to think this advert for an unqualified maths teacher is a bit crap really

[OrlandoWoolf]

Vacancy Title: Unqualified Teacher of Maths
Salary: £15,976 to £25,267 (pro rata)
ClosingDate: 03/12/13
Reference:
Working Pattern: Term time only - Temporary
Hours Per Week: 32 hrs, TTO


The Academy

This position is temporary and will last until July 2014.

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, reliable, and self-motivated Unqualified Teacher of Maths to join ** Academy, starting as soon as possible.

The ideal candidates will possess a minimum of 4 GCSE’s (Grades A- C) including English and Mathematics or equivalent. Experience of working in a similar role would be desirable.

We look forward to you joining our dedicated and supportive team.



Well, at least you need 4 GCSEs including Maths and English

[OrlandoWoolf]

The criteria did mention something about

Up to date knowledge in subject, national and local policy, pedagogy, classroom management strategies, research/inspection findings, statutory requirements.

An excellent classroom practitioner
Understanding health and safety issues

Effective planning and teaching
Effective behaviour management
An ability to demand high standards

That sounds like the kind of thing a qualified teacher might have as well.

[Philoslothy]

Yes but a qualified teacher could cost at least twice as much.

[OrlandoWoolf]

It's a strange world we live in.
It sounds like they want and need an experienced teacher but aren't prepared to pay the going rate for one.

And if it's TTO, what does the salary do? Is it reduced? I have never seen a teacher's salary advertised as TTO.

Will they get £15,976 or will it go down? If it goes down, do they then work in the holidays?

[hiddenhome]

That Ofsted report makes pitiful reading. I would weep if my child had to attend such a school. There is no place in modern Britain for such an inadequate setup

[ilovesooty]

It was always a very challenging school even pre academy.

How this is supposed to improve teaching and learning is beyond me.

[Donki]

Perhaps they advertised a tescher post snd got no applicants?

It's certainly a challenging position to fill.
Special measures.
Shortage subject.
Very challenging intake - high FSM and EAL.
High staff turnover.

I can't see how this would help though...

[ninah]

This is the future, it's hardly a surprise. Only the beginning

[blueemerald]

Bloody hell. The school I work at has just started advertising for their first cover supervisor and want someone with a maths specialism. They are looking for someone with a maths degree or they might consider a science degree.

Is there a sixth form? 4 GCSEs will make you less qualified than the students!

[ouryve]

Donki - if they wanted to open the post up to the broadest range of applicants, they would not be specifying unqualified teachers, only. They're just being cheap.

I visited a newly rebuilt academy, recently and one of the first things I noticed, while sitting in the rather expensively "designed" reception area was that one of the power sockets was fixed into place wonkily. Possibly quite a metaphor. (And given that I tried to get some basic information about the school of its website and failed because the initially pretty looking website doesn't actually work and only contains a fraction of the information it should, probably should be taken as a warning)

[OneUp]

That's shocking. I have a C in maths at GCSE and I would be the worse possible person for the job, I don't understand how it can be ok for that to be the standards for teaching.

[HettiePetal]

Might as well get my 17 year old son to apply, then.

He wants to be a teacher - maybe he could just skip the A'levels, degree & PGCE.

This is disgraceful. Truly.

[Philoslothy]

I find the website to be very revealing, very little information about individual subjects. Does not suggest and emphasis on academic rigour at all. Lots of wishy washy soundbites

[OrlandoWoolf]

In the Telegraph now:

www.telegraph.co.uk/education/10468036/Failing-school-advertises-for-maths-teachers-with-minimum-of-just-four-GCSEs.html

[harticus]

This is bollocks.
A total non story because they cocked up the advert.

They are looking for trainees to support the Maths teachers - people who might want to go on and train as maths teachers.

[OrlandoWoolf]

No - they are looking for maths teachers to teach a class.

[OrlandoWoolf]

Read the specification and the job description.

[harticus]

Do you not bother to read articles you link to?

Here is a quote from the Torygraph article you linked to - from spokesman for the Academy -

"There was an omission in the advert that was published. The advert should have made clear that this post was for the appointment of trainees to support the teaching of Mathematics with the potential opportunity to then progress as a trainee teacher.

"This was not made clear in the advert. The Academy is fully committed to teaching as a Graduate profession and we are actively involved in the School Direct Teacher Training Programme. We currently have two trainees working at the Academy."

[noblegiraffe]

Even if looking for someone to support the teaching of maths, a C grade is ridiculous.

[OrlandoWoolf]

Not made clear in the advert or the job description or the job specification.

And I would expect someone supporting and hoping to become a maths teacher to have more than Grade C.

[mercibucket]

oh that's ok them

[phantomnamechanger]

so they cocked up the advert, but its still pretty crap - they want to train a teacher of maths, who only has a GSCE grade C, and possibly no a-levels at all? OK, I firmly believe that in the right environment, with great mentors and so on, you can train teachers on the job like this, BUT, I don't believe you should have to be coaching them in the actual subject matter. Its crap.

[harticus]

This is hilarious.

4 pages of frothing over a messed up advert which was pounced on by twits on Twitter and picked up by the Tory rags and exploited by the spin doctors for the Opposition.

A total non-story fermented into something it isn't.
Welcome to British media in the 21st century.

As you were.

[ChristmasCareeristBitchNigel]

I was taught by a non qualified teacher for A level German at public school.

He had been an exhibitioner at Cambridge, had a PhD in german poetry i was the most passionate, dedicated teacher you can imagine, he was a remarkable man. Some of us were privileged to attend his oxbridge entry prep classes at 6am. He was the best teacher i have ever encountered and a certificate in education would have been meaningless, he was a born educator.

Thats the sort of non quals you get in private schools. Not people with a couple of c grades. I do wish people would stop going on about it

[ChristmasCareeristBitchNigel]

It's hardly a non story is it ? I wouldnt expect a secondary school teacher in the first world to not even possess an a level in their chosen subject

Just because they are "trainees" doesn't make it any better. A "non story" would have been that they would be put on a part time maths degrees at the same time as training

[Talkinpeace]

Here is the Advert
www.jobsgopublic.com/jobs/unqualified-teacher-of-maths-x-2-n-a/from/nlfzn8ipznrms/2/of/110/opening_at/desc?utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Indeed

Here is the thread that has been discussing it for the last two days
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/1917643-Would-you-be-happy-if-your-child-was-taught-Maths-by-someone-with-just-4-GCSEs

MN got there first, the press are riding our coat tails
The advert is NOT for a trainee.