to ask WHY in the name of Gove are teachers striking again?

[loftyclopflop]

DD's school is closing on 1st October because they have chosen to strike. Is it over pay, pensions and conditions? Did they achieve anything by striking a couple of years ago other than massively inconveniencing a lot of parents?

I know Gove is a twat but do they really expect to change anything by taking the day off?

In my last UK school I was given targets for A level based on previous performances by the students at GCSE. They weren't fabulous but eminently achievable. It was then suggested to me that I should take the students' aspiration all grades as my target, i.e. what they thought they might get and be tied to this my marker for success as a teacher.

I laughed and refused. This is the kind of shite teachers have to deal with.

Ours is FFTD. Whole yr 11 class predicted A this year

icetip "Nothing wrong with pay linked to performance if expectations are set reasonably and evaluation is contextualised, and most sensible governing bodies will expect this." you show me a governing body that expects this and I will show you 10 bodies that don't

Good on you echt, but there are teachers out there that don't know they can 'laugh and refuse' and therefore get stuck with these targets. Easily explainable in the days before PRP, now? A reason for no pay rise/pay decrease maybe or even Capability if the powers that be so choose.

Absolutely Cricketballs.

I don't believe that pay should neccessarily be linked to performance.
There are plenty of methods for maintaining good standards and teaching is not the same as selling, for example.
I'm not keen on the apparently increasing trend for public services to be run with business models. I think it's often misguided.

I agree. I also hate it when the pupils get called consumers or customers. They're not they're pupils.

Or even...children!

Yes, they are children. But in the context of the classroom they are pupils (or students when they're older I guess).
Just as the grown up imparting knowledge is the "teacher".

I suppose so. I teach five year olds so v much still think of them as children!

Fair enough. But I think the point was that the trend of using corporate language and referring to the children or pupils as customers is knobbish.
The health service does it too. Patients being reared to as clients. As though it makes up for everything else

With regards to setting unrealistic targets then that of course is wrong. But then often it's a relative measure and through all walks of life there are targets. Some are easy, some are achievable, some will be unrealistic.

I have several targets for my own performance review this year that I feel are unrealistic and don't think I can reach. I'm sure some salesmen for example get set sales targets that they think "No way!"

It doesn't undermine the principle that performance related pay is a good thing. We just have to expect people to be adult about it. If your boss is setting unreasonable targets then there should be a process in place to appeal.

Totally agree on the pupils/consumers/customers thing. Call a spade a spade ffs.

So are you resigned to not getting a pay rise this year as a result of those unrealistic targets, niceguy?

argh just did a long message not sure it posted

Ok I have 30 yr 11s in music. FFTD says all 30 should get As.

I have 8 that cant play an instrument and dont sing (come to choir or have singing lessons). I have 12 who are not good readers of notation (some only read tab for guitar). We have a theory club but they dont come. Due to lack of theory knowledge their compositions are weak and rambling, little or no structure.

We have set up extra help sessions specifically for them (been emailed home and letters home too) Still no joy.

How am I supposed to get As out of these kids??!!

No payrise for me then!

teachers want more gravy
which is it this time?
gold-plated not good enough (platinum-plated pension)?
more holidays?
more pay?
less accountability?
I thought we are trying to get out of a recession

You clearly know nothing at all about teaching today. I am sure other posters will be along soon to put you straight!

Thegreatdivide - do you want nearly 70 year olds teaching your children? I don't thanks.

We should be supporting the teachers.. they're only responsible for yano... EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN.

If the teacher's aren't happy there is clearly something wrong and we need to support them for changes.

Do we really want to stop intelligent, educated people from becoming teacher's because it just isn't worth it?

teachers have become unaccountable

Teacher's seem to be accountable for everything these days. They get all the blame pinned onto them when it's the powers that be who are to blame.

People like you thegreatdivide are playing straight into Gove's hands.

I am not a fan of Gove
I am a fan of having a good education for my kids
provided by good teachers thats all

Well don't you think you should be supporting the teacher then?