To be a bit confused and a bit annoyed that I earn less

[MrsKravitz]

As a senior lecturer at a University than an A level teacher.
Seriously considering changing.

I think it is fair enough to question how much you are paid. I think the OP has some misinformation though.

Our students have to have our mobile numbers. Weare also expected to answe emails within a ceratin time frame, weekends notwithstanding

Its all about the student satisfaction. (and the UNI ranking)

I would not tolerate those conditions and would be looking at moving to another sector, regardless of pay.

I would think that a decent university would not need to jump through such ridiculous hoops.

I agree I think you need to be applying for these A level jobs

I wouldnt expect to walk into a 48K btw, I never said that. Would be nice to think thats the grade I could aim at over time though.

Seems like its not the norm though , so you have talked me out of it. (as previously stated)

I don't think a career is something you should be talked into or out of by other people!

Otherwise you will forever feel resentful that you haven't really owned the decision.

Look at what's out there, look at your skills set and sell your skills to whoever will pay you the best return and give you conditions which are favourable for your particular circumstances.

I actually think that you should be looking at other options. I work over weekends but do so at a time that suits me not when someone decides to phone me, regardless of what I am doing with my children. I think pay is your least concern.

I agree with musicposy that each age group has its challenges and it doesn't necessarily get harder with age. Certainly for me, teaching A level is MUCH easier than teaching 11-16 year olds for example.

Mrs Kravitz- I have done quite a bit of supply too and although it does have its challenges (which scholols are awful at recognising properly) if you can stomach the abuse, it is an easy life compared to being a proper teacher. For one you don't have a work-load, plus the hours are short, I'd say part-time in fact 8.30 to 3.30 approx.

I have a friend who is a university lecturer and we have compared salaries over the years. For a long time I earned more than him but he has now over taken me. I think Mrs Kravitz you happen to know someone who is on an exceptional salary for a teacher but that if you look at secondary teachers as a whole you would find that you earn more than they do.

Cartoonjane Sun 12-Jun-11 13:21:20
Mrs Kravitz- I have done quite a bit of supply too and although it does have its challenges (which scholols are awful at recognising properly) if you can stomach the abuse, it is an easy life compared to being a proper teacher.

Please tell me you didn't mean that the way it looks in type?? A supply teacher IS a proper teacher, but with the supports that the regular teachers in the school have. You're saying that all you have to do is stomach the abuse and it's an easy life. i think it must be a while since you did any supply work Cartoonjane.

at students having your mobile numbers! I might give it out to well trusted PhD students but certainly not the undergrads!

Uni lecturers do huge amounts of pastoral care these days (or at least the ones who are approachable do). We deal with all sorts.

peppa we are practically tucking them in this year in an effort to get a better score on the NSS

I attended university in the early 90s (Russell gp) and I had my tutors home number. I never used it but I remember him saying it was in case we 'needed bailing out or something'. He was a sweet guy, kind like a cool Granada.

I attended university in the early 90s (Russell gp) and I had my tutors home number. I never used it but I remember him saying it was in case we 'needed bailing out or something'. He was a sweet guy, kind like a cool Grandad.

- three letters guaranteed to strike fear / sinking feeling / ranting (depending on ones disposition and role within the uni) into an academics heart...

Its a fair point OP. University lecturers need higher academic qualifictions than teachers, a record of publiction and teach to a more advanced level than schoolteachers. The reason they are not generally required to have teaching qualifictions is because (a) students are not children and are there to learn rather than to be spoon fed, as at school and (b) their academic qualifications are higher.

I think the universities are going to lose a lot of good staff if they persist in cutting the pay of lecturers. For example, I am a qualfied solicitor who does some of university teaching at postgraduate level. The agreement always was that I was paid at the senior lecturer rate but 2 hours for every 1, plus preperation time. The university has now announced that ad hoc lecturers will only be paid per hour with no doubling or preperation time. Hence although I quite enjoy it and it looks good on my cv, I don't think I will do it next academic year, as I cannot justify working for so little.

Our Vls get no prep time, just teaching @£40ph

But £40 ph is like what a personal trainer earns! I think its different for lecturers in vocational subjects - its easier for us to just walk - its market forces. But when you think that a solicitor of around 5 years PQE would charge a client anything from around £175 ph upwards, I think the universities are really going to struggle to attract quality staff in future.

A few years ago, one university paid me £175 per hour for teaching an evening class in Business Law plus prep time. But it was to MBA students who were probably paying a small fortune for their course. I don't think that would happen now, so I cannot think who they would get in to teach those subjects.

By contrast I was offered some teaching by a very prestigious university and while it would have looked impressive on my cv, I could not justify working for £17 ph and turned it down!

These are MSc students being taught. I agree,our VLs get a pittance but lost so it just for their cv and so they can aim to be a prof.

Well £40 an hour is more than your average teacher gets per hour. So our value is ranked below that of a personal trainer....I'm off to dig out my plimsoles.

font thats not our hourly rate.

Its a "one off" fee for consultant lecturers (VLs) who may do 1-6 hrs a year.

To be fair to the OP I bet the hourly rate does not include prep at home. I fI calculate my hourly rate by the number of hours I stand in front of a class it would be around £40

Do you see where this thread could go... We all have cause to complain about others getting paid more than we do. We all, however, make our own choices.

Infact I teach 19 hours of contact time a week, over 30 weeks of teaching that makes about £60 an hour.

The reality is very different as I am sure it is for the OP