Richard Cairns(The Head of Brighton College) Laments the standard of teachers applying for post.

[morry1000]

Richard Cairns has lamented the standard of the C.V's, he received for the post of Deputy Head from teachers working in the state sector. This i think is very divisive and creates a even bigger divide between the two systems.
In the article he goes on to give examples of badly written C.V's from teachers employed in the state sector, yet no examples from teachers employed in the private sector.

In an ironic way he goes on to state that teachers should not teach unless they have at least B grades at A level and a upper 2nd class Degree. This is ironic because just two months ago, the same head was advocating employing teachers who had not gained teaching qualifications or teaching experience.

It is just another example of a Public School Head shouting his mouth off in the gilded world they inhabit.

These articles do nothing to help state schools, or standards in them. He is using the article to state the huge benefit, and educational advantages pupils in Private schools get. This article has no benefit to anybody but him , it just creates more division between the two systems .

Maybe the standard of the applicants were not the very best out there, but how attractive is the post? Will it attract the best? Not seen the post, but if pay, conditions and general role are not appealing you won't get the best applying.

I read that article too.

I think he was implying that the independent school candidates were of a higher academic calibre than the state sector teachers, as he only gave examples of poor qualifications and applications from state school teachers.

Brighton College is known in the independent sector as a very high performing school and assuming that pay and conditions are in line with most independent schools (i.e. better than state sector) it is surprising that the number of suitably qualified candidates was so low.

However I agree that he is not doing anyone any favours, including himself. He is likely to put off potentially suitable teachers who currently work in the state sector from applying.

Typical public school head, in his own bubble nothing important to worry about so lets call the state sector.

He is just a bully like other public school heads, calling people and teachers who can't defend themselves. This is part of advertising to his parents that everything in state school is bad and does not offer the education required by his type of pupils.

There was not a Cat in Hells Chance that he would have appointed someone
from the state sector . The only reason schools like his give limp and piecemeal help to the state sector, is when their charitable status is brought up .
Their damage limitation department gets in to full swing and starts being seen cosying up to some failing local school. The moment the heat dies down these schools become as aloof as before.

sounds like a back stabbing twunt.

Is that the Daily Mail? Has he ever considered that the best teachers in the state sector wouldn't dream of working for a twunt like him?

A more interesting story is why so many free schools are losing headteachers in the first year or two - many of them have never done that job in the state sector before.

I read it (&swore at it) in the Times. Arrogant fucker. I will try to remember his name so that I never make the mistake of applying to work with him.

He is an arrogant tosser because he is trying to make a far wider point than the one merited from the evidence in front of him. Mind you, I have been hugely disappointed by quite a few of the primary school teacher applications I have read. It is unbelievable laziness to send a job application off littered with spelling and typing mistakes. I really don't understand why the people doing it don't seem to understand that judgment will be passed on them as a result, when they are asking to teach children how to read, write, spell and have a bit of pride in their own work... Of the applications I have read, quite a few didn't even spell the name of the school correctly, which I found quite offensive. There is no excuse for not ensuring you know the name of the school you are claiming you would love to teach at and likewise, to apply for a job at Brighton College and not get the name of the headteacher right is pretty crap. State school teachers do not deserve to be slated on the back of a few bad applications, but the people sending off such rubbish should be slated for such a slapdash attitude.

Um, I teach my subject (very well according to ofsted and slt) at the 'local comp' and see your username suits you well bitchery

I think he is right about academic qualifications

Add message | Report | Message poster OBitchery Wed 11-Dec-13 18:16:51

I think if you are extremely good at your subject and also a talented teacher then you actually want to teach your subject, and not just provide crowd control at the local comp.

So, the independent schools are able to take their pick from high quality, highly qualified teachers who yes, are also very good at teaching, because you can have both.

I work in the state sector and would never work in the private sector . I am highly qualified and am good at teaching. I do not do crowd control.

The best teachers I had were fantastically knowledgeable in their subject so I do think there should be a criteria for that, whether it a university degree or A-levels. I also think that if you are applying for a teaching post you absolutely cannot have spelling and basic grammar mistakes, even if your subject is not English language. It's common sense and I am not sure what is so offensive about pointing it out. Saying that I noticed inordinate amount of attention that is paid to presentation from the earliest age in private education and it might not be the best thing when it happens at the expense of content etc.

I've got great qualifications - As at A level, 2:1 from an old university, distinction in my subject from an American Ivy League uni where I spent a year etc.

I'm also an outstanding teacher (graded as such every time I've been observed, by Ofsted as well as internally during the last 5 years), have excellent spelling, grammar etc skills.

I CHOOSE to teach in a local comp. I teach across the ability range from bottom sets who can hardly read and are not entirely capable of controlling their behaviour at times, to prospective Oxbridge entrants at A level. I could get a job in a private school, I am sure - but those children are already privileged so I choose to put my abilities/talents/commitment in an environment where many children do not have the excellent life chances of the students at Brighton college.

^ what she said (as always) ^

ATruth

(Should have been followed with a )

It's 'local comp' bingo!