lighter/heavier subjects.

This. In spades.

Another consideration is that such differences would undermine the ethos of cooperation that schools rely on.

Exaspa · 10/05/2023 01:52

It isn't just teaching that's now full of highly promoted bright young things lacking discernment...! I trained as a teacher in a shortage subject and just scraped through my teaching practice, from the sound of it I'd be Head of Department several times over now!! I have other friends who left teaching to do less stressful h

Exaspa · 10/05/2023 01:55

Anyone but me find new Mumsnet really hard to use on a phone??? Friends who are now truck drivers I was going to add. I've never regretted not doing my QTS year as it was then or deciding education wasn't for me, but it does make me a little bit sad and angry to see what the profession has been brought to, especially in the state sector.

sashh · 10/05/2023 06:59

noblegiraffe · 09/05/2023 12:52

Part of the issue is the cost of teacher training. It excludes many suitable teachers from entering the profession.

Not maths teachers. You get paid more to train as a maths teacher than you actually earn as a maths teacher. £27k tax free bursary.

And that leads to another problem, lots of maths student teachers on my PGCE said they would not work for less than their bursary, it was like a gap year, something to put on their CV.

Due to ill health I have not worked for a few years and I'm not likely to, but I still get emails and phone calls.

noblegiraffe · 10/05/2023 07:13

I personally think a much healthier starting salary (min 30K as an ECT) might go some way in helping with the recruitment and retention crisis.

That's what it's going to be from September and yet the trainee recruitment targets for September are absolutely dire. Projected to recruit less than half the secondary trainees needed.

ThanksItHasPockets · 10/05/2023 07:22

sashh · 10/05/2023 06:59

And that leads to another problem, lots of maths student teachers on my PGCE said they would not work for less than their bursary, it was like a gap year, something to put on their CV.

Due to ill health I have not worked for a few years and I'm not likely to, but I still get emails and phone calls.

Show quote history

How do they get your personal contact details?

sashh · 10/05/2023 07:39

It's from agencies who I have worked for mainly - I did a lot of supply so I was signed up with multiple agencies.

They are also contacting me offering £100 if I recommend someone and THEY get the job.

StraightOuttaContext · 10/05/2023 07:40

OP, I thought you were a geneticist? Sorry, I'm really confused.

Anyway, I hope your health improves and, yes, teacher shortages are frightening!

mrsconradfisher · 10/05/2023 07:59

I’m a TA so know how hard it is for schools at the moment.
My DS is doing A level Psychology (fairly niche I admit) but has had 4 teachers since the start of 6th form. The most recent one started at Feb half term and the kids find out (from him and from googling) that he has never taught Psychology before, not even studied the subject which is fairly crucial a few months before A levels. We’ve ended up getting a Tutor who is absolutely amazing after he marked DS’ mock exam totally wrong and we lost all faith in him. He doesn’t even go to the lessons anymore as there was no point.

Corrienation · 10/05/2023 08:03

Haha I also get offers from teaching agencies weekly. I hope you find something that is right for you OP

peanutbutter00 · 10/05/2023 08:10

@weirdeash my degree is law and I currently teach in a sixth form within a school. I did a 1 year post 16 PGCE. Happy to answer any questions if it's something you're considering

sashh · 10/05/2023 08:25

peanutbutter00 · 10/05/2023 08:10

@weirdeash my degree is law and I currently teach in a sixth form within a school. I did a 1 year post 16 PGCE. Happy to answer any questions if it's something you're considering

Just to add, I did DTTLS which was similar, everyone on my course was teaching a different subject and not all had a degree they were doing things that are not degree subjects eg hairdressing.

weirdeash · 10/05/2023 09:33

@peanutbutter00 oh really? who did you go through to do the pgce please? i’ve phoned so many different places like teach first etc as i’m trying to find one that funds you as you go as i have 2 babies so couldn’t afford to do it otherwise, but they’ve said it’s strictly a particular list of subjects

ThanksItHasPockets · 10/05/2023 09:34

weirdeash · 09/05/2023 22:42

and yet i’ve been told i can’t do the pgce because of my degree subject being law :/

Who told you that? I would query the advice and get a second opinion. Depending on what you want to teach and what your A levels are you might need to do a subject knowledge enhancement course but I know several teachers with LLBs.

ThanksItHasPockets · 10/05/2023 09:37

weirdeash · 10/05/2023 09:33

@peanutbutter00 oh really? who did you go through to do the pgce please? i’ve phoned so many different places like teach first etc as i’m trying to find one that funds you as you go as i have 2 babies so couldn’t afford to do it otherwise, but they’ve said it’s strictly a particular list of subjects

Cross-posted - I know Teach First teachers with LLBs! What are your A levels?

As a wider point think very carefully about embarking on Teach First with two babies. TF is not liked on MN and I am unusual on here as I trained with them and have a lot of time for the programme but it is a very intense way to train. Have you spoken to your local teaching school hub about the possibility of salaried School Direct?

CherryCokeFanatic · 10/05/2023 09:48

If the government cared they would offer way more free PGCEs (no repayment required contingent on 3 years of work as a teacher after qualification g) or cover the fees on undergrad teaching degrees so you could become a teacher with potentially not student loans to repay whatsoever

They don’t though

peanutbutter00 · 10/05/2023 11:05

weirdeash · 10/05/2023 09:33

@peanutbutter00 oh really? who did you go through to do the pgce please? i’ve phoned so many different places like teach first etc as i’m trying to find one that funds you as you go as i have 2 babies so couldn’t afford to do it otherwise, but they’ve said it’s strictly a particular list of subjects

Ah sorry I thought it was just an issue of not being allowed a PGCE with a law degree (I was told at uni by a careers advisor that you can't train to teach law at sixth form/college despite doing exactly that a year later)

My route was a traditional PGCE through a uni that I got a student loan for and lived with my parents to make ends meet. I'm not sure of any that pay you a salary unfortunately, there may be some out there though!

CoffeeWithCheese · 11/05/2023 14:22

Corrienation · 10/05/2023 08:03

Haha I also get offers from teaching agencies weekly. I hope you find something that is right for you OP

I get offers from teaching agencies from the years I did supply, then I get offers from healthcare staff recruiters as I retrained as a SALT, and then the special school recruiters try to get me as well for the combination of both!