...to think that mass gift-giving to teachers at end of year is tacky?

[MuddlingThrough]

Do teachers really want 30 packets of Cadbury's Roses, bought because the high-street shops have sented out yet another way to turn genuine sentiment into a tacky marketing opportunity? Or should we just say thanks instead?

The wage goes up very quickly year by year Peachy.

just checked £19161, rising to £19650 approx in September

I start PGCE hopefully in 2008, foryunatey I am a shortgae subject so will get a bursary (although may be over 2 years due to commitments).

Do they go up quickly? Good! LOL

As it happens thats a pretty major wage where I come from, but still its cost us 3 years salry already just to get this far, another year of the degree (RE) plus 2 years PGCE to find yet- really enjoy it and thats the whole point, but doesn't stop the ouch factor iyswim

Thought we should do a little something but decided not to go over the top since if you start now you have to continue and when dd2 starts school it's going to get really expensive - cheapskate but don't care. Hace gone for the personal touch and Dd1(finishing reception) has made cards for her 2 teachers (job share) and lovely, lovely classroom assistant. We (rather obviously) asked what their fave colour was and she has made them each a bracelet with some beads we had leftover from bracelet making at her birthday party. Shhhh it's a big secret!!!!! and it will just have to do!!

Mamamoor that sounds lovely!

I agree with cornsilk. It certainly fits in with school term times and hours.

With regards the start wage, it changes each year. The start wages and year in teaching wages go up every year but you also get a rise each year!

Re teacher's salary. Please remember to compare starting and later salaries against professions with comparable entry requirements - i.e. other professions requiring a degree and a professional qualification. You will then find that although the starting salary is pretty good, later salaries are not as comparable, and quickly fall lower than other professions. All of my non-teacher friends who went to uni at the same time or after me are now earning much more than me (based on a full time salary).

Comparing against nursery nurses, etc. is not comparable. Nursery nurses do not require the same level of qualification and prior studt AFAIK.

From Sept 07 the pay scale will be 20133-29427, which means you would start as an NQT on 20133. I think it was 19161 last year or year before. It definitely changes each year. In 2008, when I qualify, it will be even higher, possibly 20.5k.

www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/lifeasateacher/payandbenefits.aspx

cornsilk - not entirely ideal. As a teacher you will not be allowed time of to take your child to school for the first time, to attend sports day or to go to nativity plays. And not all school holidays are exactly the same time, you can end up with a week off the week before your own child, etc. And you will finish at the same time or later than your own child, so you will still need afer school care. However, yes the holiday allowance is very good I agree. Just not as perfect assome people belive.

Peachy, when you qualify in 2009, it could be nearly 21k start wage. There's always a big leap in Sept each year, decided in the April before. My mum started teaching 1997 on just short of 16k and now she's gone through the threshold and with responsibility points or whatever they call them these days, she is on over 35k. So make your own mind up lol.

Hulaby, it depends. I went to the secondary my mum teaches at. Some children go to the same schools their parents teach at. Some don't, I know. But even so, swings and roundabouts. I'd trade in a few sports days for 10-14 weeks a year with my baby.

My head is really nice and lets us have time off for kiddy related things! But I know some people work for ogres who say no. (Usually women in my experience - very strange.)

Cornsilk - I take it you are primary?

Yes. Would not do secondary for any wage though. Hats off to your mum!

That's precisely what put me off secondary!

I agree with Hula re salaries and lack of flexibility.
Starting salary is good, but you reach the top of the scale quickly and threshold doesn't take you much further. So you are talking about 32k max outside London. That's certainly not comparable with other professions which require 3yrs degree followed by a year's post grad study. I started on 3k more than DH when we graduated, he now earns vastly in excess of what I could earn.

I also worry that if I went back f/t I would miss all my children's school trips, sports days, Christmas plays etc.

If I were the main breadwinner, it wouldn't be the sort of wage that would get us a mortgage in the SE.

Re presents, I would be led by the children. If my DS says he want to give his teacher a card or a present, I will help him find one/write one (he's 7). I shall ask him if he'd like to do his teacher a card, but won't volunteer a present unless he raises it first. However he bought his teacher a present back from holiday this year that he decided for himself, chose and presented (and bought with his own holiday spending money. I had no idea he was going to do somehting like that and it was so sweet. It was only a notebook but his teacher was so touched!

I really hate the idea that parents should feel they have to buy a box of chocs etc.

It depends on our school, I teach secondary and was given time off to see dd sports day last week and time off next week to see dd collect her achievement certificate. Infact I have never beem denied time off for anything related to dd school. THere have been a few occassions when I have realised that it is not practical for me to go and I have not asked the head as I have not wanted to put him in an akward position. Our head is a man and I don't know if that is relevant. He does say no to other staff but I always try and do above and beyond the expected, for example tomorrow even thought it is myday off I will go in unpaid to help run a trip. As in most jobs it is give and take.

As for pay, I am about to go into my sixt year of teaching anf bring in just under 40K for a middle management post which I think is quite reasonable and certainly very high for this town.

tireedfedu8p I will qualify in 2009, I have 2 disabled kids (and one NT) and so have t take the flexible route. tyhe figured I gacve though were from the NUT figured for this and next year.

I earned as much in my last job with no qulas HOWEBR I do accept its my chpice, very much so- the entire point of the alst few eyars (access, degree) ahve been towards this aim.

Isn't there something that nursery managers will now ahve to geta degree in early eyars? I know my Sis has been told that if she doesn't get it she will lose her job, yet they won't allow her time off- there have been threads on here to the same notion, however thats not yet in practice.

I don't have an issue with the wages per se- I am willing toa cept them to each, it is very muc my dream. However that still doesn't make them good or anything, not give that I could earn more eslewhere as I ahve decent grades. Just nto what Ia ctually want from my life. I also intend to do an MA in ASD in a few years so will wish to integrate that into my work too.

Twinset, there is certainly more flexibility in secondary. If I left for the afternoon, school would need to get a supply teacher in.
There is also more scope for higher earning as there are extra levels of management. In primary, where I teach, unless you want to leave the classroom ie become a HT, there is little scope for extra salary points. Most primary teachers take on 1 or 2 curriculum areas but most do this without extra pay points.

(have to say i couldn't imagine Primary either, LOL- funny how eople work isn't it? Am veryt much subject led )

yes I agree re primary, I could never do primary for lots of reasons.

(apologies for typing- this is what 2 glasses of wine does to me )

My daughter's nursery teacher will be getting a present at the end of next week, but this is because she is leaving the school not because it is the end of the school year. This particular teacher has been a rock for my daughter through a very hectic and wobbly year, and they have a great teacher/child relationship. I'm going to miss the teacher, heaven knows what my daughter's reaction is going to be in September when she realises that Mrs W isn't there

Agnes